There are many different issues to consider in order to answer the question of the rightness or wrongness of living together before marriage.  Some people live together before they get married so they can save money.  If you are unable to afford to live in two places, you may want to reconsider your readiness for marriage.  Others live together to see if they can stand their significant other 24/7.  One problem with this idea is that if you CAN’T stand your significant other, it is very hard to get out of a relationship once you live together.  If you are able to get out of the relationship, it will cheapen future relationships.  What person wants to compare himself or herself to their partner’s future live-in significant other?  It is much easier to be fully satisfied if you have only lived with one person.

One big reason many people think it is wrong to live together before marriage is that they think it is wrong to have sex before marriage.  There are many reasons not to have sex before marriage.  Unwanted pregnancies, sexually transmitted diseases, and regrets are just a few of the big ones.  It is statistically much safer to wait until marriage to have sex.  Many people disagree with this stance, and they are probably the ones spreading the STDs.  But does the fact that you’re living together necessarily mean that you are having sex?  No.  There will be assumptions by other people, however, that sex is happening.  All people care what others think of them.  How do you want to be portrayed to the outside world?  How would your parents feel if you lived with your significant other before marriage?  It is important not to burn important bridges.  Typically, parental bridges are of the most important to keep intact.  Losing the respect of people who matter to you is probably not worth the convenience of living together before marriage.

Big life decisions like this require a lot of thought.  Don’t run hastily into your significant other’s house without giving it a lot of thought.  Think about the consequences of your actions before you make them.  There is a huge difference between regretting one’s actions and regretting the consequences of one’s actions.