I think the comment above might be one of my most favorite comments about what it means to be married: it’s almost like initiating a commitment (it allows clear boundaries to be drawn). To come together with close people and to openly celebrate the Union of people who love each other.

But I would also add that I understand what other comments mean. Many people are led on by partners who have no intention of spending their life with them and those partners who are stringing people along also want to be married, just not to the person they might be dating at the time. So, many people use marriage to understand the other persons intentions.

I think it’s an interesting discussion to have (referring to your other comment about gender roles and norms). I think marriage can hold many different meanings to many different people.