For a while there, the wedding bells went very quiet, stilled by a generation of young couples who didn't feel the need to put an official stamp on their relationship by getting married.

Of course marriage continued to have its fans and as an institution was probably never in any danger of dying out. But for a time it suffered a fate perhaps more terrible - the formal, public commitment went out of fashion.

Such a serious decision as marriage should probably not have a frivolous bedfellow like fashion foisted on it, nor could it really be suggested that two people would now decide to spend their lives together on a trendy whim ("Oh, I say dear, it says here weddings are in; book the priest"). Yet times are changing . . .

For more than two decades there have been numerous young couples in Ireland who lived together in committed relationships and who would readily tell you they didn't believe in marriage or didn't feel it was right for them. Once, marriage was the only available mechanism for two people of opposite sexes, who wanted to share their lives, to set up a household together. But come the 1980s couples were settling down, buying property and raising children with nary a ring exchanged.

Now, it seems folk are marrying again, queueing up to tie the knot in style. While at the lower end of the socio-economic spectrum marriage may be a rite of passage many either can't afford or are not interested in, higher up the scale it's suddenly again all the rage. Some have lived together before and some have not, some share property and children and some do not, but all believe that now is a good time to be getting hitched. Tim Carey (30) and Sinead Carrick (31) are planning to get married this September, following a four-year relationship. "I do think there is a change in the way marriage is viewed," says Tim, who works in a museum. "In the 1960s and 1970s there was a certain free-wheeling and easy-going approach to relationships. Of course this was among a certain type of people - we're really talking about a liberal, predominantly middle-class intelligentsia that believed strongly in ideas of personal fulfilment and freedom. You did what would suit you and that often meant not getting married. "I think my generation has probably seen the results of some rather willy-nilly relationships in the past," adds Tim, who is from a broken family background himself, and is more aware than most perhaps of the legacy of marriage breakdown. While people like Tim may have a greater fear and knowledge of the consequences of failing at marriage, this is often coupled with an enormous desire to get it right.

"Both Sinead and I were very cautious initially, having both been in previous relationships," he says. "Marriage was never discussed - although I think we both knew. Now, we both feel a need to put a seal on the relationship."

Barry Lyons, a solicitor, and Sonia Reynolds, a model and event manager, are in their late twenties and getting married in June following a five-year relationship. They say they both "just knew" early on that they would get married but that marriage itself was not on the cards until recently.

"We're both very happy with our current relationship; we've been living together for some time and there is no need to change anything in that respect. Nor are we getting married just because it's the next thing to do - that makes it sound as though we're doing it by default, whereas it's a much more positive thing than that.

"I think we really felt we wanted to formalise our relationship and have it recognised in some way. I suppose the marriage is a way of saying we are more to each other than just boyfriend and girlfriend."

Frieda Forde (27) and Paddy Madigan (29) are also getting married this year and joke that "all our friends are dropping like flies - there were three engagements around Christmas and about two or three marriages at the same time. Marriage is definitely getting more popular". "I think people have looked around them, both at the example of the 1960s and 1970s and at practices abroad, and have changed their views on marriage," Paddy says.

"I spent some time in Denmark where a huge amount of people have divorced and separated parents and realised how upsetting that can be. There is a sense that people feel the generation of open marriages and relationships didn't really work and are turning to more traditional ideas of marriage. Of course people are still living together and buying property together without getting married, but there does seem to be a trend for people who have been living together to get married now.

"For Frieda and myself it just seemed the right time, although obviously there are no real rights or wrongs to it. We have been together for eight years and to some extent the catalyst was a financial one. I have qualified as a solicitor and own a house and Frieda, who works in PR, is also financially independent and owns her own place, so we are both secure.

"That said, it would also have been possible two or three years ago and we didn't really consider it. I suppose we felt we were both still young - whereas now it just feels right."

All the couples spoke of having reached financial security as a considerable factor in their decision to get married now. The fiscal end of marriage has changed considerably in the past 40 years: a young woman no longer looks to marriage for financial freedom but will usually be independent on entering into it; a man need no longer feel a crushing responsibility to be the sole provider for his wife and possible family . . . however, a feeling of mutual security is important. "We just couldn't have considered it until I had qualified as a solicitor and Sonia was financially secure - I just don't know how people who aren't independent manage it," says Barry.

None of the couples felt religious considerations played a part in their decision to get married - but family prospects did. Many people are eager, once again, to put the seal of marriage on a relationship before the arrival of children. Some may already have young children by a current or previous partner, but what does seem to be on the increase is a feeling that bringing up children as a team within marriage is the ideal.

"Although it sounds very old-fashioned, wanting to be married before we had children was a major part of our decision to get married," Tim admits. "I do think it's a personal thing . . . but I feel that it would be rather selfish to have children without being married."

Frieda and Paddy agree they would rather tie the knot before children arrive; "It's not the be-all-and-end all to us, but let's just say that it would be preferable."

So at the heart of the marriage boom is a growing belief that the ideals of commitment and monogamy are good ones. All the couples dismissed the notion that the availability now of divorce in this country influenced their decision to get married. They say marriage is no longer a rule book: they see it as a celebration of their commitment. As Barry Lyons points out: "Marriage is not a promise of monogamy. Monogamy is a matter of respect and something quite separate to marriage; if someone puts up with you, you owe them that much. I would see marriage more as a way of marking a new stage in your lives together as adults and as a celebration of what your relationship means."