As laws change periodically, it is best to check with the county clerk in the county you are planning to marry for up to date regulations. Alabama marriage laws require that persons under 16 years old may not be married, those between 16 and 18 may marry with consent of both parents or guardian(s) and a $200 bond. Intellectual intimacy is not about discussing highly intellectual ideas but just simple thoughts about food, finances, health, crime, work, politics all the things that are affecting your lives. Much of our lives involve doing social intimacy that is spending time around events in our lives together or experiencing events separately but sharing through open communication. The ring or rings are blessed and then exchanged. It is during this part of the ceremony that the guests will hear the traditional wedding vow, “With this ring, I Thee wed”. The tradition of the wedding ring is based on the idea that the wedding ring is the symbol of the love between the two people. In fact it is so serious that if a bride decides not to marry she is put to her own death and if not she will surely know the shame she has put on her family. In a way, don’t we all do this by having the groom ask for the daughter’s hand in marriage? I know my own husband asked for my father’s permission before we got married. It doesn’t seem to matter how much people know about your relationship, how little they know about the circumstances surrounding the issue you are having with your partner, everyone you know – and even strangers who just happen overhear you discussing the problem – will tell you exactly what you should do. Financial Issues Generally speaking, a marriage contract deals with financial issues, namely how assets will be divided in the event of a divorce. It may also include provisions for how property will be managed during the marriage. With people tending to get married after they have finished school and started a career, the chances of them having accumulated some assets beforehand is greater.