I have been with my girlfriend now for 6 years and love her loads i hopefully will marry her one day but if i dont then it doesnt matter because marriage is just a piece of paper that doesnt change how much you love the person.

I agree with you, i doubt i will ever get married, but who knows what the future holds.

I don't really want to get married but if I find the perfect girl for me I'll marry.

i've been married for 2 years. it's wonderful. it's tough too, but i am so glad to be married. my husband and i are both in our 30s - we definitely waited until we found the right person. i highly recommend you wait... it's worth it! we are so very happy.

Marriage is just a piece of paper to me. Although I have heard something about symbolism, but still. I have known my close friends live happily as family without marriage whereas their neighbor ( who are married and now divorced ) fight constantly every night over who owns what and who is running the house. It is just crazy.

I don't agree with marriage at all. To me it is basically giving half your money to a person. The happiest long time couples I have ever seen are my neighbours who have been together for 19 years and are not married.

Well you would get a pre nup if you were worried about your money and the only reason marriage appeals to me is so that my girlfriend can carry my name.

The cost to get married and to get divorced are way too high, so if you are not a celeb then don't get married too soon. You will be fighting each other for a custody of your child and such. Poor kids.. to have to get through this.

So that's it? Marriage is all about changing someone's name?

no its about loving someone but it wouldnt bother me not getting married because a piece of paper doesnt change anything but my girlfriend wants to take my name.

i hope that those of you with negative views of marriage keep an open mind when you meet your soul mate. marriage is a sign of commitment to the person you love. if my husband & i weren't married, would we still be committed to each other? you betcha. but we wanted to get married - celebrate our love with our closest family and friends, before god, etc.

but it's a choice. just keep an open mind!

You must think about your children's future. I disagree if I live with my girl without marriage. Your life will be nice if you have married. even though you think that it is same marry or not marry

Be it piece of paper or ritual. I think in any case you agree with your spouse and support till the end of life is what is important. It's about keeping relationship.

yeah that is true. i think that i envy those who are not married yet but still happy with their partners. but still i believe in marriage though so i guess it is better to wait and make sure that you are marrying the right person for you.

My parents have been together for 26 years.

my parents have been married for 36 years. my grandparents were married for over 50 years before my grandfather died.

if it's not for you, it's not for you... but i love being married!

Marriage is good if you have someone to love you without asking anything in return. But if you are forced to marry then it's better to say single forever.

Same with me and my girlfriend, however it's a long ways away.

Marriage doesn't show true love - it is moreso for the trust and sharing the wealth of the families if you know what I mean. Marriage has a lot of political complications which aren't good for relasionships.

-- Q

i would definitely have to say that i don't agree at all! maybe it's that way in 0.05% of marriages, but most are for other reasons. (i hope that those other reasons are mostly love, but i'm not that naive!)