DH & I were both entering into a second marriage. The minister didn't advise us against getting married, but he did give us the dour percentages of it lasting. We knew our history & knew our marriage wasn't doomed. We had finally found our soul mates a marriage too late. We'll be married 26 years in a couple of months. The moral of our story is percentages mean nothing. We were meant to be together. It's too bad we didn't find each other sooner, so there never would have been another marriage.
I was once on the other end. A close family member confided in me that he didn't want to get married. We were already in the church. I told him to leave. I would take the responsibility of telling everyone the marriage wasn't happening at that time, even though it wasn't my child. (I wish someone would have done that for me for my first marriage. I tried to back out & was told I had to go through with it, because of all the money that was spent on the wedding. FWIW, the wedding day itself is a horrible reason to get married.) Anyway, he said he couldn't leave. We talked about it for awhile, but I didn't press him on why he felt he had to go through with it. I ultimately told him to do what his heart told him to do & I would be right there with him. A month later we found out why he felt he had to go through with it. They're still making it work & I'm their greatest supporter. I hope he has found the love he needs to make it forever.
After my personal experience, I'm not one who thinks anyone should think they have to get married. If they go through with it, I'll support them every step of the way.
