what is does marriage mean to you?

[lotsafun]

to cut a long story short i want to get married, my partner of 5 years doesnt, he thinks marriage is only a piece of paper. I on the other hand think its more than that. Were not arguing about it, just having a debate and just wondered what all of your thoughts are on it? i think that morally its the right thing to do, especially when you have children, that its the best way to show your love and are totally committed to eachother, i think it sets a stronger family unit and sets a good example to your children. god i can go on and on......
Im not naive and stupid to not know that its hard work and its all happy ever after (im a divorcee) but i still believe in it despite that. What are your thoughts? this should be interesting???????

[lotsafun]

there have been absolutley no divorces in my family on either my mam and dads side. My mam and dad have been married nearly 30 years and still going strong,

[rowanwitch]

Married my first real boyfriend separated after 11 years he got on the other bus... divorced after a messy and acrimonious two years,,,met someone else after a year lived with them for 18 years although they denied we were partners until I was on the point of leaving arriage means very little to me now but If I met someone who shared my pagan beliefs I would wish to have a proper handfasting ceremony.. it at least doesn't have the optimistic til death do us part component...only 'while the love lasts'

[Ankou]

marriage means a lot to me, but i do not believe it is the lynchpin of a relationship and it is not for everyone.

[Sqad]

It is the legal and moral declaration of an undying love and devotion to your chosen partner which consists of a mutual faithfulness never before encountered in the animal kingdom. A contract sealed on the house of God of God or his equivalent.

[painterman32]

Well, I've been married over 50 years - well over fifty years actually - and I never regret a day, I love my wife, she's my everything, my best friend and my rock. Life gets hard sometimes, but you have to count your blessings, I personally think people give up far too easily, and these so-called celebrities getting married after a whirlwind courtship, then realise they've made a mistake a few months down the line make my blood boil, it makes a mockery of the serious commitment they made.

[Bobbisox]

absolutely I do, it means I have found my soul mate and so has he

[ChuckFickens]

There seems to be a generation split here (not surprisingly)

I can't see the point of it, if you have found somebody who you care about and want to spend your life with then I can't see the point of a bit of paper to tell you that. it's how you feel that's important, not some witting on a bit of paper.

Good excuse for a pee up though, but that can be done regardless of it being a wedding :)

[Bbbananas]

Not a lot any more, I'm sad to say...

Been there, twice. Done that, twice.
And would I do it again? Hell no.
Well, probably not ;-)

[dotty.]

OK maybe this one works then:
http://tinypic.com/r/5md7oz/7

[Ankou]

perhaps more a societal shift, in the days of olde disdain was placed on those who did not marry, these days it is disdain towards those who do.

using the rather trite 'its just a piece of paper' argument is lame and lazy and carried as much weight as those who said to not wed is a sin.

[Bobbisox]

<what he said>

[coccinelle]

It is not just a piece of paper in some countries as being married gives you rights especially if your partner dies. I would have been in a right pickle had I not been married.

[Brenden]

I believe that you can live together, get married or whatever until the question of children arises, then I think they have a right(the children) to legitimacy. Please dont all jump on me at once this is my opinion.

[emmie]

Not a lot, quite frankly, but that's because i had seen a very bad one, parents, so rather puts a slant on things, and i have only seen a few happy ones, many that have just stayed together for children.

[VHG]

One of the most important considerations about getting married or not is if the unfortunate happens and one of you dies.

If you are married then there are number of legal things that mean the surviving person will probably keep the house, and any money you both have will go to the surviving partner.

If you are NOT married and one of you dies then you have no legal rights as a partner and could even find yourself getting thrown out of the house if it was in your partners name (if you are in the process of buying it). It may be your partners brothers or sisters have a claim on the house and throw you out.

Any money your partner has could also go to their relatives rather than to you.

While getting married should be about love, committment and so on, it should also be about cementing your future and making sure the surviving partner and children still have a home to live in.

[Bobbisox]

Brenden no one should jump on you for having an opinion
and yes, kids should have legitimacy

[VHG]

There is an article here about what happens if a person dies as part of an unmarried couple

http://www.uknetguide...d_Couples-100230.html

[Brenden]

Thank you Bobbisox.

[Booldawg]

i wouldnt want to get married a third time!