• love - is key and the most important aspect.
• desire - if you don't' have desire for the other, why bother?
• appreciation - if you cannot appreciate or admire the others qualities,  why bother?
• trust - if you cannot trust the other, you are in trouble
• surrender - everything of your past must be given up to the new relationship
• a prenuptial agreement - simply because the legal systems in most countries damages people who divorce through the legal system

• need - if you are in need of saving, or whatever, get sorted before entering marriage.
• prenuptial agreement - while this is an important element for a successful marriage, it also indicates the marriage is temporary and at some time doomed to failure. Really you are damned if you do and damed if you don't. 
• want - whatever it is, want can will lead to control issues and a disastrous marriage
• Infidelity - a sure way to strain a relationship even if your not found out.

How do you know you want to get married?
Marriage in most countries is promoted as the societal ideal and is the life aspiration for many young people who think that to have a happy successful life, you must get married, be a good citizen and employee, pay your taxes, have 2.4 children, keep your patch clean, and try to get on with your "inlaws'

So how do you know?  Really marriage should be something that fits into the life plans for both you and your intended and that you both feel it in your hearts. Do know your own heart? Typically we learn by flirting, petting, dating, having sex, discovering what is fun and what feels nice, comfortable, and then asking, will my experience with this person satisfy me for a lifetime?

Should you get married?
No, there is no should, either do or don't. Should is when there is pressure, should is a political decision, should will make others happy before your happiness.

Does your family want you to?
It's none of their business really, although they generally have everyone's best interests at heart and your marriage the best solution they can see.

Is marriage necessary and will it make a better life?
This depends on one's education, life continues with or without marriage, the blessing of god, church or state is nice, but if the commitment to each other is real and strong, a relationship does not require marriage and life can be prosperous and successful without marriage. In business favor is often given to those of similar persuasion.

Why Do People Get Married?
There are many reasons and here is a partial list:

• It is the parents wish or will
• It is required by one's community
• They Truly fall in love
• They get pregnant/have a child and legalise the child through marriage
  • The shotgun wedding..
• Survival - to people who like each other often marry for financial and security reasons
  • Two people sharing the rent and living costs survive better than one person alone
  • Good companionship makes for a happier life
• Impulse - the Los Vegas marriage chapels cater to this market
  

Why Not To Get Married
Like for getting married, there are many good reasons not to including:

• Knowledge of the truth of ones life path
• Fear of Failure
• Fear of Divorce and its consequences