A healthy marriage is comprised of mutual understanding, listening and respecting each other’s differences, accepting arrangements and plans, and overall, having the confidence to work through setbacks and conflict. It’s important not to blame each other for any conflict, tense situations, or let anger rise out of proportion on a regular basis. 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. With homosexual marriage being a political and legal hot potato around the world, love and marriage is even possible for gay couples in some areas, whilst in others it’s still illegal and so love and marriage in the traditional sense is denied. The District of Columbia marriage laws do not require that you live or work in DC. There is no waiting period post-divorce, but proof, either in the form of a certified death certificate or certified divorce decree is. You will need a blood test for syphilis, performed within thirty days prior to applying for a license by a physician, hospital, clinic or military lab. Do you think that they would enjoy doing a once-in-a-lifetime experience that ended in the proposal, or would they perhaps enjoy a quiet romantic dinner that ended with a ring as sparkling as the wine on the table? There are many ways to make a marriage proposal special, but some of them will take some forward planning. The processional music starts right after the mothers have been seated. The officiator, groom and best man usually enter by a side door or entry and take their places at the altar. The groomsmen either escort the bridesmaids or follow the groom and best man through the side door. The bridesmaids, ring bearer, flower girl and maid or matron of honor then enter. The contract may also specify that the lower-earning spouse will be entitled to financial support of a specific amount each month. Fairness It is important that whatever agreement spouses enter into be fair. The reason why people sign marriage contracts in the first place is so that they can avoid a long period of litigation if their marriage breaks down.