Why do we get married?

Guaranteed nookie every night.

Not sure that all married people would agree with that

Especially when they have kids!!

yeah after having kids most of there attention dirvert towards kid. Which is by the way is treat to watch growing up.

Marriage is important for people with even a passing aquaintance with religion, because it legitimizes their...I dunno...covenant, I guess is the word, for everyone else to see. I believe it's important because not only is it declaring your love for and commitment to another person in the eyes of the community and God, its a formalization of the commitment to be faithful to each other. Its putting your money where your mouth is, so to speak. Even though that commitment can be there without the ceremony, a marriage shows (IMHO) the honesty and worth (though there are definitely many exceptions) of a person and their commitments. It gives the community a moral standard by which to judge faithfulness.

I don't have any stats to back this up, but I'd be willing to bet that cultures with low rates of marriage, or high rates of broken marriages often experience more societal problems (crime, alcoholism, drug abuse, suicide, etc.) that cultures where the marriage rate is high (and the divorce rate is low).

*Tosses 2 cents onto the table*

Adrian

I dunno about that one. i'm pretty sure 99% of married couples get it on less after they get married than before.

Weddings are just good excuses to get dressed up and pissed royally.

add to that regular sex and laziness.

Because of the tradition, to gather the family together (because the sister or brother or cousin did it maybe) and for religion for sure, because of the taxes more and more. That would be the only reason for me. To give the nationality to someone too (even if it's a real couple/love). And for the kids, i know my son would like his mother to have the same name as his. And of course, because for some people, it can't be any other way (maybe Laura and Tom )

Poor Russ But the divorce is more and more easier now :P I heard this morning that it's getting quicker again in France, 3 months instead of 9 before .......

I believe kids only care if we adults tell them to. I have friends that are married but both kept their name - the kids name is the same as the fathers name. They are married - but the kids still don't have the same name as the Mom. I doubt they'll ever care.

As far as taxes, you certainly don't get married for tax reasons in the US. It may work well if only one works, but if both work you're better off seperate. Hence the term marriage penalty. (of course this is an evil plan by the republican party to keep women at home and not at work - j/p/k :P )