I'm curious.

1. How did you know you wanted to get married?
2. And what was it about marriage that made you want to do it?
3. At what point in your life did you realize you wanted to get married?
4. Was it something you had always wanted to do or something that family members/society forced on you?

I want to get married in a few years, but I don't know why. Does that make sense?

To me, getting married was more about Jim stepping up, then it was anything else. I'm in no particular hurry to get married - I'll do it eventually, and I'll be glad I did it, but it's not this great burden that's weighing on my life, the fact that I'm not married.

But Jim and I have been together 9 years (8 at the time he proposed), and we have a son that will be 4 this coming August. He either needed to man up, and commit to being with ME, or he needed to go on, so I could find someone that WOULD commit to being with me.

So the major point of the proposal in my head was knowing that Jim was willing to step up and go on. Like I said - I don't feel this crushing burden in my life that I'm not married. But it had very much gotten to the point of a crushing burden that he wouldn't even discuss it with me. I said marriage, and he got all stammery and goofy. Now, when you've been with someone six months, and you throw the M word down on the table, you expect some stammers and goofiness. When you've been with someone eight years and you've got a kid by them, and they STILL get stammery and goofy, it's a soul crushing experience of the highest order.

So, like I keep repeating myself - I'm in no particular hurry. I'll get married, and I'll be glad to do have done it. But the point to me was in him stepping up to the plate. :/

1. How did you know you wanted to get married?
I'm lazy. I don't think that marriage always equals commitment, and a good part of me wants to refuse to get married to show solidarity with my gay best friend. It's entirely possible to build a life together without marriage. However, I don't want to go through the headache of all the legal work it would require to protect myself and my boyfriend when the alternative is spending $100 on a marriage license and automatically getting said protection. You know?

2. And what was it about marriage that made you want to do it?
The legal benefits make up 80% of it. The other 20% is that I want a pretty wedding and an awesome honeymoon. The lifelong commitment would be a given, so why not take advantage of the perks that come along with it?

3. At what point in your life did you realize you wanted to get married?
I'm twenty and single, and pretty sure I want to get married for all the reasons above. However, marriage has never been a make it or break it thing for me. If the love of my life wanted to commit to me and build their life with me, but didn't believe in the institution of marriage as it stands in our country today, I certainly wouldn't leave him.

4. Was it something you had always wanted to do or something that family members/society forced on you?
Society plays a part. My parents don't care if I don't get married, and the rest of my family's opinion doesn't much matter to me.

1. How did you know you wanted to get married?
I always assumed that when I grew up I'd fall in love and want to get married because that's what happened with most people.

2. And what was it about marriage that made you want to do it?
Probably the fact that my parents were happily married made me look favorably on the arrangement.

3. At what point in your life did you realize you wanted to get married?
When I met my husband and we realized we wanted to spend the rest of our lives together, that was it. Technically, it is possible to commit to living together forever without bothering with a ceremony or filing legal papers. However in this case a couple is being really hypocritical pretending they are not married.

4. Was it something you had always wanted to do or something that family members/society forced on you?
The fact that the large majority of people in our society do get married surely influenced my assumptions that that's what I would do, too. However if I had never fallen in love with the right person or decided, as an adult, that it was just not for me, I would not have felt forced to do it regardless.

I want to get married in a few years, but I don't know why. Does that make sense?
Sure. It's nice to go through life with someone you love on a permanent basis. But you don't feel like getting married just to get married or like settling down with one person at this point. After all, this does involve some compromise. For example it is usually possible for a couple to follow only one person's career to the max. If a woman is elected to congress this means that to stay together her husband will also need to move to Washington DC and pick up his career there. And vice versa. But when you meet the right person then getting married will feel like the only choice you want.

1. How did you know you wanted to get married?

I don't think I've ever not known. I've known since I was a child that I wanted to get married someday.

