Why do people get married? What is the true meaning of it?

I don't know that I can answer for others. But for me I got married because I really believe that I found my partner for life. I wanted to make a real commitment. To me, it means that we are 100% committed to each other and to living a life together. It means compromise and having someone to be there for you, someone that you can rely upon. It seems needed now more than ever possibly. We live in unstable and uncertain times. Maybe that's show life will always be but it's really nice to have someone there for you. I waited until I was 32 to get married. I believe that I waited for the one that was right for me. It's not a fairy tale but it's a great real life story and you really can't ask for more than that.Why do people get married? What is the true meaning of it?
To find the ';true meaning'; of it, I decided to look up the definition of ';marriage'; in a dictionary and here is what I found...





1. the social institution under which a man and woman establish their decision to live as husband and wife by legal commitments, religious ceremonies, etc.


2. the state, condition, or relationship of being married; wedlock: a happy marriage.


3. the legal or religious ceremony that formalizes the decision of a man and woman to live as husband and wife, including the accompanying social festivities: to officiate at a marriage.


4. a relationship in which two people have pledged themselves to each other in the manner of a husband and wife, without legal sanction: trial marriage; homosexual marriage.


5. any close or intimate association or union: the marriage of words and music in a hit song; the marriage of music and dance; a marriage of ideas.


6. a formal agreement between two companies or enterprises to combine operations, resources, etc., for mutual benefit; merger.


7. a blending or matching of different elements or components: The new lipstick is a beautiful marriage of fragrance and texture.


8. Cards. a meld of the king and queen of a suit, as in pinochle. Compare royal marriage.


9. a piece of antique furniture assembled from components of two or more authentic pieces.


10. Obsolete. the formal declaration or contract by which act a man and a woman join in wedlock.





Now, I will acknowledge that definitions #1 and #3 both specifically refer to a man and a woman but please note that definition #2 is not gender-specific and #4 includes ';homosexual marriage.';





What I would like to point out is that the word ';marriage'; has been around in common use for several OTHER things (see definitions 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9).





As for your first question, ';Why do people get married?'; I really have no idea, other than for the legal benefits given by the various governments.Why do people get married? What is the true meaning of it?
People feel they need to get married because its a social norm and some feel religion encourages them to do it. The meaning of it will be different to many people. I think the meaning of Marrige is a union between two people for the purpose of building a family, and individual conmpanionship.
I think everyone has their own version of the meaning behind why they get married. Personally I think marriage is something very special! I think you are sharing something with someone you are completely in love with. I think it symbolizes happiness, loyalty, and love!
Health insurance benefits.





It doesn't really matter to myself and my fiance beyond that, however a legal marriage would allow me some measure of security while I'm job hunting.





Plus there is the entire cultural concept of it some how joining two people's lives, but honestly we've been hard to separate regardless of marital status for quite some time.
Being pressurised by parents


Religious beliefs


To have a 'nice wedding' (there was a article in yesterday's Independent extolling the virtues of weddings...I was almost sick over my sunday lunch!)


To get paid £100,000 by 'Hello'


Legitimisation of any children (but that's increasingly irrelevant, thankfully)
to show they found their soulmates, and that their truly in love forever, will be side by side no matter what, and that they are meant for eachother and no one else.


:]
In my opinion it is to declare a commitment to the love of your life for the rest of your lives.
Its completely unnecessary imo and if anything totally outdated today
I can't think of a single reason outside of the legal aspects of it....like being able to receive death benefits.
to live their life completely