Top Ten Reasons People Get Married

Relationships begin in many ways and for many reasons. The end result is always one of two options though: you break up or get married. While breakups are more common, marriage happens to most everyone at some point.

Whether it's confessing your love for your spouse or just reaping the tax benefits, there are many reasons people choose to tie the knot. Once married, the struggle to stay that way can often be one of the most difficult challenges one can undertake - though it is also one of the most rewarding. Statistically speaking, most marriages end in divorce but that doesn't mean two people shouldn't get married in the first place.

Below are the top ten reasons people use to get married. Some are more romantic while others are solely practical. I imagine there's a reason on the list that fits most people's relationship.
The Top Ten
1 To declare their love

Nothing says "I love you" like doing it legally in front of friends and family. Letting the world know you have feelings for the other person is one of the most compelling reasons people choose to get married.

"A successful marriage requires falling in love many times, always with the same person." Not sure who said this but it's perfect. My parents are still happily married (most of the time) after nearly fifty years.

Can't remember who said it but...
"The first time you marry is for love, the second time for money and the third time for companionship." Nice quote and probably true but me? I wish to marry just the once - for life!

2 Tax relief

It really can be cheaper to get married. While living alone is undoubtedly the cheapest option, if you are dating or living with someone already, getting the increased income and/or tax write-offs can help the piggy bank swell.

Commercial Guy* tired of taxes? Random person: yeah commercial guy: just. Merry a crazy rich dumb guy and no more taxes must be older than 66 to Order your crazy rich dude (fake)

There is no love, there is only taxes.

3 Family pressure

Dating for a decade can often put pressure on the family to keep up appearances. Whether religious, social, or economic pressures are at play, many people simply get married to stop being hassled by their family about it.

So then the mum for example doesn't have to do all the jobs.

4 Pregnancy

This happened to my grandparents, my grandma became pregnant with my uncle (accident) although my mum was planned at it was 9 years after they married they had her.

Sadly, the "shotgun" weddings are all too common. Feeling that a child should be both into a legal union can cause a couple to slingshot their relationship faster than it would have otherwise.

This was how my parents got married. My mom was pregnant with my brother when they got married. Thankfully, I was the planned child.

5 To make a statement

Whether it's people getting married "ironically" to contest the government or gay couples feeling like they should get married just because they can in their state, many people choose to say their vows just because they can. It's not the best reason but it definitely happens.

6 To start a family of their own

This is the one I want.

Considering that I have once stated that relationships these days tend to be more advantageous to the females rather than the males, I want to actually get into a relationship that I know will have sure commitment. I want to have a relationship with someone who will be willing to have a family, and will be willing to share the hardships of having one. I don't want to get into a relationship with someone, find out that they are just looking for excitement (because then these are the ones who just want to have sex with every guy they know of) and run off.

I say this because I could very well be hooking up with a girl some time on my job soon. We have the same position, and she follows me due to my experience. But I just want to get something rather clear first, and I am hoping that things will turn out alright.

That is amazing how you can have a family by marrying.

7 Religious pressure

This isn't a good reason for marriage, if you just want to get married because you want sex and not wanting to make "sin" at the same time then I think the marriage will not last long. I heard stories about couples just get married to have sex but the relationship didn't turn good

Many religions do not allow unwed couples to have sexual relations and that can put a strain on a relationship. I have personally known of some couples who went to Las Vegas for a quicky marriage just so they could have sex with their church's blessing.

8 To share insurance

Most states still do not allow civil unions or commonlaw couples to share health insurance. In those instances, marriage is often the only way for one person to get covered by another person's insurance.

9 Financial windfall

Whether it be the gold-digger looking to inherit a fortune or the destitute looking for a meal ticket, people latch on to another due to their monetary value and the lifestyle it promises.

10 To begin a legacy

My mother was a genius, My father commanded respect. When they died they left no instructions. Just a legacy to protect.

What is a legacy? It's planting seeds in a garden you never get to see. If I throw away my shot, is this how you'll remember me?

To declare your love is obviously the best reason but this is a lovely added item which made me smile.

The Contenders
11 Publicity

How many Hollywood weddings are there? How many last longer than 5 years? Most of the Hollywood elite somehow seem to find themselves pairing up with another of their status simply to increase the sales of their last album or movie. It's the rare few that marry a nobody and stay married for the long haul.

12 For companionship
13 To have sex

That is disgusting! This is not why people get married!

14 To be formally united with the person you love

This might be a hypocritical reason to just deceive the person about love. The real reason is about the money and insurance purposes.

15 To spend more time with their loved ones
16 To conceal homosexuality

We've heard of the gay men getting married to women to conceal their lifestyle, they even have a name for it: a beard. The same happens for women though less often. Nonetheless, keeping up with social pressures can be motivation enough for some to marry someone just to keep up appearances.

17 To receive and give love

Easily should be #1. I don't know why I had to add this.

18 Because everyone is doing it

Because if you really think about it, unless you're religious all you're doing is sticking to the norm, when it's perfectly possible to be in a lifelong relationship without being married (actually religious marriages also are conforming to religion but that's a whole other matter).

19 To have children
20 Peer pressure
21 To suffer
22 God's blessing

Weddings where not made by Christianity. Its just a forgotten Pagan thing seeing as Paganism was banned, Pagans where killed out of the churches jealousy.

This should be the main reason.

23 For money

You should not marry someone who is very Wealthy you should marry someone by love

24 Arranged marriage

Arranged marriage is just gross. People marry off girls that are in/barely starting/haven't started puberty to men who are like 60 years old.

There are other cultures and/or religions with an Arranged Marriage apart from Indian (Hindi).

Strict Indian parents have to do this with their children..

25 For protection
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