I’m 36 and have been with my current girlfriend for almost 5 years now - my longest relationship yet. We live together & everything else couply, just not married. I see marriage as unnecessary pressure that has a tendency to put strain on the relationship. Right now if we’re happy together we stay, if we’re not we split. Simple. Marriage complicates it.
My wife and I were living together for more than a decade before we got married. Our primary reasons for getting married were tax benefits and reducing legal complications if one of is in the is hospitalized or dies. Our wedding was followed at the court house followed by a very fancy lunch with 2 friends that acted as our witness’s.
Getting married has made no real difference in our relationship, besides now we split a joint tax return.