Io non ho mai sentito la necessità di sposarmi. Lei neanche.
Quando abbiamo deciso di andare a convivere abbiamo fatto una festa con un piccolo ricevimento e poi un viaggio, come fosse un viaggio di nozze.
Fu bello vedere entrambi le famiglie attivarsi per terminare i lavori nella nostra nuova casa entro la data prevista del trasloco. Organizzare la festa, le tappe del viaggio..
Fu un pò come organizzare il matrimonio, ma senza lo sbattimento della cerimonia e i rischi legislativi che comporta.
Da quel dì sono 14 anni che conviviamo senza problemi..

Or, in English, he said:

I have never felt the need to get married. Neither did she.
When we decided to go to live together we had a party with a small reception and then a trip, as if it were a honeymoon.
It was nice to see both families take action to finish the work on our new home by the scheduled move date. Organize the party, the stages of the journey ..
It was a bit like organizing the wedding, but without the hassle of the ceremony and the legislative risks it entails.
Since that day, we have been living together without problems for 14 years ..

In my own experience, marriage is a construct that was largely based on keeping mothers and fathers together for the betterment of their children. That certainly didn't mean all married couples HAD to have children - but it is instructive to know that in some religions, it IS expected - and that being barren (unable to have children) is a legitimate reason/cause for divorce/annulment in most of those same religions).

I was married once (and had kids)... we're divorced now, and I will not seek "marriage" again... though I would like to find another romantic partner...

Here in NYC, many gay men in mid-career own their own apartments, but they are not always large enough to easily accommodate a partner. So, the courtships can go up to wedding day living separately.

And if both guys own single-occupancy flats of which they are fond, I know several who marry/commit and opt to keep both places. Each week is a mix of staying at apartment A, or B, or sometimes a night apart due to work demands, etc.

Very urban, indeed. I bet it makes you glad not to face such challenges!

I lived with partner for 6 years. Once it became legal for us to get married, we planned for one year and had our wedding. We have been a couple for 14 years.

hope you have a wonderful wedding.