Latest news with #grooms
New York Times
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- New York Times
How Much Did You Spend on Your Wedding? We'd Love to Hear.
There is no way around it: Having a wedding is expensive. But money, like sex and death, is a topic that very few are willing to talk about. We want to help increase transparency around what it costs to host a wedding. For an upcoming feature, we want to know: How much did your wedding cost? We want to hear from people who have had all types of weddings — from courthouse ceremonies on shoestring budgets to wildly extravagant events. Are you willing to share a breakdown by category, such as venue, catering, entertainment and more? What did you splurge on, and what did you skip? We'll use your submissions to help guide our coverage. Share your story with us.
Yahoo
04-08-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Why Rice Became The Go-To Sendoff For Newlyweds
We may receive a commission on purchases made from links. From the bouquet toss, to the removal of the garter, to unique TikTok wedding cakes, weddings are filled with rituals (some easier to explain than others). On the food-related side of wedding-planning, brides and grooms might be thinking about how much food they need for their menu, the best (and worst) frosting choices for their wedding cake, or how to build a wedding charcuterie board. Today, we're exploring another centuries-old, food-centric matrimonial tradition: the rice throw. Rice is even a wedding prop for live performances of the cult classic "Rocky Horror Picture Show;" fans throw rice over their shoulders (not at the theatre screen!) as Ralph and Betty leave the church in the film's opening scene. Throwing rice at weddings is a ritual that traces back to the ancient Celts over 2,000 years ago. The Celts were an agriculture-centric civilization that placed high symbolic importance on grains and rice, and tossed the natural elements as an appeal to the gods to bestow blessings of abundance onto the new couple. Per the Celtic religion, the throwing of rice also warded off evil spirits that might be looking to cause mischief for the new couple on their special day. Tossing natural confetti isn't just a Celtic tradition, either. There are records of the ancient Romans throwing wheat at weddings, and Eastern Indian wedding-goers throwing flower petals. Either way, this ancient nuptial tradition pre-dates the Christian religion by several centuries. Read more: 13 International Dining Etiquette Rules We Should All Be Following Wedding Guests Have Been Throwing Rice As A Symbol Of Prosperity For Centuries The tradition goes that friends and family toss grains of rice at a newly-wedded couple as they exit the ceremony together. The rice throw typically takes place as the couple walks back down the aisle post-vows, or as they leave the church or venue together before the reception. Small paper cones of rice might be passed out to each guest, or a larger bowl filled with rice might be offered for everyone to grab a handful. So, why rice? For one thing, it's cheap and widely available. Rice is thought to have usurped cereal grains for the ritual sometime during the Middle Ages. On the metaphysical front, rice symbolizes fertility and prosperity, making it a natural fit for tiding well-wishes for the newly wedded couple, including good fortune and kiddos, if they want kids. Still, all that rice makes a mess. Many modern ceremonies pay a vendor to handle clean-up. But the loose rice poses a slipping and falling hazard, is tedious and annoying for the venue, and some think it's potentially harmful for the digestive systems of nearby animals. Depending on where the ceremony is held, some churches and venues don't allow a toss of any kind (rice, flower petals, forget about it). For these reasons, the rice throw tradition isn't as popular in the modern era as the staple once was in weddings of the past. Does The Rice Throw Hurt Birds? We would be remiss not to address the widespread misconception that has become linked with the wedding rice throw over the years: Uncooked rice hurts birds. So, does it? In a word, "no." The rumor traces back to 1985, when a Connecticut state legislator passed a bill that effectively outlawed the ritual, on the alleged grounds that uncooked rice kills birds. Even though the bill was not supported by Audubon bird experts, and doesn't carry any factual merit (ornithological studies have shown that uncooked rice doesn't hurt birds), the unflattering connotation has stuck. On the contrary, migrating birds such as ducks and geese are known to eat uncooked rice to fuel up before their travels. If anything, the rice throw has a greater potential to attract birds -- which can also throw a wrench into a smooth wedding day. In fact, in 2007, rice tosses were banned in Venice, Italy, for this very reason. At Venice's popular wedding destination St. Mark's Square, flocks of an estimated 40,000 pigeons, drawn by the rice, were regularly attending (and disrupting) ceremonies, perched and waiting for the anticipated rice throw. Pro tip: For folks who admire the rice toss tradition but are hosting an outdoor wedding, seeds, herbs, and dried flowers make a more environmentally-friendly confetti. Guests could also wave ribbon wands, sparklers, ring bells, or blow bubbles as the new couple exits the ceremony, preserving the well-wishes sendoff. Or, why not just throw birdseed? If you're curious, here are a few other wedding food traditions from around the world. Read the original article on Tasting Table.