2. And what was it about marriage that made you want to do it?

I like the idea of someone who is always there for you. Someone you can always count on. Someone who isn't afraid to tell you the truth. Sounds like a best friend? Yes, he is. =)

3. At what point in your life did you realize you wanted to get married?

I met my guy when I was 14. We talked about getting married around the time I turned 16 so I guess I've always known. I'm 21 now and we're getting married next summer.

4. Was it something you had always wanted to do or something that family members/society forced on you?

Always wanted.

1. How did you know you wanted to get married?
I've always wanted to be a wife and a mother. It just seems kind of natural to me.

2. And what was it about marriage that made you want to do it?
Companionship above anything, I think. I'm kind of a romantic, and to quote Moulin Rouge, "all you need is love." It's nice to know that there's someone to come home to, and feeling loved is just so... great.

3. At what point in your life did you realize you wanted to get married?
I kind of always wanted to get married. I think this was actually kind of a bad thing. I was engaged once before and I feel that happened because I was in a rush to get married. I realized I wanted to get married to this particular man pretty much right away once we started dating. There was just something about him. For one he was older and had his life together and he treated me the way I deserved to be treated. It was wonderful.

4. Was it something you had always wanted to do or something that family members/society forced on you?
It's something that I've always wanted. My parents don't have the best relationship ever and I always kind of dreamed of having a happy marriage.

1. How did you know you wanted to get married?
To my fiance? I just knew. At all? I kind of just knew that too.

2. And what was it about marriage that made you want to do it?
Well, we're Christians, so... Haha, no, joking. In all seriousness, aside from the fact that I love my fiance so much it hurts, I honestly believe that there is more we can do together then apart. To us, marriage is about so much more then just doing life together. Okay, it's kind of like that (incredibly beautiful) myth that all humans were once four-legged creatures and they were split in half, and now spend the rest of their lives looking for their other half. I found my other half, and I have a very strong feeling that I couldn't do all I'm meant to do in my life without my fiance by my side, being my other half.

3. At what point in your life did you realize you wanted to get married?
I always wanted to get married.

4. Was it something you had always wanted to do or something that family members/society forced on you?
It was something I'd always wanted to do.

1. How did you know you wanted to get married?

I was very confident that God had a plan for me and my life, and right before I started dating my now husband, I was content however that was. If God wanted me to live single all my life, I was ok with that, and if He wanted me to be married, I was fine with that too. I really liked having that peace about my life. But, and I know this sounds hokey (but it's honestly true), the moment I kissed him for the first time, I knew I wanted to stay with him as long as possible. I don't think marriage crossed my mind at that time, but since that moment I never thought about living my life without him anymore.

2. And what was it about marriage that made you want to do it?

Whew, these are deep questions my dear! From my Christian perspective, I've always seen marriage as blessed by God and a clear commitment to that one person and the family that you'd build with that person. Also, I was abstinent, so marriage held a symbolic commitment on that level as well.

3. At what point in your life did you realize you wanted to get married?

See my number 1 on this one. As a child, like I'm sure many other girls did, I fantasized about my wedding, but as I grew independent and went through various relationships, I rather wanted to trust the plan for me than worry about what *I* wanted in that regard.

4. Was it something you had always wanted to do or something that family members/society forced on you?

I did feel pressure in my early 20's to find 'the One' and start settling down, because I feel like there is still that stigma against a grown woman who isn't married in general society, and that frustrates me still. That was usually casual acquaintances though, who loved to butt in with their opinions when not wanted. But while my grandmother would often ask about my dating life, I never felt like I was ever being 'pressured' from my family to get married for the sake of getting married. And for that I am forever thankful.

1. How did you know you wanted to get married?

I have never felt that I had to get married or not- and always felt that I would be perfectly happy one way or another. I am a pretty independent girl. But after a few years with my fiancé Brian, I realized that he was not only my best friend, lover, partner in crime and everything else but the person I wanted to grow old with. I wanted to watch him grow old, have a family with him, and be by his side for years to come. So thats when I knew!

