A legal marriage used to be one of the more important steps in the lives of young adults, yet things have become very different over the last half century. Many parents today continue to hope their children find a partner to go through life with, yet they are not necessarily willing to push marriage as a fundamental goal. They could see it as nothing more than a legal entanglement, and many of them may have been in a bad marriage that helped them steer their children toward trading legalities for a deeper bond. Modern commitment ceremonies are beginning to replace traditional legal marriages, and many people have found it suits their lifestyle to choose them.
It used to be that marriage was believed to be a commitment that would last a lifetime between two people, yet the ease of divorce has made it less than perfect for almost half those who go through it. Some people stay in bad marriages because of economic reasons, yet they would rather be single again. Others have found marriage poses absolutely no restrictions on their partner, yet they are still responsible for what the other person does. It gives a whole new reason for them to encourage commitment instead of a legal bond.
Being tied to another person in a relationship should be about building a future together, and that is what commitment ceremonies stress. While there are few if any legal entanglements, the sharing of a lifestyle and a home are what matter most. Two people entering into a commitment often write their own vows, and it can make their relationship thrive.
Divorce and breaking up are often times when emotions are negative and turmoil is at a high level. For those who never married, walking away from a bad relationship can be easier. Those in a committed relationship who have had a ceremony might find it difficult to remain together, yet the vows they wrote on their own could help them solve the issues that crop up in life without the need for legal ties.