Daily Mail
13-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Where are Don't Tell The Bride's car crash couples now? From fleeing the country after wedding from hell to shock affair that tore couple apart, how Channel 4 show was the kiss of death for its stars' romances
Even in today's current saturated reality television landscape, Don't Tell The Bride remains one of the most chaotic examples of the genre. The programme, which aired for nearly 15 years from 2007 to 2020, saw grooms take over the entire wedding planning process - with no input from the bride. Some men genuinely did their best with the budget of up to £14,000, organising nuptials that left something to be desired but putting in the thought that counts. But others seemed to use it as an excuse to put the final nail in the coffin of a relationship that was perhaps already on the rocks. Their efforts were so disastrous, unromantic and sometimes downright mean, it caused on carnage on what was supposed to be the happiest day of their lives. And the impact on these relationships was just as insane - triggering everything from affairs, to jilting at the altar, to even going on the run. The show - which first aired on BBC Three, then moving to BBC One and Sky before hitting Channel 4 spin-off channel E4 in 2017 - was axed in 2023. Despite a 'bloodbath' of programme cuts at Channel 4 at the time, a spokesperson then said: 'The decision to rest Don't Tell the Bride was not a financial one, we often take the decision to pause programmes for many different reasons. 'The show was last broadcast in 2020 but there's every chance our DTTB brides and grooms will walk down the aisle again in future.' But fans are yet to see any kind of return of the show to our screens, having to content themselves with the regular reruns of the famously teary programme. A drama-filled rewatch may well have them wondering: where are the couples now? And did their car crash weddings make them question 'until death do us part'? Bianca John and Adam Ledner Bianca John, from Pontypool, Monmouthshire, married Adam Ledner on the reality show in April 2016. She was just 21 when she met her then-fiance on the dating app Tinder in 2014. The Welshwoman had already planned to go travelling in Australia and south east Asia for ten months and Adam joined her en route a couple of months into her trip. Swept up in excitement of their extended holiday, life seemed blissful and he proposed in Thailand, spelling out the words, 'Marry me?' in rose petals. Their relationship kept moving fast after this too, as she was four months pregnant when they returned to the UK. And only four months later, they signed up for Don't Tell the Bride, intrigued by the opportunity to do something they would never forget. But it did not turn out to be quite the day she had dreamt of. Her main complaint was that despite having thousands for a budget, her fiance seemed to spare every expense. Adam opted for a £12.99 ring, a tacky £140 lace wedding dress she dubbed a 'cheap piece of tat' and £10 see-through frocks for the bridesmaids. The reception took place in a warehouse filled with sand, in a nod to their unfolding romance on sun-soaked Thai beaches. Meanwhile, the ceremony unfolded on a plane circling Bristol, in tribute to their long-haul flight to the other side of the world. The ceremony (pictured) unfolded on a plane circling Bristol, in tribute to their long-haul flight to the other side of the world Incredibly, the location was a lucky escape, as the hapless groom had considered holding the reception in a disused prison, due to his former job as a prison officer. Recalling her disastrous day, Bianca has since said: 'I was most upset about his lack of thought.' She remembered having to wear a short dress with a plunging neckline while heavily pregnant - she gave birth to their son Brock just two months after the wedding. Bianca explained: 'When you're a month away from giving birth, you feel self-conscious and I don't think Adam considered that when he picked my dress, or thought about how I'd feel, with my swollen feet crammed into cheap plastic shoes, getting married on a plane.' Laughing drily, she added: 'The aisle wasn't wide enough for Dad to walk down with me and he was stranded at the back of the plane wondering what was going on. 