With a growing desire to say, Yes to the dress, Karla often dreams of her wedding day. In her head, it is all planned out–her colors, the music, location, the rings, the cake and how the ceremony will be conducted. But Karla, like so many young couples, is cohabitating with her boyfriend who seems to be in no hurry to run down the aisle.

Karla is part of a growing trend of people who are not tying the knot. The 2010 census found that the median age of marriage has risen to age 28 for men and age 26 for women. The real surprise is that only 48% of all households are represented by married couples. For the first time in history, married couples are in the minority.

The reason for this demographic change seems to be due to more divorced or widowed older people who live longer, and more young people who postpone marriage for all sorts of reasons. Usually these reasons have to do with money and job security; more women  in the labor force who are economically independent; more women who delay having children; and more couples live together.

So Karla, those wedding vows may not be spoken as long as you live with a guy who is comfortable with the way things are now!