2. And what was it about marriage that made you want to do it?

Well, Brian and I have been together for 7.5 years so we most or our friends think of us as a married couple even though we are still engaged. The legal benefits make up about 75% of the reason we are getting married and the rest is just to make it 'official.' Some people don't respect our relationship as serious unless we are married even though we are very dedicated.

3. At what point in your life did you realize you wanted to get married?

About a year and a half into my relationship with my fiancé Brian. I started thinking about it very seriously two years ago, when I was 22.

4. Was it something you had always wanted to do or something that family members/society forced on you?

None of the above. My family has never pushed marriage on me. I don't care what society does and as a child I never thought twice about marriage. I was never the little girl that drempt about her wedding or anything.

1. How did you know you wanted to get married?
I went through a bitter phase after my last break up and swore up and down I would never get married. Then as my friends started to get married and I saw how much happier they were, I warmed up to the idea again. I'd like to get married, just not soon.

2. And what was it about marriage that made you want to do it?
Ideally, knowing I have someone to stand by me for the rest of my life. There may be days we don't especially like each other, but it's nice to know that he'll always be there for me.

3. At what point in your life did you realize you wanted to get married?
Within the past 6 months for sure.

4. Was it something you had always wanted to do or something that family members/society forced on you?
I honestly don't think my parents would care if I never got married. My mom has already said she doesn't want grandchildren. My grandparents might care and they definitely would object to living in sin with someone. I think what tipped it for me was seeing how happy my friends were and wanting that for myself.

1. How did you know you wanted to get married?
I hate to use this excuse, but "I just knew." It sounds so cliche, but really. You just KNOW when the time is right. At the time I met my now-husband I was enjoying the single life and wasn't really looking to get married anytime soon (especially not at 18), but when he came along everything changed. The first night I seriously talked to him (until 4am) we BOTH felt the connection and we both just knew. It's hard to explain and I feel like I'm going in circles when I do try to tell people about it.

But it's just like my whole world revolved around only him for a little while. We're so much alike and yet so different, but we made a great pair. I wanted the same things he wanted, he wanted what I wanted. And when I was single, I always told myself, "God, I hope the next guy I date is a preacher so he won't force me into anything physical that I don't want to do." I said it as kind of a joke, but IT REALLY HAPPENED. My husband is and has been the youth leader at our church for three years and he's exactly what I was looking for.

2. And what was it about marriage that made you want to do it?
The fact I'd never have to go another day in my life without seeing him. (We actually went 76 days in a row seeing each other while dating...then I got mono and opted to not see him for one day...but the next day we were right back to where we were. As of today, I've seen him every day of my life since June 22nd.)

The fact that I would have someone to share my ups and downs with, someone to trust with my life, my feelings, all that. I would have someone to encourage me in my spiritual journey in a way that no one else can. I would always have someone there for me, always supporting me in everything. And SO MUCH MORE.

3. At what point in your life did you realize you wanted to get married?
I have always wanted to get married, but never seriously thought about it until I was seventeen or so.

4. Was it something you had always wanted to do or something that family members/society forced on you?
I was definitely not forced to get married; if anything, 80% of people tried to stop me from doing it so young. My mom and step-dad were the most supportive. I mainly did it because I wanted to (well, and him too), not caring about what anyone else thought. We got engaged after two months and married about two months later.

Honestly, we were both valued purity very much and that was one of the reasons we rushed the actual wedding. We originally had one planned for May 22nd, 2010, then moved it to sometime in March, then to 1/9/10, and finally decided we just couldn't wait and moved it way up to August 23rd, about ten weeks after getting engaged. I wouldn't have it any other way

Overall, married life is great. But there are challenges, not just because I got married at 18, but because it's LIFE. There's bills, there's fights, there's sickness. But you just deal with it, pick up and accept it.

1. How did you know you wanted to get married?

I have always known I wanted to get married but the 'marriage' part of it did not hit me until I met my husband. I was the typical girl who wanted to get married in a big white dress and in a church. But in reality I got married in a hotel in a ivory dress. Different weddings yes, but I knew that my husband was the person I wanted to spend the rest of my life with.

