With rising divorce rates and more failed marriages by the minute, countless couples are entering into prenuptial agreements now more than ever before. We’ve all been inundated with desolate statistics that can drive a single person to remain single forever. Couples rushing to the chapel to get married just don’t want to be married anymore. Or simply sooner than later, get tired of making it work.
After much speculation, doubting and internet innuendos, reports have been circulating online about the current state of songstress and weight loss show pony Jennifer Hudson’s relationship to her fiancé David Otunga, best known for his participation in the hit VH1 reality show I Love New York. Since their engagement in 2008, the couple already has a handsome two-year son. Also over the past years, Hudson has conquered many milestones in her career such as Oscar and Grammy wins and even a huge endorsement from Weight Watchers. (You’ve seen the commercials.) People are wondering where — and when–is the wedding. Unfortunately, there is a prenuptial agreement holding up the process. According to sources, the WWE wrestler’s refusal to sign a pre-nup is causing a delay in the wedding. Would you blame him?
Call me old-fashioned, but when I hear the word pre-nup, I quickly think about adding insurance to a marriage. Some people refer to this as “protecting your investment,” but I know if I were ever asked to sign one, I wouldn’t. I understand about being secure financially but something about restricting assets and setting boundaries before entering holy matrimony does not sit right with me. It seems like your money is more important to you than our love. Are we planning to spend the rest of our lives together or planning our divorce in a few years?
Hopefully our “ultimate merger” is not just bound by financial agreements. Yes, any successful marriage requires both parties to make investments emotionally, spiritually and fiscally. So if we’re making this commitment, I just hope we are going to ensure (or “insure”) my emotional and spiritual being after the divorce.
With the changing economy, women are now bringing more to the table, so they’re taking control of the situation and asking men to sign pre-nups. Like Hudson and Otunga, Hollywood couples face a different beast, but marriage rules should apply to all across the board. If you love someone, love them at all costs–with costs being the common denominator.
Everyone is not out to swindle you for your money. Hopefully, over the years you can tell if someone genuinely loves you or not. It’s difficult to paint all relationships with the same brush or color. There is no special technique when it comes to finding the perfect mate. But we all know that the ultimate goal of marriage is for two people to live happily ever after. Even though ever after might sound like a far off place bind by legalese and treaties, marriage is a risk you have to be willing to take.
So what do you think about prenuptial agreements? Would you sign one?