marriage necessary if in love?

ExpatPumpkin

I don't think that marriage is necessary to have a healthy, committed relationship. That said, I would have never considered having a marriage-like relationship with my DH without the marriage. Aside from religious reasons, I like the legal protection and security that come with the deal and wouldn't have children with him otherwise. Also, I'd be a complete social outcast down here if we weren't married. So, it's definitely a viable option for many people, but not me. P.S. Charlize Theron's financial advisor has probably told her she'd be foolish to get married considering her sizeable net worth and the average shelf life of Hollywood marriages... (This is a comment on the linked article.)