The vows are clear. "For richer or for poorer. In sickness and in health. Till death do us part." Still, about half of all marriages nationwide end in divorce, according to some statistics.
But if Sacramento Web designer John Marcotte has his way, divorce will be against the law in California.
It started as a joke on voters who outlawed gay marriage but it's looking more and more like a serious law proposal that could find a spot on the 2010 ballot.
Marcotte, who runs badmouth.net, is proposing the 2010 California Marriage Protection Act because, as the Web says, "Prop 8 did not go far enough in protecting traditional marriage."
"Since California has decided to protect traditional marriage," Marcotte told the Associated Press, "I think it would be hypocritical of us not to sacrifice some of our own rights to protect traditional marriage even more."
The proposal would amend California's constitution to eliminate the ability of married couples to get divorced while allowing married couples to seek an annulment. He needs about 700,000 more valid signatures by March 22.
The proposal has a lot of people on both sides thinking.
Jeffrey Taylor, a spokesman for Restore Equality 2010, a coalition of same-sex marriage activists seeking to repeal Proposition 8, said the coalition supports Marcotte's message but has no plans to join forces with him.
"We find it quite hilarious," Taylor said of the initiative.
What do you think? Is Marcotte way off the mark or do you think the idea of outlawing divorce will help people think harder about preserving their marriage if they do tie the knot?
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
