I was 40+ when I got married (first and only). If you make it that long without getting married, suffice it to say the societal pressure pretty much goes away. Friends and family pretty much give up and just asssume that you are a closet homosexual, weird or something else that makes them feel OK with the idea.
I have now been married eight years. Strangely, I found that I really like being married. If you get married for the right reasons It really is a great thing.
I've been married about 8 years and marriage is a great institution if you fully understand the depth of the commitment. I suppose a couple could live exactly the same life without the paperwork but I like that there's a legal document locking the commitment. When I decided to propose, I understood that I was making a decision to live with this person for the rest of my life. We also decided at that time that children were part of this commitment thus cementing the seriousness of the marriage.
Getting married is probably the biggest commitment you will make in your life but it's worth it.
Why must everyone get married?