What's the Point of Marriage?

Ok, seriously. Stop for a moment and ponder this question.

What's the point of marriage?

By definition, marriage is "the formal union of a man and a woman, typically recognized by law, by which they become husband and wife". Please don't harp about same-sex marriage, because I didn't make up this definition. It was in the dictionary.

Anyway, recently I was chatting with a friend of mine and we were discussing the possibility of her sister getting married soon. However, she has been dating this great guy for a while now and first they want to get a house together before he pops the big question.

On an outward view, this is a logical step towards finding out if you are compatible with your partner, thus helping decide if continuing the relationship by getting married will actually work.

This practice is so common in the US, that it is socially accepted, whereas a hundred years ago, this wasn't even something to consider. It was simply ludicrous.

So this brings me back to my original question. What's the point of marriage?

If marriage is supposed to bring two people together in unity, whatever your beliefs, but they are already having pre-marital sex (another form of union!) and living t-o-g-e-t-h-e-r in a house before they get married, I honestly think that marriage should be thrown out the window in this case.

Marriage, at this point in history has no merit behind it.

It is only for the fun of planning the flowers, the dress, the decorations. The when, the where, and the how. But what about the why?

WHY is it ok to "practice" being married? It seems redundant, pointless, and utterly hypocritical. Because when you are walking down that aisle, about to be "united" with your future spouse, it seems to me like you are lying to yourself.

So why do people still torture themselves by getting married and become re-united all over again? That doesn't sound logical. That sounds crazy.

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As ever,
Stephanie