A recent government survey showed that nearly one in four men and one in seven women will never marry. A growing number of people are struggling with finding stable employment that ensures a livable wage and, unlike decades ago, marriage now is one of many options available to people during the course of their lives rather than a socially expected norm.
But for those who actually want to wed, the process is as confusing as ever.
There are a multitude of choices and compromises to make. Those seeking marriage must decide what they want from a spouse-to-be such as an acceptable income, a character type, compatibility and so on. They must also consider relationships with in-laws when selecting a partner.