I’m 36 and have been with my current girlfriend for almost 5 years now - my longest relationship yet. We live together & everything else couply, just not married. I see marriage as unnecessary pressure that has a tendency to put strain on the relationship. Right now if we’re happy together we stay, if we’re not we split. Simple. Marriage complicates it.
I personally love being married
Nothing says ‘I love you’ like a legally binding contract.
Where I’m from if you live together a year it’s the same, legally, as marriage. So most people get married if they’re traditional/religious, or want a big party. There’s almost zero legal difference.
A cop told me, “There are two toothbrushes in the bathroom? Married.” Colorado, I think common law marriages kick in at 6 months.