'We didn't take any vows. It was quite bizarre. We had to get married two days later at Pontypool Register Office. Very classy.' The bride had hoped their wedding was just a false start, before a life of happy families - but it did not turn out that way. In 2018, she revealed she had uncovered Adam had been embroiled in a five-month affair behind her back - which eventually saw the couple divorce. It all unravelled when in September 2017 - just 18 months after they got married -Adam was rushed to hospital after falling unconscious. It later turned out Adam, who had just taken part in a bodybuilding contest, was suffering from rhabdomyolysis, the breakdown of muscle tissue that leads to the release of muscle fibres into the bloodstream. The rare condition – often occurring in endurance athletes – can be life-threatening. But he had barely been admitted to intensive care when Bianca inadvertently stumbled on evidence on his phone that he had been having an affair for five months. Recalling the moment in 2022, she said: 'I wanted him to be well – I wouldn't wish ill-health on anyone, especially my son's dad – but I was upset, and I wanted him to explain himself. 'I never had any desire for vengeance but I also knew he was never coming back into my life.' Bianca was glad to hear he was alright when he came out of the coma two days later - but it was most certainly the end of their marriage. Released from hospital, he knocked on the door of their home: 'I said, "I've got nothing to say to you. I don't want to know any of the sordid details. I've seen enough." 'And Adam still had the nerve to ask, "Can I stay tonight?" 'I told him he couldn't. And that was it. He went. Then I threw my cheap wedding ring into the garden.' Although they now lead entirely separate lives, Bianca and Adam remain friends for their son's sake. Adam said in 2022: 'About a year into my marriage to Bianca, I had an affair which lasted four or five months. I make no excuses for it. 'It had stopped, by pure coincidence, just before Bianca found out about it and after that, I never saw the woman again. 'Now I'm super happy with someone I met three years ago. Bianca is happy too and gets on well with my partner. 'She's a brilliant mum and Brock is the happiest little boy. 'I'll always love Bianca – she's the mother of my son – but lessons have been learnt. I was very immature when I married her and I wouldn't behave like that again. Bianca said in 2022, she still hopes for the fairytale wedding she always wanted: 'But next time I'll be organising every aspect of the big day myself'. Pictured: Her wedding to Adam 'But am I glad we got together? Of course. I couldn't regret it because we have our wonderful son.' And as for Bianca, she said, in 2022, she still hopes for the fairytale wedding she always wanted: 'But next time I'll be organising every aspect of the big day myself.' Sofia and Craig One couple, who appeared on the reality show in 2018, had a wedding so bad they did not even make their marriage legally official. In a series first, Sofia and Craig, from Luton, who had been together for eight years, had nuptials so bad it made them back away from marriage entirely. The bride, who also already shared two children with her partner, had said ahead of the big day: 'If Craig doesn't know me by now, it's probably warning signs.' She told viewers had been hoping for a 'boho beach wedding', warning: 'If he gets things wrong and I don't like anything, I actually won't go.' But the groom chose an Oktoberfest-themed wedding, hosted in a brewery - despite the fact the bride did not like beer. He also planned a brewery tour in their hometown for her hen do - while he and his pals jetted off to Prague for his stag. Craig told the cameras he had been inspired by his 'old party lifestyle' - 'getting everyone together for loads of drinking and a crazy wild party'. Sofia was left fuming at her 'c****y' hen and the Bavarian-style dresses he had chosen for her bridesmaids. To her horror, she then discovered he had chosen a similar gown for her - which she then ditched entirely in favour of a floral frock. The upset bride told her sister she would not get married if he did not solve the problem. It saw him complain: 'This is so little brat, hasn't got her own way.' Once Sofia arrived at the venue, she had to be persuaded to go inside. And Craig had to spend an hour talking her into saying her vows, after she insisted he had made her look stupid. She seethed: 'I don't want to marry someone that nasty. There's no point in letting him make a fool of me. 