Marriage is a joke

Know why they say "speak now or forever hold your peace?" Before record keeping, they were legit asking: "Are these two related? Is one already married?"

Know why you give your vows in front of an audience? Before record keeping, lots of witnesses was how you prevented fraud and established legitimacy.

Know why there's a dowry? Women were considered property, a liability even. Her family were paying the groom for his troubles. Same with "giving her away" and all that shit.

Today, if you need to make a big promise in front of everyone, what does that say? Just going full Michael Scott with your "I DECLARE BANKRUPTCY" ass. Then six months after "I do" you'll be farting in bed and fighting about the dishes same as it ever was. But now, neither of you can leave without legal and financial scorched earth. You both got tired of saying I do each morning, so you did it once real loud before god, your friends, family and government so they would keep you honest.

Marriage, the institution, is an absolute fucking joke. Throw a big party with an open bar, but why the rest?