union without marriage or marriage before union

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In the society you're living in, does marriage matter much before the union of a couple can be considered blessed? Or is it more important that they are having a relationship regardless of marriage? In Filipino society, much stress is placed on the couple's marriage before they can live together. Otherwise, they will looked down on especially by those who were brought up in the conservative ways of old. Sometimes this sentiment is even in disregard of the couple's feelings toward each other. I'm here referring to the pressure on couples to get married because the girl got pregnant. In the society you're living in, should they get married first before they should live together? or can that wait and just concentrate on maintaining a harmonious relationship, without discounting eventual marriage?