I don't think it's quite as simple as that or being blessed by some priest wearing a funny outfit. I've often been as eager as any dude to get my seed out, social convention be damned but it occurred to me at some point that there's something to be said about standing up in front of your family and community and vowing to make a serious effort at making a mutually beneficial relationship work.

This is such a good and true statement. It IS about pledging in front of God (if you are a believer) and everybody.

I still get teary at weddings....every time.....I guess it is thinking about the great possibilities of life and how they are young and embarking on that great adventure that is life.

I always hope the couple will get along and build something working together over time. Although I did attend one wedding where I overheard the women talking about it lasting less than a year in their opinion. They were right.

Part of the solemnization is that the community accepts the newlyweds as members of the community.

I have no idea how people get such ideas. Maybe I am hopelessly myoptic but how the heck can anybody predict how people will work together?

Perhaps if they knew one of the parties was a cheater, but really in a year it could easily be concealed.