I agree that making an emotional committment to each other is the basis for a relationship and heaven knows that having a marriage ceremony does not guarantee that committment. On the other hand, the marriage ceremony does guarantee you certain rights. If you buy any property together and are unmarried it becomes a nightmare dividing that property if you should break up. If you still owe money one party can stop making their part of the payment and there is little you can do to force them. It also brings rights to your children if you have any. If you are married you do not have to worry about proving paternity and/or the right to child support. And, if God forbid, someone dies a married partner has definate rights to moneys and property that a nonmarried partner does not.