Most young people in the UK are not religious, yet marriage continues to hold a powerful place in culture, quietly absorbing many of the values and dreams once tied to religion. The decline of marriage as a social norm has been growing for years, with divorce becoming common, romantic comedies falling out of favor, and the 2021 census showing that more adults than ever are choosing not to marry at all. This shift reflects a broader rejection of an institution that has historically been a symbol of privilege for some and a source of inequality for others. Many are now exploring alternative arrangements to traditional marriage, monogamy, and family structures. However, while much attention has been given to why fewer people are getting married—often linked to women's financial independence, changing attitudes toward cohabitation, and evolving child-rearing practices—it’s just as intriguing to explore why so many people—liberal, secular, queer, and divorced—still choose to tie the knot. During research for a book, I asked a number of married people why they had decided to get married. Their responses were often vague, filled with guesses rather than clear reasoning. Answers ranged from "security" and "children" to "taxes" and "peer pressure," with "love" being the most common, yet even that was often given with uncertainty. Those who had previously been critical of marriage—particularly those who saw it as inherently patriarchal—often offered justifications such as family expectations, work needs, immigration status, or convenience. The topic of marriage itself proved to be oddly complex: on one hand, it's a familiar and often clichéd subject that can elicit yawns, and on the other, it seems to stir something deeper. Many people claimed to have opinions on marriage, yet few had really considered it deeply. For many, entering into marriage seemed almost accidental, as if they had simply stepped into it without fully thinking through the implications. After all, marriage is a profound commitment: a public promise to stay with someone until death. Who can fully grasp such a decision in advance? In a largely secular society, this attachment to marriage is even more surprising. Until the late 20th century, marriage in the UK was primarily a religious affair, seen as a sacred covenant blessed by God. But by 1992, civil ceremonies had become more common than religious ones. Today, nearly two-thirds of people aged 16 to 34 in the UK identify with no religion, yet elements of the religious have not entirely disappeared from the institution. In fact, the language of marriage—terms like "vows," "fidelity," "forever," and "happy ever after"—echoes religious themes, suggesting that even in a secular world, marriage continues to offer a sense of meaning, stability, and long-term hope. As cultural anthropologist Ernest Becker suggested, in the absence of religious belief, many seek meaning in romance. In a world of uncertainty, marriage may still offer a kind of sanctuary, even if its meaning has evolved over time.