By . Matt Chorley, Mailonline Political Editor . and Steve Doughty, Social Affairs Correspondent . A wave of weddings among pensioners is driving a rise in the popularity of marriage, according to the latest official figures yesterday. The number of those aged between 65 and 70 who were married in 2012 went up by a quarter among men and more than a fifth among women. The growing trend to marriage in retirement points to a generation of pensioners who no longer believe their lives are settled when they collect their bus pass. It follows evidence of increasing levels of marriage breakdown among the newly-retired. There was an annual rise of five per . cent in the overall number of weddings in England and Wales to 262,240 – . the highest total in any year since 2004. Although the fast-rising population is partly the cause, marriage rates are also at their highest since the mid-2000s. There . were more brides and grooms in every age group, but the figures from . the Office for National Statistics show that people are choosing to . marry later in life. The average age of a bride is now 34, compared to . under 29 in the 1970s. The . biggest leap in marriages was among those aged between 65 and 70. Grooms in their late 60s increased by 25 per cent between 2011 and 2012, . to 3,520, and brides of the same age went up by 21 per cent, to 1,990. Around one in 10 were single before tying the knot, two thirds were divorced and the rest widowed. The overall rise in marriages was accompanied by an increase in couples choosing church weddings – . up by 4.6 per cent in a year to 77,910 after years of decline. However . seven out of 10 weddings are now civil ceremonies, most of them . conducted in ‘approved premises’. Harry . Benson, of the Marriage Foundation think-tank, said the figures were . ‘excellent’ news but added: ‘Many more years of similar rises are needed . to reverse the catastrophic long-term trend away from marriage. ‘The . awful reality is that only one in six parents who don’t get married . stay together compared to four in six parents who do get married. Less . marriage means more family breakdown.’ The trend . means the average age of marriage for men and women was 36 and 34 . respectively, a figure which has been rising steadily after a slight . fall in 2007 and 2008. Andrew . Newbury, head of family law at Slater & Gordon solicitors, said: . 'In the past, people might have considered that they might be too old to . remarry once they'd reached pension age.' 'However, . that baby boomer generation with longer life expectancy, improved . health and financial security can see that it's not necessarily too late . to start a new life. 'Going by current examples, it's still possible to have a long and happy marriage after the age of 65.' However, the ONS also found that a third of marriages will end in divorce by the 20th wedding anniversary. Commenting . on the rise in pensioner weddings, Andrew Newbury, of law firm Slater . and Gordon, said: ‘The baby boomer generation with longer life . expectancy, and improved health and financial security can see that it’s . not necessarily too late to start a new life. It’s still possible to . have a long and happy marriage after the age of 65.’
Biggest jump in marriage among 65-69-year-old men and women in 2012 .
One in 10 pensioners tying the knot have never been married before .
Research suggests older couples are less like to end in divorce .
60% of marriages will make it to their 20th anniversary, ONS says .
Religious ceremonies up by 5%, biggest increase since 1934 .
By . Matt Chorley, Mailonline Political Editor . and Steve Doughty, Social Affairs Correspondent . A wave of weddings among pensioners is driving a rise in the popularity of marriage, according to the latest official figures yesterday. The number of those aged between 65 and 70 who were married in 2012 went up by a quarter among men and more than a fifth among women. The growing trend to marriage in retirement points to a generation of pensioners who no longer believe their lives are settled when they collect their bus pass. It follows evidence of increasing levels of marriage breakdown among the newly-retired. There was an annual rise of five per . cent in the overall number of weddings in England and Wales to 262,240 – . the highest total in any year since 2004. Although the fast-rising population is partly the cause, marriage rates are also at their highest since the mid-2000s. There . were more brides and grooms in every age group, but the figures from . the Office for National Statistics show that people are choosing to . marry later in life. The average age of a bride is now 34, compared to . under 29 in the 1970s. The . biggest leap in marriages was among those aged between 65 and 70. Grooms in their late 60s increased by 25 per cent between 2011 and 2012, . to 3,520, and brides of the same age went up by 21 per cent, to 1,990. Around one in 10 were single before tying the knot, two thirds were divorced and the rest widowed. The overall rise in marriages was accompanied by an increase in couples choosing church weddings – . up by 4.6 per cent in a year to 77,910 after years of decline. However . seven out of 10 weddings are now civil ceremonies, most of them . conducted in ‘approved premises’. Harry . Benson, of the Marriage Foundation think-tank, said the figures were . ‘excellent’ news but added: ‘Many more years of similar rises are needed . to reverse the catastrophic long-term trend away from marriage. ‘The . awful reality is that only one in six parents who don’t get married . stay together compared to four in six parents who do get married. Less . marriage means more family breakdown.’ The trend . means the average age of marriage for men and women was 36 and 34 . respectively, a figure which has been rising steadily after a slight . fall in 2007 and 2008. Andrew . Newbury, head of family law at Slater & Gordon solicitors, said: . 'In the past, people might have considered that they might be too old to . remarry once they'd reached pension age.' 'However, . that baby boomer generation with longer life expectancy, improved . health and financial security can see that it's not necessarily too late . to start a new life. 'Going by current examples, it's still possible to have a long and happy marriage after the age of 65.' However, the ONS also found that a third of marriages will end in divorce by the 20th wedding anniversary. Commenting . on the rise in pensioner weddings, Andrew Newbury, of law firm Slater . and Gordon, said: ‘The baby boomer generation with longer life . expectancy, and improved health and financial security can see that it’s . not necessarily too late to start a new life. It’s still possible to . have a long and happy marriage after the age of 65.’
in 2012 went up by a quarter among men and more pensioners who no longer believe their lives are 21 per cent, to 1,990. Around one in 10 were single before tying the knot, two thirds were marriage for men and women was 36 and 34 . of marriages will end in divorce by the 20th