Christians encourage dating, strong marriages amid ‘dating recession,’ in honor of National Marriage Week

Amid ever-later wedding bells and fewer young adults dating, Christian organizations and long-time married couples are promoting the beauty and vitality of marriage during National Marriage Week. 

“Celebrated every February 7-14, National Marriage Week is part of an annual, international movement that brings together civic leaders, church leaders, and marriage leaders for a common goal and the common good: to restore marriage to its vital role in the American family,” Katie MacLeod writes in a piece with the Institute for Family Studies (IFS). 

States can play an important role, too, writes MacLeod, who is family policy director at the Marriage Initiative: 

“As lawmakers search for ways to combat poverty, improve child well-being, and reduce public spending, they should consider proactively investing in marriages and families. States do not need to reinvent the wheel to support healthy family formation. They can build on proven marriage-friendly policy approaches already working across the country.” 

For example, MacLeod recommends states reduce the cost of marriage licenses for couples who complete marriage preparation courses, which increase “marital satisfaction” by 30%. Additionally, premarital education decreases divorce probability, which saved more than $266 million in 2016. 

She also suggests teaching students the “success sequence” – completing high school, working a stable job and marrying before having kids – which results in a 97% chance of avoiding poverty. 

Among her remaining five suggestions, MacLeod recommends counseling for couples considering divorce and better relationship education for students and young adults seeking to marry and raise a family.

While 86% of young adults ages 22 to 35 say they want to marry someday, only about 33% say they are actively dating – either in a relationship or going on dates – according to an IFS study released Tuesday. Most young adults express low confidence in dating skills, say past relationship hurt is hindering them or say the high financial costs keep them from dating. Very few say career, education or lack of commitment are hindering them from dating. 

“This dating recession is more than just another challenge facing young adults today,” the study’s authors write. “Their lack of dating experience is a deficit of connections that prime their souls for one of the richest experiences humans can have – romantic love and long-term marriage.” 

The researchers recommend “dating education” to show young adults how to overcome breakups, begin and maintain a committed relationship and date with financial responsibility.  

Additionally, newlyweds and couples with years of marriage under their belts are encouraging these young adults in their dating and subsequent marriage pursuits – a notable trend this week on social media platforms. 

For example, Family Policy Alliance posted a Bible verse on X, saying, “Let’s celebrate it the way God ordained it” – a verse that says: 

“But from the beginning of the creation, God ‘made them male and female. For this reason, a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.”