'I'm done, I don't think there's any chance of salvaging it. I've given him so many chances.' The whole debacle saw her refuse to register their marriage - the legal process all couples who on the programme must go through after filming to make it official. And a statement flashed up at the end of the couple's episode confirming the pair's intentions to back out of marriage completely. At the end of the show, E4 stated: 'At the time of making this programme, Craig and Sofia had decided not to make their wedding legal and were working together on their relationship.' Craig, who apologised profusely to his bride and her family, said: 'I don't know why she thought it was a good idea giving me control. 'This was a bad idea, a very bad idea.' He gave a speech at the wedding reflecting this sentiment further too: 'I know it hasn't turned out great and I'm sorry about that. 'But I honestly tried my best and I know this wasn't what you really wanted but I hope we can just move on from this.' Craig had to spend an hour talking her into saying her vows, after she insisted he had made her look stupid In an interview in 2021, which saw the couple review the footage of their wedding, Craig described the ceremony as 'very awkward'. At one point, the officiant asked them to feed each other honey to mark the 'sweetness' of married lives life - which Sofia quickly smeared on Craig's face. She insisted it was a joke in the moment but he later said: 'At the time, I was really angry. It was literally a slap around the face, wasn't it? 'But I can understand why she did it.' Sofia said in the later interview Craig did not react too badly when she said she did not want to sign the marriage certificate: 'I think he understood. 'I wasn't in a place where I was trusting him completely.' But despite Channel 4's insistence at the time they were working on their relationship, the pair have since broken up. She said: 'Just after the wedding, once it was all done, I think it really set in for both of us what kind of relationship issues the wedding stuff could have caused.' Despite Channel 4's insistence at the time they were working on their relationship, the pair (pictured on the show) have since broken up But the split seemed to take Craig more by surprise: 'I didn't think our relationship would end. I thought, "Tomorrow, I'm going to be in trouble".' Sofia finished: 'I'm fine now, I can just see it as something we did, something a bit crazy and silly that could have gone better but what's done is done.' Simon and Kaleigh Candlish Simon and Kaleigh's wedding in 2010 has long been branded one of the most upsetting in the show's 14 series. The groom, along with his best man Anthony, left Kaleigh raging and sobbing after blowing the bulk of the budget on a ceremony in Las Vegas. After a six-year relationship with Simon, she had wanted to take things to the next level with an idyllic country wedding in an English manor house. But instead, her fiance spent much of the time he was supposed to be wedding planning spending the budget on enjoying himself in Sin City. In fact, he and Anthony gambled to such an extent, Simon only had enough money to fly six people out to the ceremony - with many close relatives left behind. Kaleigh was left in tears when she found out at the airport she would be heading to Vegas for her nuptials. Simon and Kaleigh's wedding (pictured) in 2010 has long been branded one of the most upsetting in the show's 14 series The groom (pictured in 2022), along with his best man Anthony, left Kaleigh raging and sobbing after blowing the bulk of the budget on a ceremony in Las Vegas The bride was also extremely upset important guests like her brother and one of her bridesmaids would not be coming. She accused her fiance of destroying her family, which rightly chastened him, with the groom later admitting he hated himself for losing her relatives' respect. It came after an already weepy excursion to get fitted for Simon's choice of a ridiculously puffy wedding dress. Kaleigh had said during the appointment: 'What the hell's he thinking? It's just a joke.' And it left Kaleigh's mother buying her a replacement with her own money to try to cheer her daughter up for the big day. At one point, the bride was not even sure she wanted to attend the ceremony or marry Simon, hesitating on going ahead with the plans. But she eventually did - and it all soon ended in even more disaster. The pair ended their relationship only nine months after saying 'I do', when Simon got a job abroad just after they returned to the UK from Vegas. The pair ended their relationship only nine months after saying 'I do', when Simon (pictured on the show) got a job abroad just after they returned to the UK from Vegas While Simon was keen to seek out far-flung climes, Kaleigh was determined to stay in the UK - and it marked the end of their marriage, with the divorce finalised in 2020. Simon has since explained the thinking behind his wedding planning, in an interview in 2022 revisiting the couple's experience. He explained: 'I just wanted to get the best of both worlds, the country wedding she wanted but in Vegas.' Of the immediate aftermath of the wedding, he added: 'I was getting messages on Facebook from people, some of them really awful. '"You're a loser", "You're an arrogant c***", "What you did was absolutely unforgivable", "I hope you fail at life". 