I never wanted to get married. Growing up with parents who hated each other, went through a messy divorce, and dragged everything through the courts, I always told myself there was no point. Just a personal choice.

My long term partner of eight years and I were on the same page about it...until we weren't. Eventually the pressure from family and friends got to her, and she gave me an ultimatum. I didn't want to lose the love of my life over a piece of paper, so I went against my own values.

After the glamour of the wedding, the gifts, and all the attention, reality set in. Our relationship completely changed. It was like she knew she "had me" and the demands started immediately. I missed what we used to be. I missed the relationship we had before signing that paper.

Resentment on both ends started to build overtime as the demands became more and more frequent. She ended up cheating on me two years later. Luckily we don't have kids, but just reflecting on everything that happened, it makes no sense the push for a legal contract on something that was already good as it was.

I don't know how men can marry multiple times. This divorce process has been terrible. Do NOT get married in the state of California!

Has anyone else experienced something similar?