The typical first-time bride is now 30-years-old when she walksdown the aisle¹, according to UK's national statistics. They alsoshow that the number of marriages is at its lowest level since1895.

英国国家数据显示，如今大部分头婚新娘年纪都在30岁。数据还显示，年婚姻数目已下降到自1895年来的最低点。

Women today are on average nearly eight years older than theirmothers were when they married for the first time. In 1970 thetypical first-time bride was 22. By 1991 she was 25, and by 2000the average age rose to 28.

平均而言，当今女性头婚时年纪几乎比她们母亲头婚的年纪大了8岁。1970年时头婚新娘才22岁，1991年是25岁，到2000年平均年龄为28岁。

Men are also older before they tie the knot. The typical groomis now just past his 32nd birthday when he marries for the firsttime. In 1970 the average groom² was 24, in 1991, he was 27 and in2000 he was 30.

男人们结婚时的年龄也偏大。现今的新郎头婚时平均年龄为32岁，1970年为24岁，1991年为27岁，2000年则是30岁。

Royal weddings reflect the age trend. When Kate Middletonmarries Prince William this month, she will be 29, and he will be28. By contrast, when Diana Spencer became the Princess of Walesshe was just 20.

皇家婚礼也反映了这种趋势。本月凯特和威廉大婚，届时凯特29岁，威廉28岁。相比之下，戴安娜成为王妃时仅有20岁。

Anastasia de Waal, deputy director of the Civitas think-tank,said many women were putting off marriage till their 30s to developtheir careers. "In the past, achieving 'adulthood³' for women wasabout setting yourself up for family life whereas now it's aboutsetting yourself up first." The cost of the wedding could also be afactor in the delay, she said。

阿纳斯塔西娅是英国智库机构Civitas的副主任，她称许多女性为了事业将婚姻推迟到了30多岁才举行。“过去，‘成年’就意味着女人们能为家庭独当一面，而如今则意味着自立自强。”她还称婚姻的高成本也成为晚婚的一个因素。