More people are getting married after 50 than ever before. Our culture is more accepting of divorce, and so it makes sense that more people are marrying or remarrying in our 50s. A person whose spouse dies, is also more likely to remarry than not, so there are more “available” 50+ partners than ever before. The good news is, marriage after 50 can bring fun, security and adventure that sometimes doesn’t happen when we’re younger.
Marriage After 50 Statistics
Have you suddenly started seeing more 50+ dating sites advertised during your favorite television shows? You’re not imagining that. Senior online dating choices are everywhere!
According to recent “marriage after 50” statistics, Pew research , divorce for people in midlife has almost doubled since the 1990s. Part of this phenomena is because many baby boomers grew up embracing “free love,” or whatever it took for “my” pleasure. We’ve carried that demand for personal fulfillment into our lives after our marriage fails or our spouse dies.
Why Get Married After 50?
If you’re single at 50+, you’re likely still healthy and will eventually want to get married again. There are people who are so devastated and angry about divorce, they close their heart to finding love again, but for most people, that is not the case. Most midlife people remarry within four years after their divorce.
Marriage after 50 can be just as exciting as marriage in your 20s or 30s. After all, 50 is supposedly the new 30! After 50, after a divorce, if we have done the healing work we need to do, we usually have a clearer idea of what we’re looking for.
Love & Companionship!
After divorce or the death of a spouse, two of the hardest things to deal with are the loss of romantic love and simple companionship. The absence of those intimate daily connections with another human being after our spouse leaves us lonely.
Loneliness emphasizes our need for companionship and increases our desire for marriage after 50 years old. Marrying at this age can seem terrifying, but, with good sense and self-confidence, and not desperation, we have a better chance than ever of a happy second marriage after 50.
I have discovered that the after 50 couples who create happy second marriages are those who take the time to do the grief work and healing work that is necessary after the end of a marriage. Don’t rush it. Be kind to yourself and be patient with the process.