Both men and women are far less dependent on their relatives and have more opportunity for training, education, and advancement as individuals. Those unfortunate enough to be abandoned by their families or partners with no means to support themselves are supported by the state. Modern birth control has made it possible for couples to live together without the responsibilities imposed by children, or to limit their number of offspring to those they can support without the assistance of others. As a result of all these changes, most of the practical socio-economic reasons for taking lifelong marriage vows no longer apply. Although no doubt many couples today feel pressured by their parents or their church into undergoing traditional Christian marriage ceremonies, this pressure is no longer of life or death proportions.
Couples contemplating long-term relationships today have many choices.
They can simply move in together, with no ceremony and no mutual obligations, or they can choose to enter into some sort of formal commitment with each other. If they decide upon the latter, they are once again faced with several choices. They need to agree upon vows that they can take to each other in full awareness and good conscience. And they need to determine the extent of those vows. The three most popular modern options for length of nuptial commitments are discussed below.