My girlfriend and I want to do that 'public display of commitment' thing, but we don't want to get married. Heterosexual Civil Partnerships are not yet available in the UK. Can we do it elsewhere with legal status? Or should we wait? [more inside]
posted by bollockovnikov on Sep 20, 2012 - 31 answers

I need help in guiding my brother-in-law, who may be developmentally challenged, with some important life decisions. I am pretty much his only family contact, am at a bit of a loss, and not quite sure where to start; (slightly lengthy) details inside. [more inside]
posted by anonymous on Aug 23, 2012 - 12 answers

I'm having a difficult time trying to mentally process an ex's recent wedding because I'm hung up on the sex/religion aspect of it all. I need advice on how to stop thinking about him. [more inside]
posted by anonymous on Aug 21, 2011 - 33 answers

Interfaith marriages: how the hell do we do this? [more inside]
posted by deeman on Jul 21, 2011 - 34 answers

Was describing marriage as "one man and one woman" in common use before the rise of same-sex marriage advocacy? [more inside]
posted by 0xFCAF on Oct 6, 2010 - 30 answers

Advice needed on an amicable separation. [more inside]
posted by anonymous on Mar 2, 2010 - 17 answers

What's the easiest way to get a copy of my baptismal certificate if I only have a vague idea where I was baptized? This is embarrassing, but in my defense, I don't really remember it all that well. [more inside]
posted by smurdah on Mar 18, 2009 - 6 answers

My close friend is converting to Islam. Do you think he's doing the right thing? [more inside]
posted by dydecker on Dec 19, 2008 - 43 answers

How do I keep my wife from leaving me? [more inside]
posted by anonymous on Oct 6, 2008 - 43 answers

What can be done in a marriage where one spouse believes in God and the other doesn't? The wife is (sort of newly) atheist and the husband can't accept this fact. Is there any hope? [more inside]
posted by anonymous on Aug 28, 2008 - 44 answers

How can a non-believer be most expediently baptized? [more inside]
posted by anonymous on May 31, 2008 - 44 answers

She wants to get married in a Catholic church, I fundamentally disagree. What to do? [more inside]
posted by Phyltre on Nov 6, 2007 - 99 answers

What sorts of experiences, analogies, and general thoughts can people share about interfaith marriages? Specifically, those that have married significant others that are Muslim, but all general interfaith marriage comments would be appreciated. My girlfriend and I come from very similar backgrounds culturally, but are of different religions and we are at a critical stage in our relationship - details inside. [more inside]
posted by copernicus on Jun 11, 2007 - 10 answers

We're looking for advice on how to make a successful interfaith marriage. No, not those two faiths. A different two. [more inside]
posted by nebulawindphone on Apr 12, 2007 - 21 answers

I love my wife. She is deeply religious. I have become an atheist. Do I tell her? What now? [more inside]
posted by anonymous on Oct 5, 2006 - 70 answers

God found my wife, now what do I do? [more inside]
posted by Popular Ethics on Apr 20, 2005 - 49 answers

Thanks for all your help with the engagement ring question. I swear, on my MeFi account, it's not me...I'm just the reluctant best friend. Right...so I need some more ammo.

My friend is agnostic, his fiance is athiest...yet her family wants her to have a Jewish wedding...so much so, that they're again applying the pressure, and since she "feels" Jewish, even though she doesn't believe, she's going along with it. See, her parents won't go to a civil or catholic ceremony, and if they don't have a Jewish ceremony, there's going to be hell to pay. But, my friend's parents are staunch catholics, and while they would go to a Jewish wedding, they won't wear yarmulkes, and some of his family won't even attend.

My advice? Either insist on a dual ceremony, or just let her parents have their way, considering they're going to shell out the money. But on top of that engagement ring debacle, I'm afraid he's set too many precedents.

What the hell can my friend say to her parents to get them to lay off? If he puts his foot down, what can he expect from them? From her? Anybody marry into a domineering family? Anybody intermarry Catholics/Jewish?

We all know this is a downward spiral, and if he doesn't put his foot down, next it's going to be Hebrew school for the kids, etc. (oh yeah, they're also doing the "you're going to raise the kids Jewish, aren't you?" thing).

Oy Vey! If the parents just weren't involved, this entire engagement/wedding thing would be simple. [more inside]
posted by taumeson on May 26, 2004 - 86 answers