trial marriage
Probationary romantic commitment
A trial marriage is a period of living together as a couple before legally marrying, testing compatibility and commitment.
The arrangement lets partners experience domestic life—shared finances, daily routines, conflicts—without the legal bonds of marriage: They agreed to a trial marriage before setting a wedding date.
The term is somewhat dated; "living together" or "cohabitation" is now more common.
- compatibilityMutual suitability between things
- test the watersAssess before fully committing
- emotional securityFeeling reliably cared for
- prenuptial contractsPre-marriage asset arrangements
- cohabitationDwelling together unmarried
moving in · common law · stigma · modernity · tradition · self-discovery · open relationship · commitment · personal growth · household management · trust · taboo · communication · long-term relationship · property rights · conflict resolution · partnership · intimacy
- sexual customssexual norms, sexual taboos, courtship, virginity, chastity
- weddingswedding, wedding dress, wedding cake, wedding ceremony, bride
- marriagebride, groom, wedding, husband, wife
- wedding customswedding vows, wedding veil, wedding rings, wedding gown, wedding ceremony
- cohabitationcohabitation, cohabiting, cohabitants, cohabiting couple, living together
trial marriagetraditional marriage
Customary male-female union
holy matrimony · till death do us part · til death do us part
trial marriagelegal marriage
Officially sanctioned spousal union
church wedding · civil marriage · religious marriage · ceremonial marriage · matrimony
trial, marriage, trials, trialed, trialing, marry, married, marries, marrying