This is a really interesting point and I can relate to the importance of the sentiment. My kids mother who I proposed to before they were born said yes. Years went by and we shared a good life together for a while, but she was never ready to actually marry. I am pretty sure she cheated on me towards the end and and eventually she left me. I never did anything but love and take care of here. And being a father is one of my greatest accomplishments. That's to say I think I am a great father. Eventually she sued me for child support and custody. She won. Without getting into a lot of details, I felt very abused. She and her lawyer basically made up stories about me and I wasn't in a place to be able to fight it. It broke my heart. I knew I was a great father. She just wanted money. And this was happened without ever actually being married. I had tried to do the right thing by proposing, and I still got the shit end of the deal because we shared children and I was the man.

Now I am with woman whom I believe is my partner for life. And she is my wife. And I am her husband. We had a beautiful ceremony. Nothing to do with the state or paperwork. We choose into each other everyday because we care for each other. Not because of a contract. It's beautiful. Marriage contracts are horrible in my opinion. A loving partnership should be something that we gladly choose into and enjoy to be a part of, not a contractual obligation with severe consequences.

That's my opinion anyways. Thank you for the interesting post.