I'm getting maried in a few weeks. Why? I don't know. We were fine living together for a few years, and we've been together much longer - and we never needed a contract. Now that the baby is coming it seems we do. Not that it's our wish, but the family just won't leave us alone. So we'll do it as it's not too big a deal. We just needed to listen to some religious crap for a week to get a church permit, than we had to visit various offices to get another kind of permit - this time from the state, and now we have to choose the rings, the suit and gown, the restaurant... it's exhausting. And it's hot. Nearly 40 C in shade.
What I don't understand is why anyone would want to have a contract binding him to another person. Look at it this way: if You're happy together, You don't need a contract. And when You're unhappy and decide to split - it will make everything harder. Someone said to me that having a contract prevents You from splitting on a whim. But if Your relationship is such that it will be ended on a whim, I don't think a contract will make it any stronger.
Somebody else told me the reason is the property and how You will divide it after the split. OK, says me, but we're both adults (and You cannot get married if You aren't) and we'll always be able to communicate and reach a conclusion if we decide to split. If You're splitting You won't, says he. Well, if You are making a (potentialy life-long) contract with a person You won't be able to talk to when (s)he gets stressed, maybe a contract isn't such a good idea to start with. Children? Same as property, I suppose. The responsibility is the same as ownership - it sticks with You whatever happens.
At the end, it seems marriage is a contract You make with a person You want to be close with that's supposed to disable him/her to change his/her mind. Put this way, methinks it breaks constitutional rights. And this is what my parents are forcing me to do to the woman I love. And her parents forcing her to do to me.