why get married, when Live in is legally allowed.

Only a crazy kinky bull would ask that!,in some cultures it is a must and you don't even get to choose yourself, now that sort of thing is really a relic.
In other cultures it is seen as a commitment and more important these days a financial partnership

Because a healthy, committed, monogamous relationship is optimal for the well-being of the next generation. It's not about us as much as them. Many of society's problems are rooted in a lack thereof.

It is meaningful EXACTLY because we can now choose.
If I meet the right man and he'd propose I'd say yes. Absolutely! Just because it is so meaningful to make an official commitment, to say "yes I want to be your wife!", out of free choice.

Because for those that want to get married, they have that choice. For the ones that want to simply co-habitate, they have that choice. I.e., it boils down to personal preferences.

Mostly when it's externally defined by people outside of the relationship.

Mostly if you're doing something like "well the law says a marriage is this, that, the other, and the law says I can do this, that, or the other! My parents marriage is like this, that, the other...So you have to behave how the law and tradition says you should!"

Otherwise, "marriage" is a function of biology.
Pair bonding.
The "wedding" is ultimately a message to society that a biological process has been fulfilled between two people of that society.

The biological purpose of pair bonding, which "marriage" is the social ritual/symbol of, is for the sake of children.


Marriage is ultimately meaningless if there is no plan or purpose to produce and/or support children. Passing on DNA, your only true means of immortality.
Then any value or meaning comes from whatever benefits/protections can be obtained externally (from government/greater society).

People have the same emotions and feelings as a thousand years ago. They still go through the same things biologically when mating.

So if you're approaching the idea as "marriage was created by society to define how people in a relationship interact," or, "marriage is just changing the relationship between other people and the government or how those entities see the individual," then "marriage" becomes a relic as norms, mores, values, and laws change or become antiquated.

If you're approaching the idea of "marriage is defined by the people in the marriage and it's ultimately based on the feelings and process of pair bonding between individuals, which occurs in the attempt at mating and procreating leading to building a family for the sake of greater security in perpetuating DNA, the rest (like the wedding, the legal papers) don't really matter too much as it doesn't define us," then marriage will never be a relic.


Depending on where you live, some governments consider cohabiting the same as being "married."

Also, depending on where you live, a legally defined marriage (marrying for the sake of changing how the government views and treats you) may offer better legal protection than cohabiting, especially in the dissolution of the relationship.
It may be similar to asking "why form an LLC, get a business license, and deal with OSHA and insurance, rather than just pay little kids cash to work out of my basement?"

Because, many people prefer not live like farm animals.

Because marriage is a commitment of dedication and responsibility towards another and living together is merely co-habitation without a commitment.

If your words to each other of commitment are no good how does involving the government help?

I disagree with the idea that marriage is a relic of the past. All the important stages of life, Births, Marriages and Deaths should be commemorated in any civilised country. Marriage has many social and personal advantages that simply living together doesn't give.

If that's the case you shouldn't be married or living together.
You must have chosen poorly.

I don't do livin with Men.