Of course not. But the ceremony also doesn't add anything to it, in and of itself.

The fact that there even are such arbitrary ceremonies is centered, historically, around religion and god's approval, because without that then you couldn't have sex or start a family. I don't give a crap about religion, god, society, or anyone else thinks about my relationship, so it is meaningless.

Even more mind-boggling to me is that it is characterized as some sort of commitment, as if the relationship is not fully serious and legitimate until magic words are said over you -- man, you sure can't do that without really being serious! Again, this makes sense for the people who require god's or the church's approval (though that requirement doesn't, of course). But without that, why is it any sort of commitment? The decision to move in together, to buy a house together, to have kids together: those are commitments, which as far as I'm concerned are what deserve celebration. Besides, any couple who hasn't already committed to each other by the time the magic words are said over them is in a very immature relationship.

I am not saying that the emotions involved are not valuable and shouldn't be recognized and even celebrated. My objection is to the requirements of the modern form of that celebration, and to the meaning society gives to what is really an arbitrary event.

I can only conclude that so many people continue to value this primitive, superstitious view of marriage because they are brainwashed from birth that it is valuable. The worst offense, of course, is that it is considered so valuable that the government has to take a hand in it, to define and regulate it. But that is another topic.