Engagement and Proposals.

[Raistlin]

Durrrrr. Very convincing explanation. My point was that I was interested in asking why so many people hold that opinion. Is it just tradition? That's all I can come up with, but I also don't think that by itself would be a strong enough force to make so many people believe in it so strongly.

Really, if you don't want to discuss something, why bother posting at all? O_o For someone whining about not considering other opinions, you seem awfully unwilling to tolerate any sort of criticism on this issue.

[Clo]

I wasn't saying my glib little comment absolutely. I meant in my little world, anyhow. This is all subjective, obviously. I just don't take any of it very seriously. I'm sorry if I touched a nerve, Bunny.

I am sort of engaged right now. I've been with someone for three years, and we have slowly generated the opinion that marrying would be a good thing for the both of us. We make funny proposals to each other all the time, and explore absurd wedding ceremonies we can have because neither of us care too much about that. We're mainly interested in marriage because of the taxes/social aspect to it and because of what it would symbolize to our families more specifically. We both don't take marriage very seriously in our lives, but explore the options out there because it's fun and useful on a financial level.

Actually, I'm often not sure about the engagement question. I believe I'm engaged, because I'm planning to get married within two years to someone I've been with for a long time, I have locations I want to have the wedding (party!) at, and I even have a friend who is going to fulfill my every non-conventional and zany whim regarding the wedding party. I just don't have a ring, because I don't want one. Every time he suggests he has a desire to buy me one I tell him to stop being silly. I feel like because I don't have a ring, however, many people don't take the fact that I believe I'm engaged very seriously. And so I think: smurf them.

[Raistlin]

I feel like because I don't have a ring, however, many people don't take the fact that I believe I'm engaged very seriously. And so I think: smurf them.

This is the main reason this issue bugs me at all. Some people believe if you don't follow their rituals, your relationship isn't very serious. You're right to dismiss them, but I can see that being annoying.

[G13]

Perfect proposal right here.

Take your girl to a nice restaurant.

Get the band to play your song.

Let her order whatever she wants.

When the food comes turn your cap backwards. Did I forget to add that you should be wearing a cap? Well you should be.

As they set the food down stand up and, in front of the whole restaurant, scream "I CHOOSE YOU!" while simultaneously throwing a pokeball with the ring in it as hard as you can at her.

What happens next really depends on the ring in the thing you just smashed into the side of her head. :/

[NorthernChaosGod]

Perfect proposal right here.

Take your girl to a nice restaurant.

Get the band to play your song.

Let her order whatever she wants.

When the food comes turn your cap backwards. Did I forget to add that you should be wearing a cap? Well you should be.

As they set the food down stand up and, in front of the whole restaurant, scream "I CHOOSE YOU!" while simultaneously throwing a pokeball with the ring in it as hard as you can at her.

What happens next really depends on the ring in the thing you just smashed into the side of her head. :/

Jesus! XD

[Shorty]

Perfect proposal right here.

Take your girl to a nice restaurant.

Get the band to play your song.

Let her order whatever she wants.

When the food comes turn your cap backwards. Did I forget to add that you should be wearing a cap? Well you should be.

As they set the food down stand up and, in front of the whole restaurant, scream "I CHOOSE YOU!" while simultaneously throwing a pokeball with the ring in it as hard as you can at her.

What happens next really depends on the ring in the thing you just smashed into the side of her head. :/

The rock would have to be pretty big to make up for the black eye.

[NeoCracker]

People put a lot of stock in the ceremony because they want to show off, and let everyone know they are together and serious. Mostly they want to show off.

I'm not saying that you are together to show off your partner, but having one and being serious and happy about it, why not show it off? It's not like this is a bad thing.

At least that and tradition are the two reasons that make sense to me.

[Madonna]

We're mainly interested in marriage because of the taxes/social aspect to it and because of what it would symbolize to our families more specifically. We both don't take marriage very seriously in our lives, but explore the options out there because it's fun and useful on a financial level.

If there ever is a good reason to get married, it is to get a tax break.

[NorthernChaosGod]

Semi-relevant?

[Madame Adequate]

(Mainly, my issue is that men don't get to have muttonchops like Prince Albert to match the woman's wedding dress in the style of Queen Vicky.)

[G13]

Perfect proposal right here.

Take your girl to a nice restaurant.

Get the band to play your song.

Let her order whatever she wants.

When the food comes turn your cap backwards. Did I forget to add that you should be wearing a cap? Well you should be.

As they set the food down stand up and, in front of the whole restaurant, scream "I CHOOSE YOU!" while simultaneously throwing a pokeball with the ring in it as hard as you can at her.

What happens next really depends on the ring in the thing you just smashed into the side of her head. :/

The rock would have to be pretty big to make up for the black eye.

The bigger the rock the worse the concussion. I'd be doing her a big favor if it was a little stone.

[Clo]

I love that comic! I hate the words girlfriend and boyfriend because I tend to call my girl friends and boy friends that. Words suck.

All I know with the "ceremony" is that it won't be a ceremony. No vows, definitely no white dress, no priest, most certainly no aisle, no rings, no brides maids, no groomsmen, no father walking anyone anywhere, hardly any family, no white wedding cake (but there will be some smurfing cake... would have to be vegan cake...), and lots of alcohol and music and dancing. And it most certainly won't be the "best day of my life" because that would suck, I'd still be in my early to middle 20s. I am definitely expecting to have an onslaught of better days in the next twenty, thirty, forty, fifty years.

Anyway, it all seems like a great excuse to put together a very long-lasting party.

[Pheesh]

I feel like because I don't have a ring, however, many people don't take the fact that I believe I'm engaged very seriously. And so I think: smurf them.

This is the main reason this issue bugs me at all. Some people believe if you don't follow their rituals, your relationship isn't very serious. You're right to dismiss them, but I can see that being annoying.

I don't think it means your relationship isn't serious, it just doesn't mean that you're married.

Also, I would think that people who don't take the whole ceremony side of it seriously would do it more often, not oppose it. If you think it's such a stupid trifle then why not get married at a city hall the next time you're in a relationship and then enjoy all the tax benefits?

[Raistlin]

Going to a judge to get the certificate signed does not require any ceremony. And I agree, it should be taken less seriously. Though one consideration is that the government intervention into the relationship also makes it much MORE difficult to split up, so I don't think even I would treat the choice so simply.

EDIT: Also, for the record, I approve of Clo's "wedding" plans. That is the only way I could see going along with the whole farce at all. If the parents at the reception do not have a look of shock and horror when the party and music starts, you're doing it wrong.

[Clo]

I feel like because I don't have a ring, however, many people don't take the fact that I believe I'm engaged very seriously. And so I think: smurf them.

This is the main reason this issue bugs me at all. Some people believe if you don't follow their rituals, your relationship isn't very serious. You're right to dismiss them, but I can see that being annoying.

I don't think it means your relationship isn't serious, it just doesn't mean that you're married.

Also, I would think that people who don't take the whole ceremony side of it seriously would do it more often, not oppose it. If you think it's such a stupid trifle then why not get married at a city hall the next time you're in a relationship and then enjoy all the tax benefits?

Wait, so not having a ring would mean I wasn't married?