2. And what was it about marriage that made you want to do it?
mostly marriage has loads of downsides, as we were living together anyway so no perks as such. The reason was plain and simple because we wanted to get married to each other.

3. At what point in your life did you realize you wanted to get married?
I did not think I would be married at the age of 22! But no matter what age you are when the right person comes along, you just know!

4. Was it something you had always wanted to do or something that family members/society forced on you?
Not really, more the opposite. We had one couple who we were friends with who got married 3 months before us, but apart from that my parents were against it, even more against it when we booked the hotel by saying 'cant you wait to get married it is going to be hard' and 'your young, and you live together so nothing isnt going to change day to day'. I know many people from school who have children and are not married. Personally, I had the self respect for myself not to be that kind of person and try and acheive my moral of meet boy, get married, have children. I beleive it is the right way of doing things for myself and my husband. I am not saying any other way is wrong and in between all of this there are goals we both want to acheive. Like for example, we wanted to graduate before getting married, plus we wanted to move to a better area. Next is to enjoy some travelling, get a car, move to a bigger place, better jobs, and then think of children!. Just because were married doesnt mean our lives end...the possibilities are endless!

1. How did you know you wanted to get married? Because of the way I was raised, I always assumed I would get married and that I would do it fairly young. Then after two failed long-term relationships before I was even 21, I started to have second thoughts. When Mark and I first got together, I was determined that we were just having fun spending time together and that it wasn't anything more serious than that, and if we ever weren't having fun anymore, we would stop seeing each other. But of course it didn't work out that way. By about six months in, it was pretty clear that we were crazy about each other and would be together for a long time. But even then, we talked about living together rather than marriage at first. I think we both felt way too young and unprepared for marriage. I'd say the marriage talk started to get serious around the time we moved in together, four years ago. We finally started to feel ready to commit our lives to each other without it being a big scary idea.
2. And what was it about marriage that made you want to do it? Mark is the person that I want to share all of life's ups and downs with, so it just makes sense. I want him by my side for the rest of our lives, no matter what. Of course, we could do that without the formality of marriage, but we like the legal recognition that we will get. We will become each other's family, and everyone will know it.
3. At what point in your life did you realize you wanted to get married? Like I said, I always just assumed that I would from a very young age. But I think it's been in the past 4 years that I've started to really become excited and eager about really doing it soon, rather than just looking at it as something that I'll probably end up doing someday in the distant future.
4. Was it something you had always wanted to do or something that family members/society forced on you? Both, I guess. People tended to get married young in the church I grew up in, so having seen that for my whole life, I just figured that's the way things were. But now that we are actually talking seriously about marriage, I don't feel pressured. My parents already treat Mark as a son-in-law and tend to forget that we're not actually married, and his mom is a divorcee who is very adamant about not wanting us to rush into anything, so we're definitely not feeling any familial pressure.

1. How did you know you wanted to get married?
Was in love and ready to grow up. Plus I found out i was pregnant
2. And what was it about marriage that made you want to do it?
Having the close bond with someone who was my bff. Also knowing I would never have to worry about getting an STD. There are lots of dirty people out there.
3. At what point in your life did you realize you wanted to get married?
My whole life. I have been planning it for years.
4. Was it something you had always wanted to do or something that family members/society forced on you?
No one forced it on me. But I have to say the honeymoon is definitely over

1. How did you know you wanted to get married?
I was adamantly opposed to the idea of getting married until I met my fiance. Almost immediately it seemed like the most natural thing in the world. We are going to be spending our lives together regardless of a certificate but we both think it's nice to be able to share the official moment with our nearest and dearest.

2. And what was it about marriage that made you want to do it?
It seems like the perfect celebration of how happy we are and a good way of letting our family enjoy our plans for the future.

3. At what point in your life did you realize you wanted to get married?
Not till I met Ben. I was absolutely shocked to discover that I was the marrying type. I'd been mouthing off about the pointlessness of marriage my entire life.

4. Was it something you had always wanted to do or something that family members/society forced on you?
Neither.