It's official, Aussies aren’t tying the knot like they used to.

Trends show fewer people are getting married these days and of those who do, many are getting hitched later in life, as well as ditching tradition in favour of something more personal.

This week on 9Honey's Sweet Spot podcast, host Katherine Feeney and guest A Current Affair's Erin Willing discuss the modern meaning of marriage with Australian and New Zealand celebrant Josh Withers.

According to Withers, couples today are more likely to get married for "personal" reasons, wanting to spend their lives together and celebrate their relationship, than for traditional or legal reasons.

"For me, the typical Australian or New Zealand wedding, is where the couple have said 'we're not having a wedding for traditional reasons, we are having this event for us'," he says.

Withers reveals his first question to a prospective couple asking him to marry them is always the same — 'Why do you want to get married?'

He says this question is important as it is common for people, especially women, to grow up with a dream wedding in mind but need these ideals tested when it comes to actually getting married.

"If you start asking why, it does lead to dangerous waters and you might find out all these ideologies you've got in your mind completely compromises your own personal values."Read more at:http://www.marieaustralia.com/short-formal-dresses | http://www.marieaustralia.com/long-formal-dresses