Marriage is the acceptable union between a man and a woman who have taken all the laid-down procedures required by the society. They are then legally or customarily or religiously recognized as husband and wife. Marriage also refers to the socially recognized and approved union between a man and a woman, who commit themselves to each other with the expectation of a stable and lasting intimate relationship. There are many ways people go through before getting married and it all depends on where that particular person finds him or herself.

Preparations that ought to be made before getting marriage

(both the woman and man look at the following before getting into the relationship)

1. Adult age

2 Proper mate selection 

3.Making a formal 

4.Courtship 

5.Background investigation

Importance of marriage

Marriage has a lot of merits to both the married man and woman as well as the families of the couple .Some importance are as follows:

1.procreation: For society to continue to exist , individual members must accept to bring forth children to replace the lost members (deceased) of the society.Societies also believe that the proper way to bring forth new members into the society is to marry a person of the opposite sex so that individuals can procreate. Therefore most people enter into marriage to procreate 

2.Economic support: The definition of marriage make it clear that individuals who intend to get married must learn to show commitment in the marriage Marriage gives the couple assurance of mutual support in order to fulfil economic as well as emotional needs . This is the reason societies encourage couples to contribute all they have to make their marriage work.This means that behaviours like selfishness,greed and lack of companionship should not find not find their way into marriage. 
3.Peace and unity :Marriage has become an instrument of peace and unity in this era of multi-cultural societies. For example, inter -tribal marriage which has been considered to be one of the ways to promote ethnic unity in the country binds all ethnic groups together as one . Inter -tribal marriage also helps to foster great unity among families since it a union of two families.

4.Gaining social respect and prestige: Marriage raises the social status of people. It increases the social position of the individual,which makes him or her gain respect from members of the society.Marriage is considered an enterprise for people who are mature and responsible.In some countries like Ghana for example , adults (men) who are not married are seen as irresponsible 

5.Legimate avenue for sexual satisfaction:Marriage provides the couple legitimate access to sexual satisfaction.Sexual intercourse eliminates emotional stree and since society abhors Pre-marital sexual intercourse ,it is only through marriage that a man and a woman as a husband and a wife can engage in sexual intercourse to derive sexual satisfaction