Marriage should be something that is private between two individuals, and not something to be dictated by society or cultural groups. The person you spend your life with ought to be a personal decision, and if an interracial marriage occurs as a result of that decision, then the couple ought to be encouraged for taking a path of learning each other’s ways rather than frowned upon for marrying outside of their own race. This part of the marriage ceremony would seem to be part of an older tradition in which the husband became the new owner of any property or valuables owned by the bride before her marriage. He would also have sole custody of any children they would have in the event that the marriage broke down in the future. The “Cleaver” idea of family and home firmly put love and marriage together in a rose-tinted cameo of how a happy life ought to be. But only a generation or two down and life is very different. Attitudes have relaxed. Social norms have changed. Love and marriage don’t have to go together – and with the more open society we live in accepting that we are free to love who we choose and not be restricted by gender, then in some cases it isn’t even legally possible for them to do so. If you intend to live with someone as a married couple but do not wish to enter into a common law marriage, you should each sign an agreement stating that you are each free, independent entities and do not wish to marry or become committed in the eyes of the law. The United States Constitution requires that all states recognize marriages that are legal in another state. How to find happiness in a marriage is not always an easy solution you have to work for it. You must focus on the things that you have in order to find happiness in your marriage. Most folks like to dwell on the things that they do not have and even pine over them. This plainly put in the Bible by Jesus; states do not covet your neighbor’s wife, nor his house, fields, money, anything that is not yours do not covet. If you don’t have time for dinner, schedule time for coffee, breakfast, or even doing an activity together where you’ll both have plenty of room to talk, share, and laugh about what’s on your mind. Take a time out from voice mails, e-mails, and switch off the television. A marriage requires a personal commitment just like other responsibilities.