Unconventional Relationship Choices and Societal Trends

The modern dating scene often emphasizes chemistry and sexual compatibility before marriage. However, Bethany Beal, a 38-year-old Texas-based Christian influencer, chose a different path. She reserved her first kiss for her wedding day when she married at 30, a decision she refers to as a deeply personal commitment.

Beal shared with Newsweek the teenage promise that shaped her unique approach to intimacy. “I read a book when I was a teenager about a woman who decided to save her first kiss for marriage. I was inspired,” Beal explained. “How cool to only ever kiss one man. The man I’d marry.” This inspiration led to her decision at 13 to abstain from both sex and kissing until marriage.

Now married for eight years with three children, Beal still values her decision. “The waiting did feel long at times, but I am proud of my choice,” she said. “Sharing my first kiss ever with my husband at the altar of our wedding is such a sweet memory.”

A Different Relationship Path

Beal’s choices challenge the prevailing narrative that considers intimacy and sex essential in dating. Her experience resonates amid reports of decreased sexual activity among younger Americans. Researchers note that delayed sexual experiences are increasingly common due to factors like changing social habits.

Data from the Institute for Family Studies shows that weekly sexual activity among U.S. adults aged 18 to 64 fell from 55 percent in 1990 to 37 percent in 2024. The decline in young adults living with partners and reduced social interactions contribute to these changes. From 2014 to 2024, the rate of young adults aged 18 to 29 living with a lover dropped from 42 to 32 percent.

The “sex recession” describes this pronounced trend. Data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System indicates a drop among high school students having had sex from 47 percent in 2013 to 32 percent in 2023. Stability remained from 2021 to 2023, cutting across all racial and ethnic groups.

A 2020 study in JAMA Network Open reported that 30.9 percent of Generation Z men aged 18 to 24 experienced no sexual activity in the previous year, contrasted with 14.1 percent of millennial men aged 25 to 34. These shifts, not always religiously motivated, have spurred discussions about intimacy timelines.

Beal’s decision stemmed more from her faith and upbringing than from defying trends. “I grew up in a very conservative family and community,” she explained. “Many of my friends actually made similar commitments.” Her perspective diverges from online views that consider her approach extreme.

As a public figure in a Christian ministry, Beal shares her dating and marriage stories openly. She broadcasted her wedding, letting thousands virtually celebrate her union. By continuing to discuss her choices, she doesn’t urge others to follow but encourages women to feel empowered in their decisions. “There is a lot of pressure to have sex, get experience, and test drive the relationship before getting married,” she stated. “I’m proof that you can still save sex for marriage and have a thriving relationship.”