Generally, because they love each other, want to be together, and want a stable relationship in which to raise a family. Different cultural norms suggest different reasons for couples to marry,...
Marriage is a legal contract and when people decide to get married, they agree to hold to society's conventions for marriage in exchange for the benefits they become entitled to.
No. There are state and federal laws that bestow scores of legal rights, obligations and protections to legally married couples. Unmarried couples have no such rights, obligations nor protections...