The institution of marriage has no shortage of critics, cynics, and naysayers. There are comedians with pithy one-liners, anti-marriage memes aplenty, and, of course, that one jaded relative with enough war stories to strike apprehension into even the most aisle-eager of hearts. Despite this, each year tens of thousands of Aussie couples happily wed each year. So, what are the reasons to get married? We’re here to walk you through real reasons to wed, as explained to us by real couples.
Making the person you love happy
7.2% of couples polled said they got married to make their spouse happy or because they felt it was important to their spouse. That’s not to say they didn’t bring themselves joy in the process, though! As one respondent aptly put it: “My partner really wanted to get married… which made me really want to marry him!”
It’s not uncommon for one party to be more excited to get married than the other or, at the very least, to find more importance in the tradition. Like many compromises in marriage, this is just part of the enriching nature of meshing two lives together! Having a legally defined relationship can bring a mutual sense of security for both parties, as well as a symbol of commitment and love.
The party
Each wedding truly is a once-in-a-lifetime celebration. A sizeable 21.7% of people surveyed said they had decided to get married because they just really wanted a wedding! We can’t really blame them either; wanting to throw one hell of a party is one of our favourite reasons to get married.
In addition to the decorative, culinary, and entertainment aspects, having a guest list packed with your nearest and dearest family and friends is a memory-making occasion to treasure. Whether your style of party is letting loose on the dancefloor or having an understated, elegant dinner, your wedding is an opportunity to celebrate your love in your own unique style.
We think this couple got it especially right: “We wanted to look the best we’ve ever looked and to party with all our favourite people!”
Tradition
In many cultures and individual families, marriage is an important tradition and milestone in a person’s life. 13.8% of people polled said that their main reason for getting married was tradition.
For a lot of people, the traditions around getting married are not entirely centred on the couple in question. The opportunity to be walked down the aisle by an important father figure, to wear a treasured family heirloom, or be wed in the presence of ageing grandparents, can be a strong incentive to make things official.
Romance, Baby!
You didn’t think we would leave out the romance, did you? In our modern lives, we are frequently required to push away notions of romance for deadlines, housework, family obligations, child-rearing— need we go on? A wedding is a rare opportunity to have a day where the focus is on you as a couple, your story, and your relationship.
The romance is only enhanced by an incredible venue, swoon-worthy styling, and dreamy attire, let’s face it, you likely couldn’t wear for any other occasion. As one polled participant beautifully summarised, “Formally committing yourself to one person is the height of romance!”
The legalities
Getting married is an important decision for couples, especially for those who have fought for the right for their relationships to be recognised by law. One survey participant elaborates, “We wanted our relationship to be legally recognised. We wanted to get married because gay marriage is legal.”
Marriage can also be a benefit when it comes to assets, consolidating your finances, and even at tax time. Have a chat with your lawyer and accountant to learn about the legal implications of marriage.
Couples who have found themselves separated by immigration laws may choose to get married sooner than they might have otherwise to continue their relationship together in the same place. As one surveyed person explained, “We had to get married to get my partner a visa. He proposed to me two years later, so now we’re having our real wedding in 2023!”
Religion
Religion is one of the oldest, most time-honoured reasons to get married. Although it’s fallen in popularity in recent years (just 3.6% of couples we surveyed said they were married for religious reasons), religion can still be an important factor for many couples. Not only can faith play a role in the decision to get married at all, but it can also impact your venue choice, ceremony structure, and other aspects of the day.
A union of families
Whether you’re about to start a family or have enough rug rats for a squad of flower children, marriage can be an important milestone in merging two families. The wedding itself can be a beautiful bond experience for the parents of the couple being married. Plus, 21.7% of respondents said their main reason for getting married was so their children (existing or future) would have married parents.
Couples are also choosing to walk down the aisle as a way of ensuring both parents carry the same surname as their children. As one couple put it, “We wanted to unite our families as one.”
All in all, people get married for many varied and unique reasons. Do you know why your fiancé wants to wed? Here are some talking points to delve into this topic deeper with your other half:
- What does marriage mean to you?
- Do you think things will change after we get married?
- What do you hope doesn’t change when we get married?
- When you picture us getting married, what are the elements of the day that stand out?
