Their wedding at the NSW Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages office at Parramatta on Friday afternoon was one of more than 17,000 such ceremonies to have taken place in NSW so far this year.

In the same period there were about 9000 religious wedding ceremonies.

NSW Attorney-General John Hatzistergos said Registry figures showed that civil weddings overtook religious ceremonies in 2002 and had been steadily increasing ever since.

Last year more than 24,000 civil ceremonies were held in NSW, up from 20,000 in 2005 and 19,000 in 2000.

At the same time religious weddings have decreased.

There were 15,000 held last year, 16,000 in 2005 and 20,000 in 2000.

A Registry office spokeswoman said economic considerations were turning more people towards civil unions.

It costs $330 to be married at a Registry office from Monday to Friday and $420 on Friday evenings and weekends, leaving more money for couples to spend on other things such as a honeymoon or a deposit on a house.

Mr Hatzistergos said the October long weekend was traditionally the busiest for civil marriage ceremonies.

Other days considered to have lucky calendar dates were also popular.

``The busiest day ever for weddings held at the Registry's offices was on August 8 last year, when 96 civil ceremonies took place,'' Mr Hatzistergos said.