Why?

While my FH and I have been living together for years florida doesn’t have a common law marriage or domestic partnership, and I’ve been in the hospital in the past with health complications and he’s the only person I trust to make medical choices for me. Other than that we wanted to symbolize the fact that we found our person and the binding of our souls as one.

For us, there were a few reasons. One was the permanence of what marriage represents. Yes, we were still committed to each other prior to the marriage, but committing to each other in front of all our loved ones is just something else. Also, there are a lot of legal benefits to marriage (especially in states such as mine where common law marriage isn't a thing). You are legally recognized as a family unit. Without marriage (or a domestic partnership), you cannot be on your partner's medical insurance or make life-saving medical decisions (if you are unfortunately in that position), and there are tax benefits, to name a few. Marriage is not the right choice for everyone, but it was for us. Our relationship didn't fundamentally change after marriage (we lived together beforehand), but there are definitely benefits such as the ones I mentioned above.

Commitment, tradition, cultural, legal, medical, etc

My husband didn't see the purpose of marriage as he felt were together and committed but for me I felt we were a couple just loving together. Masías seems more permanent and sacred. I can't exclaim but I feel now we're a unit.

Practical: health insurance, medical access/decisions/visitation rights, basically all the legal protections you get with marriage, especially if we have a kid, etc.

Personal: we both believe in marriage (DH is Catholic), there's a more "permanent" feel to it, pledging ourselves in front of our community was important and meaningful for us, we felt it was a deeper version of our relationship.

We wanted to get married because it is symbolic of commitment. We also want to have a family, which I know you can do without getting married, but for us marriage was important before starting a family. Also, for the legal reasons involved.

I want both the spiritual/ emotional bond that marriage brings. As well as the practical part of it like insurance, retirement, etc. my fiancé is a firefighter & if anything happens to him, I will have nothing. He always says he knew he would have to take care of me & will even after he’s gone (if he dies first).

This may be unpopular but honestly we’re doing it for the wedding itself. My fiancé believes marriage is just a piece of paper and so do I (to an extent), we aren’t religious, we’re living as a married couple just without the legal aspects that marriage brings, we’re just excited for the party! I’m excited for a day to celebrate our love as a couple. I’m excited to wear my wedding dress, I’ve always dreamed of that specifically. I don’t completely believe that marriage is JUST a piece of paper like my fiancé, I still see it as a deeper union so I’m excited for that step!

My husband's view on marriage was that it is just a piece of paper, but he knew getting married was important to me. To me, marriage is a sign of true commitment. I also was raised that you shouldn't have children until you are married so I wouldn't have even considered starting a family until we were married. Now we are happily expecting our first child May 1st.

My FH has a lot of health issues due to a genetic disorder. Two years ago I donated my kidney to him and he ended up having a very rare complication and had to go in for a second surgery. He spent a week in the hospital followed by a second stay and a very tough recovery. I always wanted to get married but it wouldn't have bothered me if I didn't, I wasn't in a rush, all of that up until that point. I realized I never knew when we might lose each other and that I could have lost him right there. It was an eye opener. I want to do everything with him and I want to do it all as husband and wife. On top of that, I was very lucky that the surgery took place in a hospital with 24 hour visitation because I stayed with him the entire time (I was way too worried to be away from him) but one night a nurse was giving me a really hard time and trying to make me leave. I had their visitation pulled up on my phone the entire night just in case. So also, for practical reasons, I would like to legally be considered his family.

View Quoted Comment Love the honesty! And I’m with ya girl- I am excited for the wedding itself! I love the idea of throwing a fun party to celebrate our love and commitment to each other with those closest to us. FH was definitely way more into the idea of marriage than I was. I honestly never saw myself getting married. I figured marriage was mostly for religious reasons or for the security it provides when starting a family- i’m not super religious and don’t plan on ever having children, so I didn’t see a point in getting married. I realized how important it was to my fiancé though, and that was super sweet. I also realized there are certain benefits to signing the paper, like health and life insurance, retirement, cheaper insurance rates, tax breaks, easier to buy a home, etc.

For us, we just want to make our union and love "official". We still consider ourselves a family with our two sons now but we want the thrill of calling each other husband and wife. We want all of us to have the same last name. We want to know that we can take care of each other legally if God forbid, something happens. We want to celebrate our love out loud.

That question is indeed a provocative question... For me marriage is the joining of two people and sharing a life together... Yes, one may say why not just live together??? besides LOVE.... SECURITY!!! Ladies lets call it as it is. We devote our entire life to this incredible individual that enhances our lives... BUT if anything were to happen and you are NOT married, at least where I am in Florida, common law is nonexistent, therefore we have no say so to medical treatment and so forth. A family member has more rights that you do. And if you are sharing a life together, as for me we are both responsible for and to another person . I believe as I read on a website somewhere... Marriage is a transformative act, changing the way two people look at each other, at the future, and at their roles in society. I am old fashioned older bride and view relationships different than the new generation.

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Hi Tone! exactly. Congratulations on your upcoming nuptuials.

View Quoted Comment Hi tone,
This is a valid point. Marriage changes everything legally.

View Quoted Comment Yes, I agree. The legal benefits matter.

View Quoted Comment Hi Belle, those are some great reasons.

View Quoted Comment Not to mention the legal benefits you both will have now.

View Quoted Comment Yes! Marriage is imprtant before having a family.

View Quoted Comment Oh wow. Marriage changes everything legally, so that "little piece of paper" is quite impactful. One can still have a wedding and not get married legally. Many cultures in Northern and Western Africa do this.