What does marriage mean to you ?

[Lardlizard]

Just own own personal view of it

A piece of paper, a divorce in a few years and 50% of his house to get me on the property ladder

I’m not interested in marriage unless they’re loaded.

A legal contact to bind two people into a family unit.

A lifetime commitment made before God, that means we will love, honour and cherish each other as long as we are both alive.

It’s more than a partnership; we became one, two halves of a strong enduring unit in which to raise our children and live out our lives.

To come together to create our own family, us, ours, intertwined of course with our combined family members but also stand alone as 'us'.

It's a contract, but at the same time it provides both with financial stability after the other passes .. so although I don't want a big wedding I will be marrying DP at some point.

It turned us in to a 'proper' family. Even though we already had DC and had been together almost 15years.

There was a noticeable difference. For me, anyway. I wasn't expecting it.

It was a legal contract. It gave us the right to stay in the same country as each other due to different nationalities. I love my DH deeply, but my love has always been separate from the marriage contract.

A trap. Legalised robbery. Worst decision I ever made.

@AgeLikeWine

An unfair contract which punishes those who own assets, and rewards those who own none.

This

Marriage is a legally binding contract that will affect both parties (and, to a certain extent, their children) for all of their lives. ... There are several different ways (religious, secular and civil) of solemnising a marriage so that it is legally binding.

@BarryWhiteIsMyBrother it’s not just those who own assets who are punished but those who EARN assets and work hardest during the marriage - the strivers. I say that as a mum who also was the higher earner and still has the kids but had to pay out more than half the “pot” of which I earned 70%.

Wow sounds like a lot of woman been financially stung

Something that screwed me over all ways and I would never do again

I've always disliked the idea of marriage - it puts me in mind of gender oppression and being owned as a woman.

I obviously understand that there are times marriage is a good idea (like if you are going to be a sahm). But I'm grateful never to have needed to get married as I really wouldn't like it.

Marriage is a legal contract between two adults to provide their offspring with decent inheritance.
It oft' starts in love but dwindles into loathing.
Cynic, moi?

Actually nothing. I don't see the point in it. Kinda sucks I don't have the same last name as my child tho haha.

&rebecca102 why didn’t you give your dc your surname
That what I would do if I wasn’t married

The knowledge that I'll take pain and inconvenience to love someone else as much as I do, and he'll do the same for me. (Hopefully) lifelong determination and loyalty.

AgeLikeWine

Yes.

Also, 'a wedding ring is the smallest handcuff you'll ever wear.'

My xh is a vile putrid beast. He kept the red flags well hidden. Until I left my job and he had the money.

@Lardlizard yeah I've joked to my partner why didn't I do that, I guess it's just the 'norm' that the children get the dads last name.

Absolutely nothing since I have never been married. I couldn't have children and had two longterm relationships with men who I was pretty certain would leave me for someone else who would give them children and I proved to be right. I hurt both times but no.1 was kind and no, 2 was cruel and I will never forgive him.

I think marriage is fine if both partners are financial equals but if one has contributed substantially more financially, and that goes for men as well as women, I think they are mugs.

[quote catspyjamas123]@BarryWhiteIsMyBrother it’s not just those who own assets who are punished but those who EARN assets and work hardest during the marriage - the strivers. I say that as a mum who also was the higher earner and still has the kids but had to pay out more than half the “pot” of which I earned 70%.[/quote]
Correct. I earned during the relationship whereas my ex did so before. I ended up having to pay him!

@Crankley sorry to hear that, must be very painful

He is my soulmate, provider, protector. The only man I have ever met that I can rely on to love me and treat me properly and has always been there for me, good times and bad. Had terrible male role models growing up, I was teased/bullied/let down by all of them until I met DH, could not believe that a man could be nice and kind and not treat a woman as someone to be bullied and abused.

33 years so far

Comfortably living with the person who loves me best in the whole world and who is my rock and best friend

This doesn't require marriage. It describes how I feel about my DP of 24 years. We're not married.