[BERNADETTE]

Marriage to me is/was an important step in my life. I have been married twice, divorced once and sadly lost my soulmate four years ago.
My first marriage was entered into rather naively and was doomed to failure, maybe because we were both to young or to differnt in our outlooks on life. But from this marriage and got my two beautiful children and consequently my wonderful grandchildren.
When that marriage ended I vowed never to marry again but never say never as you don't know what's waiting round the corner.
Ian and I did live together for four years and then had twenty years of marriage before sadly he was taken from me. We didn't spend a great deal on the wedding but being married somehow cemented our relationship.
As MargP says all relationships take a lot of hard work, have ups and downs but ultimately it is the working through problems together that makes us who we are IMHO.