'It was crazy and all these people are commenting about your life and the decisions you made and I stopped looking at things because it did upset me, it upset Kaleigh.' Simon continued: 'Unfortunately, Kayleigh made the decision that she didn't want to continue to travel. 'She wanted to set up a life at home. That did come as a big shock for me and I decided to end the relationship.' Kaleigh has said she has since moved on completely - while her ex-husband continues to enjoy Vegas getaways and antics with his best man Anthony. Yanis Wilkinson Teece and Shanise Frame Yanis Wilkinson Teece and Shanise Frame, from Birmingham, were hit with a whole array of obstacles throughout their marriage process on the show in 2019. First of all, the couple - only 23 and 19 respectively on their big day - were told by producers their nuptials were completely off, in a DTTB first. It came after programme bosses discovered the bride had snooped through her fiance's emails to find out his plans - a breach of the show's secretive rules. And despite planning to spend the rest of their lives together when the show filmed, the couple then also split just months later, according to BirminghamLive. Despite a spokesperson for the show confirming they had split up, Yanis said 'no comment' when addressing the rumours. Revealing the experience had left him 'stronger and wiser', he said: 'It's been a bizarre time, I've had a mixture of emotions in the aftermath of the programme.' The then-23-year-old had been with Shanise for two-and-a-half years before he proposed - first in the bath, then again in front of their families on Christmas Day. Yanis planned to wed his bride in Paris before flying back to Birmingham for the reception at his local takeaway. But in a similar dilemma to Simon and Kaleigh, he soon found the budget only stretched to pay for 13 guests to travel to the ceremony. In a very ill-advised decision, the groom decided Shanise's ten-year-old brother Chris was not a priority guest and would only attend the reception. But Yanis then appeared to have a very sudden change of heart - leading the producers to become suspicious. It was when bridesmaid Melissa was told she would no longer would be attending that the game was then up. Melissa let slip that she knew the flights were booked to Paris - when they were supposed to have no idea where the plane was going. It led the producers to conclude Yanis and Shanise had been communicating via email. The bridesmaids later visited Yanis's house for what they thought was their dress fitting. First of all, the couple (pictured) - only 23 and 19 respectively on their big day - were told by producers their nuptials were completely off, in a DTTB first But in a particularly cruel stunt, they were stopped by producers mid-way through their chat. They confronted the groom and told him they would have to cancel the entire wedding for the first time in the show's history - as their 'secret was out'. After asking Yanis how the pair were communicating, he confessed: 'Shanise got access to my iPad with my emails in there. 'So technically the bride wasn't told, she found out through email.' After storming off into the kitchen Yanis gathered himself and told Shanise the bad news on the phone, saying: 'It's not not going ahead.' Shanise, in disbelief, asked: 'What the hell - what happens now? I need to know - is there a wedding or not?' She was then left in tears after producers confirmed 'I know this is difficult but the rules have been broken and we are going to have to cancel this wedding.' A week later, the couple reflected on their time on the show and confessed they were 'heartbroken' and had found it hard to 'cope' with the aftermath of breaking the rules. But things had not been looking rosy right from the outset of the show, when Shanise had admitted she was controlling: 'I do wear the trousers in the house. 'I give him what he can cope with, then I do the rest. 'I always try to keep a record of what Yanis is doing and his whereabouts. 'I feel my anxiety is going to go through the rooftops not knowing what Yanis is up to.'
