The right to make legal and medical decisions regarding one's S/O when said S/O cannot.

I use this as an arguement for everything...
;=8)

No catch all be all, there are good marriages, there are bad. I’m halfway through my 24th year of it and there have been ups and downs, but overall a quite positive experience. I also have known people who had extremely bad experiences.

You have help entertaining the cats.

Tax breaks, also when you have kids and get divorced it is supervised by the state for the kids benefits, mostly. Otherwise, Buncha BS

Ummmmmm, gimme a while and maybe I can come up with something.

Best way by far to bring up kids is with both parents together, marriage strengthens a couple, or should. But few take the vow seriously. I you don't get on, don't have kids, once you do have kids you owe it to them for you both to get on.

It's probably the best way to raise children. I enjoy my kids.

None.

Its....um....welll.....oh there's.... yeah, I got nothing.

My only reason to marry would be if you plan to have children.

I have none.

If I were being highly pragmatic, asset protection. Marriage provides a legal safeguard for a personal you share your life and home with. If for some reason you pass away, you know they have security.

Personally, as a product of Western cultural attitudes, I think marriage holds value as a statement about one’s intentions and responsibilities. Marriage is a promise to trust another more than you can trust yourself.

Health insurance. That’s pretty much it

It is a real commitment.

I am sure arguments vary a lot depending upon circumstances. Young? First time in love? ....and many many different scenarios. Anyhow, read most responses, well that was an eye opener, to say the least....

It shuts up most parents.
Helps protect legal rights of parents in case of children.
Tells your friends/ family to stop hitting on your significant other...

That's all I got. Marriage is a bad idea. Horrible, just horrible.

Um, you get to wear a big white gown that makes you look like a layer cake,?

Tax breaks

It's not like couples can take each other to court for child support should it be required, nope. I have to add on another coconut layer of bureaucratic nightmare to hold my partner hostage in case they get any wild ideas that don't include dragging me along with them.

Power of Attorneys are great and all, but I'd rather spend what is basically the cost of four, week long, badass, honeymoons. Just so we can show off to family members we haven't seen in decades how snazzy I look in my rented tux, and how beautiful she looks in a dress that's two car payments in value that gets worn once. Also all this money is basically for one day! Let's not get my friend who's done photography for years, Nah! Let's hire the one the wedding planner suggests that costs basically a 150% markup, but hey! open bar! woo! that...we...paid...for.....crap... Oh I almost forgot!

Lets not forget the artificially inflated, but otherwise value-less, compressed, shiny, glittery, clear, rock thing held in place on top of gold shaped rings we get to trade off as we both silently weep at the complete financial loss they are.

fyi- Satire, obviously.

I suspect that most marriages last longer than live together arrangements, but I have nothing to back that up. For myself, I am done with marriage.

I used to think it indicated a stronger sense of commitment to each other. Living together you can choose whether to work hard at resolving problems, otherwise it's a lot easier to leave than a marriage is. Now I'm not so sure. Being old fashioned though, I do think it's better if you have kids.

to discover a man/woman's body in a more delicate way and it takes time.

For some people it's a commitment that allows them to trust their partner more as they've both at least claimed that they will stand by each other through thick and thin. For others I know they think it's outdated and obsolete and a horrible institution and IMO, most of those folks can trace back to a negative event or person that caused them to hold their current view.