Commitment ceremony?

Instead of a commitment ceremony maybe you can have a party on a major anniversary. I don't know how long you and your SO have been together, but maybe you could have a 5 or ten year anniversary party where you (without an officiant) say vows or a few words to each other about your love for one another. You can also allow friends and family to make toasts. I think that would be a nice way to celebrate your relationship and commitment to one another while being transparent with your guests.

Why comment if you have nothing to contribute .. the questions your asking have previously been answered ..

Did you ever find out any more info on if u can get married

View Quoted Comment We wont ask for gifts either. My partner and I have been together for 10 years been through hell and back and are now raising a family together. We are having a commitment ceremony for OUR affirmation of our love for eachother. This is based upon beliefs and to us the legality is not what is important its the love we have for each other . . . the ceremony will stand for the commitment of the rest of our lives.. For better..or worse.. Sickness and in health.. All the vows that traditional wedding have. Before gay marriage became legal in our state that is how your relationship was celebrated. We have many friends who do not understand this..but still support us.. We dont expect people to understand but for them to be there on that special day for us. . is all we ask. No gifts needed.

My fiance and I are thinking of doing a commitment ceremony for the same reason

View Quoted Comment Did your friend keep her last name or take his ?? How did they manage to keep it a secret?

View Quoted Comment Did you end up having a commitment ceremony and did it work out ok ? Is there a way to keep this private... so no one knows ?

Did you ever do the commitment ceremony???

To whom it may concern in the comments below, here are a couple of questions for you. Do you think that it is just for someone who has a disability, whose life is already difficult enough, and who relies on SSI, in some cases their life depends on it, and in some cases who rely on it just to be able to live a normal life, to be forced to live with such heavy restrictions, when all they want to do is live their life just like everyone else? Do you think that it is right, in some cases, that a person with a disability earns less than the minimum wage? Do you think that it is right for a person with a disability is forced to work part-time instead of full-time and risks losing their SSI all together? Do you think that it is right for a person with a disability who wants what every other person in the world desires, which is to be married to the love of their life, and in doing so loses their SSI? If you believe that the answer is yes to any of these questions, I have some bad news for you. Just recently, Alaska has declared that it is illegal and unjust for a person with a disability to earn less than the minimum wage. Why is it until now that that was decided? A person is a person no matter what and they should be treated with the same dignity and respect whether they have a disability or not. Let's discuss the next issue. I am dating a person with a disability. She is the most intelligent person that I know. She has a hard time finding a job despite the fact that she graduated with a bachelor's degree in bilingual education. Her grades were near the top of the class and graduated with honors. This is her dream job and she worked harder for it than I have ever seen anyone work. As she has been interviewed by quite a few schools already, some of the questions specifically pertained to her disability, particularly if she is able to perform her duties in the classroom. It has been nearly a year now since her completion of certification and training and interviews and still has not gotten a job offer. Now I'm not a skeptic or anything, but I'm pretty sure any able-bodied person who graduated with a bachelor's degree in bilingual education, earn their teaching certification, and graduated with honors would have been hired sooner than later. Another issue pertains to her work load. She is fully capable of completing all tasks within the classroom as she has done during her teaching certification shadowing another professor. A person with a disability cannot work full-time or they will lose their SSI. A person with a disability is denied a capability of life, working full-time at their dream job. And for those who are not well knowledged in the field of bilingual education specifically where we live, there is a great need for a bilingual teacher being as our community is half fluent in one language and half the other. However, quite a few jobs do not pay as well as they should. You probably also don't know the cost of living for a person with a disability including what they need to live. After doing some research and having experienced the living conditions of a few friends with disabilities, I have determined that it is practically impossible for a person with a disability to live on their own, working full-time, without SSI, without a friend or significant other to help. Speaking of which, the last question. A person with a disability can not marry their significant other, otherwise they will lose their SSI. A friend that I have known for a long time who has a disability lives with his significant other. The restrictions are for him as well as my significant other. He cannot get a full-time job to help out with the rent and groceries and other necessities to live without losing his SSI. His disability also restricts what kind of job he can have being as not all jobs or disability friendly. Not only that but they cannot marry or he will also lose his SSI, because the government thinks that the significant other can carry the workload on his or her back for both of them. And the place that they live, even if they do marry and even if he does get a full-time job, they will still not be able to afford the rent or groceries because of the Restriction of the job that he can get which does not pay enough. Now, if there was a way for a person who has a disability and is on SSI to live a happy normal life with his or her significant other, without the American government's stepping in and screwing them over, would you people not do the same thing? Put yourself in their shoes. You are wheelchair-bound. You have a bachelor's degree in your field and want a job that you love. You are also dating someone that you love very much. You are not able to work full time or marry your significant other without losing the funding that allows you to live a good life. You must remain part time and unmarried for the rest of your life and are at the mercy of the American government. So what if someone wants to be husband and wife and not lose their ability to live? Is it harming you in any way? is it preventing you from living a normal life? Does it impede on your ability to live? An able-bodied person does not have to suffer like this. Also for the record not all disabilities are the same. There are multiple forms of disability is that people take into account, such as someone being wheelchair-bound for the rest of their life versus having epilepsy or a pacemaker in their heart. The fact that you are hating on someone for wanting an alternative way of being together in a meaningful and spiritual way without losing the funding that allows them to live and live a normal life makes you all nothing short of hateful, disgusting bigots. The only people that you should be mad at is the American government for wanting to restrict persons with disabilities to the point that they cannot live normal lives and have the perks and commodities that all able-bodied people have. I have many friends who have disabilities and their lives are in definitely more difficult then those who are able bodied. I don't want much in this life. I want peace and love and for everyone to have the same rights as everyone else. A disability should not determine whether or not you live minimally compared to someone else. I fully supports this couple because I want them to be happy with each other and to be able to call themselves husband and wife without the greedy American System taking away what helps them survive in this world and helps to shut the bigotry up such as from you greedy jerks. Your hearts are not full of love. They are full of control, greed, envy, hatred, and guess what? There's a word for you people. You're called ableists. You discriminate against persons with disabilities because you think that they should have to suffer under the American construct that is the SSI system. You think that they can't have what you have just because they want to have a commitment ceremony instead of a wedding so that they do not lose their SSI. your point of view is honestly full of disgust. Who cares what someone else does. They're not hurting you or getting in your way of doing something you want. all you are doing is providing your negative two cents against persons with disabilities and should feel bad. I came to this comment thread hoping that there was some good in the world and hoping that people would see it from a persons with disabilities point of view. No instead there is only bigotry and hatred. As per they couple who seeks to be happy with each other without losing their ability to live, I fully support you, not only because the American government loves to screw over persons with disabilities, but also my significant other and myself are in the same boat. I truly hope that the commitment ceremony works out in your favor and you will be able to live a happy normal life just like every other able-bodied person in America. Sincerely, an able-bodied man and the love of his life with a disability that does not define her character, or her ability in this world.

The amount of bigotry and entitlement is astounding let’s take my area for example ssi is 780 a month that translates to 16k and some change a year the poverty line is 28k a year 1 bedroom apartment the cheapest you’ll find without living in a drug den area is 750 a month that doesn’t include food water electricity and any other bills lets say you have 2 people on ssi each getting 780 their combined income if married can not exceed 1200 a month you think someone can live off of that let’s throw in if just one of you has a car that lowers the amount you receive trashing someone just because they’re looking for alternative means of a marriage while maintaining the bad right to live is sad and pathetic need I remind half of you freedom and the pursuit of happiness to live these are unalienable rights or did I miss something just because a person has a disability doesn’t mean they don’t deserve the same base perks of life you take for granted