Marriage has been a part of human culture for thousands of years and almost all cultures and religions on the planet have some sort of partnership ceremony. In some cultures, men are allowed to have multiple wives, but in most places marriage is limited to one man and one woman.
In recent times marriage has become less popular, however. The institution suffered a dramatic decline in the middle to late twentieth century – partly due to increased divorce rates but also because many couples chose not to marry at all.
The traditional concept of marriage has also been challenged in recent years by gay couples, who believe that they should have the same opportunities to get wed as straight couples (See - The pros and cons for gay marriage legalization).
Below are what I believe to be the main advantages and disadvantages of marriage.