Idk I guess I’m on a roll but like. Marriage to me isn’t just a declaration of “I love this specific person”. It isn’t this excuse to have a big, expensive ceremony.
Marriage is a contract that states, “In the event of my death this SPECIFIC PERSON is who i want to take care of. If I die, I want all my shit to go to them, ie my house, my money, my life insurance money, my kids if i have them, my pets, etc. If I become unable to make medical decisions for myself, this is who I trust to make those decisions for me.” And like…I really don’t know if enough people ask themselves “Is this who I want to take care of if I die? Is this someone I trust to make medical/financial/etc decisions in the event I’m unable to make those decisions for myself. Is this the person I want to make those decisions for in the event they’re unable to?”
I get that it’s scary to think about those things. The average person probably doesn’t enjoy thinking about death and sickness that way but like…I really think we have to get people over their fears of those things. They are facts of life. Marriage requires you asking and answering [TRUTHFULLY!] those questions. DO YOU trust your partner to make those decisions for you? Do you trust yourself to make those decisions for your partner?
You need to be able to say yes to all of that without a shadow of a doubt. Otherwise, don’t get married. Don’t legally tie yourself to someone you don’t trust with any of that.