Discussion Main / MetaphoricalMarriage

I propose either splitting the trope or renaming it entirely. A metaphor basically means "it's not literally this, but we'll compare the two things as being similar". The term "metaphorical marriage" would seem to suggest either: a) a relationship between two people or entities that involves a serious, long-term commitment, but isn't a union of romantic partners the way a literal marriage is or b) an experience a couple goes through together which is not a formal wedding or commitment ceremony but serves to bind them together as a symbol of their union. However, as described, the trope includes formal ceremonies that are in all respects completely indistinguishable from a "real" wedding except that the couple aren't afterwards recognized by the local government. For these couples, their bond is not a metaphor or a figure of speech. They are married, either in the light of their faith, in practical terms of making a serious enduring commitment, or both. It seems patronizing to describe, say, a same-sex couple as "metaphorically married" when in many places in the world, for decades now, they would be legally wed - or at least in a "civil partnership" - if they'd done the exact same thing. Bear in mind also that in many cultures, the idea of needing to register your marriage with the government or even get the blessing of an officiant is non-existent or, at most, relatively recent. For this reason, I suggest splitting the trope thusly: 1. If it's not actually a union of romantic partners, it falls under other tropes like Does This Remind You of Anything? or Heterosexual Life-Partners. 2. If it is a union of romantic partners but there wasn't a ceremony that could be reasonably called a wedding, then it's a Metaphorical Marriage. 3. A union of of romantic partners that is in some way explicitly a wedding, but is not considered legally binding or in some other way "illegitimate" in the eyes of the couple's culture, should have another name. I suggest "Symbolic Ceremony" to keep the alliteration, but I'm open to other suggestions.