Malay Mail
07-07-2025
- General
- Malay Mail
Weddings down, splits up: Singapore marriages fall 7pc in 2024, divorce numbers climb
SINGAPORE, July 7 — Fewer couples got married while more chose to part ways in Singapore last year, according to the Ministry of Social and Family Development's (MSF) latest family trends report released today. Channel News Asia reported that a total of 26,328 marriages were registered in 2024, down 7 per cent from 28,310 in 2023. Civil marriages saw the biggest decline, with a sharper drop among those aged 25 to 34 — the age group that traditionally makes up the bulk of newlyweds. Among brides aged 25 to 34, 15,213 got married in 2024, compared to 16,707 the year before — a fall of 8.9 per cent. For grooms in the same age group, numbers dipped 9 per cent, from 14,956 in 2023 to 13,615 last year. Muslim marriages also declined slightly to 5,184 in 2024, from 5,396 in the previous year. This was largely attributed to fewer marriages involving grooms aged 30 to 34 and 45 and older, and brides in their 30s and early 40s. One factor contributing to the slowdown in marriages is the rising age of first-time brides and grooms. Over the past decade, the median age at first marriage rose from 30.2 to 31.1 for grooms and from 28.2 to 29.6 for brides. At the same time, the number of marriages ending in divorce or annulment increased by 3.7 per cent — from 7,118 cases in 2023 to 7,382 in 2024. The median age at divorce has also crept upwards. In 2024, male divorcees were on average 44.4 years old, up from 42.6 in 2014. Female divorcees had a median age of 40.9, compared to 38.4 a decade ago. The typical duration of marriage before divorce rose to 11.1 years, from 10.4 years in 2014. Most divorces — about 29 per cent — occurred among couples married for five to nine years. Yet despite the uptick, the data suggests that newer marriage cohorts are more stable. Among couples who married between 2006 and 2013, the likelihood of divorcing before their 10th anniversary has fallen. For example, 14.4 per cent of couples married in 2013 had split within 10 years, compared to 17 per cent for those who married in 2005. "This signifies greater marriage stability among recent cohorts of married couples," the MSF noted. It added that the "most significant improvement was seen in the fall in dissolution rates for Muslim marriages," even though divorce rates for Muslim marriages remain higher than those for civil marriages. 'The gap has narrowed significantly for more recent marriage cohorts,' the ministry said. The trend of delayed family formation continues beyond marriage. The median age of first-time fathers rose to 33.6 years in 2024, up from 32.9 in 2014. For mothers, the median age climbed from 30.4 to 31.9. Singapore's total fertility rate remained at a record low of 0.97 in 2024, marking the second year in a row that it stayed below 1.0. The family trends report also noted that more fathers are taking paternity leave, with 56 per cent of those with children born in 2023 doing so — up from 53 per cent the year before. Maternity leave take-up remains high, at 74 per cent.
