Unless you are from a small village in a nomad country that has as its culture, getting married does not require your parent's approval. Nothing is stopping you. You do not need marriage guidance,marriage advice or marriage help from your parents to get married either; should you decide to make that big step. Your marriage relationship is between you and the person who you are considering marrying.

This is America and your parents if they are baby boomers more often than not married without their parent's disapproval. Also your parents may be having marriage problems of their own. Rebellion is what growing up is all about. Your decision should be based on the answer you come up with when you ask yourself: "Am I marrying this person because of my parent's disapproval or because of love." If the answer is the former then you are doing a disservice to yourself and your betrothed.

Marriages, you must understand are decisions that you have to made because you and your mate.  Your parents  are not in the relationship with you and the person you selected who may not meet their approval. The bottom line is that you are not marrying your parents but are marrying supposedly the person you are in love with. Your parents, simply speaking, are married to each other.

If they disapprove of this person and if their non-stamp of approval is not culturally biased-motivated, you should listen to what they are saying. Love does not always see potential faults in the other partner and that is what accounts for the high divorce rate. If the parents are being constructive in their criticism and are known to be pragmatic, practical and sensible when it comes to helping you out of tough situations, you may want to listen to them. You are making a big step and marriage comes with problems of its own when there is not a controversy involved. Marrying the other person without the blessings of your parents may cause potential problems especially if your prospective mate is aware of the negative response to the marriage. Both of you will have to be strong if you decide to marry knowing that the parents disapprove.

People change and if you truly love the person your parents disapprove of, you can marry in the hopes that they may change their minds. Again, you are not marrying your parents and it is important that you are marrying for love and not out of rebellion. Time and circumstances change and your parents may come around especially if you both produce a bouncy grandchild. Do not, however, go into marriage to change their minds as your focus should be on getting to know your partner for marriage which is a lasting enduring relationship.