Common law marriage requirements are listed below for all states that recognize such a union: Alabama – mental capacity to enter into agreement; agree to be married and consummation of the relationship Colorado – present yourself as married and cohabitate Iowa – intend to be and stay married, continuous cohabitation and public declaration of marriage Kansas – mental capacity and legal ability to marry, agree to marry and publicly represent that you are married Montana – capacity to consent, agree to marry, cohabitate and have a reputation of being married Oklahoma – competency, agree to marry and cohabitate Pennsylvania – verbal exchange of agreement to marry and a plan to stay married Rhode Island – serious intent to stay married and conduct of a married couple South Carolina – represent yourself as a married couple Texas – signed form at their local county clerk’s office, agree to marry, cohabitate and behave as husband and wife Utah – capable of giving consent and a reputation of being married Washington, D. The groomsmen then enter, walking in pairs. The best man is next to enter, followed by the groom, escorted by his parents. The bridesmaids enter, followed by the maid or matron of honor. Next come the ring bearer and/or flower girl and finally, the bride, escorted by her mother and father. Informal weddings or those with a small wedding party may opt to choose a single file processional or none at all. Throughout the history of marriage, the majority of unions have been arranged, where the parents have selected whom their children will marry. While the tradition continues in some cultures today, most modern marriages are based on romantic love, with couples deciding freely to marry. Many of the traditions surrounding contemporary weddings can be traced throughout the history of marriage. 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. As the world becomes a smaller place and people increasingly move around from country to country, the diversity of cultures doesn’t necessarily mean that mixed marriages are always the way things go for a minority group in any country. In a few states, couples that live together a certain amount of time, normally seven years or more, are considered to have a common law marriage. A marriage that is legal is one that is performed by a minister or someone that is qualified to perform the ceremony. Once the ceremony is complete the bride and groom will sign a piece of paper and a few weeks later get a certificate in the mail, in the meantime you will be given a document to show proof of marriage. We need to grasp onto a rope to keep ourselves from drowning even on dry land. The trick to finding happiness in our own lives and that of our marriage is to get into the habit of looking for good things, instead of griping all day about everything that has gone wrong. Joy gives us a feeling of power and energy.