CNA
07-07-2025
- General
- CNA
Marriages in Singapore dip 7% in 2024, divorces up
SINGAPORE: The number of marriages in Singapore last year dipped by 7 per cent compared to 2023, according to a report by the Ministry of Social and Family Development (MSF) released on Monday (Jul 7). A total of 26,328 marriages were registered in 2024, compared to 28,310 marriages in 2023. Data from the Department of Statistics (SingStat) cited in MSF's family trends report showed a decline in civil marriages across almost all age groups in 2024 compared to 2023, with the largest fall in the number of marriages involving grooms and brides aged 25 to 34. A total of 15,213 brides in this age range got married last year, an 8.9 per cent fall from 16,707 in 2023. Similarly, 13,615 grooms aged 25 to 34 tied the knot in 2024, a 9 per cent slide from 14,956 in 2023. Out of all the marriages last year, 21,144 were civil unions, down from 22,914 in 2023. There was also a dip in Muslim marriages from 5,396 in 2023 to 5,184 last year. This was mainly due to fewer unions involving grooms aged 30 to 34 and 45 and above, as well as brides aged 30 to 34 and 40 to 44. These trends align with a broader shift, with the median age at first marriage increasing over the past decade. For grooms, it rose from 30.2 years in 2014 to 31.1 years in 2024, and from 28.2 to 29.6 for brides over the same period. Meanwhile, a total of 7,382 marriages ended in a divorce or an annulment last year, a 3.7 per cent increase from the 7,118 marital dissolutions in 2023, SingStat announced on Monday. Over the last 10 years, the median age at divorce rose from 42.6 years in 2014 to 44.4 years in 2024 for male divorcees, and from 38.4 years to 40.9 years for female divorcees. The median duration of marriage for divorces in 2024 was 11.1 years, longer than the 10.4 years in 2014. Couples who were married for five to nine years made up the largest share, accounting for 29 per cent of divorces in 2024, findings showed. Despite this, couples who married from 2006 to 2013 have had lower divorce rates before the first 10 years, compared to the 2005 marriage cohort. The cumulative proportion of divorces before the 10th anniversary declined from 17 per cent for the 2005 marriage cohort to 14.4 per cent for the 2013 marriage cohort. This "signifies greater marriage stability among recent cohorts of married couples", MSF said. It added that the "most significant improvement was seen in the fall in dissolution rates for Muslim marriages". "While the rate for Muslim marriages remained higher than that of civil marriages across all cohorts, the gap has narrowed significantly for more recent marriage cohorts," the ministry said. RISE IN MEDIAN AGE OF FIRST-TIME PARENTS Couples are becoming first-time parents later compared to a decade ago, findings from the report showed. Last year, the median age of first-time fathers increased to 33.6 years from 32.9 years in 2014. Similarly, the median age for first-time mothers increased to 31.9 years from 30.4 years over the same timeframe. The country's total fertility rate remained at a record low of 0.97 in 2024, marking the second consecutive year it has fallen below 1.0. The family trends report also revealed that 56 per cent of fathers with children born in 2023 took government-paid paternity leave in 2023, compared to 53 per cent the year before. The take-up rate for maternity leave continues to remain high, with 74 per cent of mothers doing so in 2022 and 2023. INCREASE IN INFANT AND CHILDCARE SPOTS Over the last decade, there has been a nearly threefold increase in full-day infant care places, data from the Early Childhood Development Agency cited in the report showed. Spots increased from 5,628 in 2014 to 16,207 in 2024, to cater to growing demand, MSF said, adding that enrolment numbers also rose from 3,506 to 11,265 in the same period. Similarly, full-day childcare places nearly doubled from 104,066 in 2014 to 200,847 in 2024. The enrolment rate of children aged three to four years increased from 76 per cent in 2014 to 90 per cent in 2024, while that of children aged five to six years climbed slightly from 91 per cent to 93 per cent in the last decade. MORE ELDERLY RESIDENTS LIVING ALONE The number of residents aged 65 and above living at home increased from 466,300 in 2014 to 767,900 in 2024. While about 80 per cent of these elderly residents continued to live with their spouse or children, those living alone at home had doubled in the last decade from 42,100 in 2014 to 87,200 in 2024. A 2023 MSF survey found that more than 80 per cent of respondents ranked family members among the top three choices in meeting the needs of the elderly. The same survey also showed that the majority of respondents - 90.4 per cent - agreed that it is important for grandparents and their grandchildren to maintain close ties with one another, the ministry added. 'This shows that family members continue to be the key line of support for elderly,' MSF said.
