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I'll admit it. Pledging myself to another human being for eternity was a terrifying prospect. I'd have to give up the thrill of picking up sexy (if questionable) men at the local pub. I'd have to put the kibosh on heavy at-the-office flirting. I'd have to take down my Nerve profile Nerve, always a source of great entertainment. Most of all, I'd lose the allure of possibility.

What I didn't expect is that married sex would be so good, even beyond the whole making-love-with-your-soul-mate part. Don't believe me? Check it:

1. I don't have to worry what's become of the sexy gifts I've given.
I once had an old friend (with benefits) thank me for the handcuffs I'd gifted him by telling me how much fun he'd had using them on a first date with someone new. That felt ... less than great. Plus, we've all heard the horror stories of sex videos and nude pics gone viral.

While I still say no to naked video, it's nice to see my husband light up at the prospect of fooling around with those corny-as-hell sexy dice I bought him two Valentine's ago. And that nude portrait I had done up just the other week turns him on like nothing else. It's good to know it won't be falling into the wrong hands.

Click here to read the rest of the reasons married sex is best.

Weird Ways Guys Popped the Question

    Jason got his girlfriend Maui's favorite author, Neil Gaimain, to help out with his proposal. After waiting in line to meet the author at a book signing, Maui turned her newly signed copy around to reveal Gaimain's message: "PS, Will you marry Jason?"

    http://diveabout.multiply.com/journal/item/13/The_Proposal_co_Neil_Gaiman

    The guys behind the geeky comic Joys of Tech let one of their fans (Tony) propose to his girlfriend (Steph) through one of their issues. After waiting by, the creators posted her response on their site.

    http://www.geekculture.com/joyoftech/joystuff/proposal.html

    We don't want to choose favorites, but JP definitely gets a shout out for over-the-topness. After deciding to propose to his girl in a Super Bowl commercial, he created a website to raise the needed funds. He actually achieved his goal, but not before ads sold out. Instead, he bought air time during her favorite show, Veronica Mars. Check out the commercial and her reaction here.

    http://mysuperproposal.com/

    Tasha got the shock of a lifetime while on board a flight back home from Africa when her boyfriend Ubie showed up on the plane and asked her to marry him over the intercom.

    Flickr, mischiru

    Through work connections, James had an engagement ring for his girlfriend Joy designed by famous video game artist Yoshitaka Amano. He also got Final Fantasy soundtrack composer Nobuo Uematsu to write a little ditty for him to play in the background while proposing.

    http://www.1up.com/do/blogEntry?bId=8951187&publicUserId=4549175

    Alexander proposed to his space loving girlfriend while on a zero-gravity flight that cost him a whopping $7,000. Good thing the ring didn't float away!

    Flickr, Rose Davies

    While all of our guys went to extremes, Todd is the only one to put his life in danger while proposing. At an annual 4th of July bash with family and friends, and with the help of a trained stuntman, Todd lit himself on fire. After diving into a pool of water, he told girlfriend Malissa that he is "on fire" for her and then dropped to one knee. He later made a website for the occasion.

    http://www.hotproposal.com/

    This computer science major inserted a new area into the game Chrono Trigger by hacking into the game in order to create a special proposal for his girlfriend, a fan of the game. He made it so all of the NPCs (non-playable characters) were her and him reliving the highlights of their relationship. Then, one of the NPCs proposed to the player (his girlfriend). Oh, just watch for yourself.

    Flickr, kulafire

    Jeff took Michelle to a local theater to see a showing of her favorite film Say Anything. Thing is, it was a slightly edited version; Jeff replaced John Cusack with an imagine of himself and entered "Marry Me, Michelle" into the frame.

    Flickr, .scarlet.

    As a favor to a fan, Sean Astin (Lord of the Rings) asked Amy to marry "Jordan." He did it over the phone, while Amy was in another city and "Jordan" filmed the whole thing. While sweet, the bit was apparently a con. In fact, it seems there was much fooling of the LOTR cast going on.

    Getty




2. We don't have to sneak around any more.
The both of us were still living with our parents until shortly after our engagement (I know, I know). Suffice it so say that "parking" wasn't attractive to me in high school, and it's still not attractive to me now.

Having to fling ourselves apart and rearrange our clothing every time we heard approaching footsteps at home wasn't a barrel of laughs either (though the thrill of possibly getting caught is not to be underestimated).

3. I no longer have to defend myself from allegations that I am living in sin.
Does anyone take the plunge these days without first testing the waters? Not I! It seems silly to get married before knowing if you're sexually compatible, and it seems similarly silly to get married before you know whether or not you can permanently live with his snoring, his dirty dishes, and his penchant for evening-long cartoon-fests.

Now that we're married, I no longer have to face the death-ray glare of both my and his moms or pretend that I've never seen his wee-wee.

4. Booty calls are never farther than the walk from the living room to the bedroom.
And, to tell you the truth, there nothing wrong with just getting it on in the living room, either.

5. He's not scared off by my naughty drawer.
It's always up in the air whether or not a new beau will possibly feel threatened by my collection of vibrators, lube, massage oil, condoms, cock rings, handcuffs, ticklers, etc. Luckily, the one I ended up with has no problem with my naughty drawer and is often the first to reach for the vibrator and lube. Not only that, but ...

Ten Famous Sex Myths, Debunked

    Women only like bad boys and have to be cajoled into being in the mood, right? Ha! We consulted with Barbara Keesling, PhD, author of "The Good Girl's Guide to Bad Girl Sex" and got the truth about 10 other crazy-pants sex myths.

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    Myth: Women have to be in a relationship to enjoy sex.
    The Truth: Your orgasm potential has nothing to do with whether you're single or committed. Having great sex has to do with physical sensations, not your status. What's more, many women report having stronger orgasms when they masturbate than they do with a partner.

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    Myth: Women don't (and shouldn't!) masturbate as often as guys.
    The Truth: Ha! There is absolutely no rule as to how much you should get yourself off. Do it is much as you'd like. In fact, the more you do it, the more you'll understand what it takes to reach climax and that can help you guide your guy when you're in bed together.

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    Myth: Vaginal orgasms feel better than clitoral orgasms.
    The Truth: There is no such thing as a better orgasm -- they're all pretty fantastic. They definitely feel different because they originate in different spots. Try experimenting and achieving the various types -- clitoral, vaginal, g-spot -- to see which you prefer.

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    Myth: A woman should be able to orgasm during intercourse.
    The Truth: Putting that kind of pressure on yourself may prevent you from having an orgasm at all. A lot of women are unable to reach their peak through straight penetration. Most need clitoral stimulation as well. So don't feel bad touching yourself, having your partner touch you, or even using a vibrator while he thrusts.

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    Myth: Women don't get turned on by porn.
    The Truth: There's no hard rule on this one. Some chicks like naughty flicks, others don't. If porn doesn't do the trick for you, try erotic literature. Lots of women prefer it because it allows them to use their imagination when picturing what's going on.

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    Myth: Guys love lingerie.
    The Truth: Many men just find lingerie complicated. Think about it, all those snaps and ribbons and straps are confusing and a pain in the ass to get off of you when he wants to get some. Most guys will tell you they much prefer a woman naked.

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    Myth: If you're good in bed, you should be able to please anyone.
    The Truth: Some people have instant in-bed chemistry, others have to work on it. That means, you could sleep with 10 guys and they would all have a different opinion of your skills. (And you of theirs!) Communication is key to being able to have good sex with someone. Tell him what you like and don't like, and ask him to do the same. If you're too shy to say it, show him by guiding his hands.

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    Myth: Men prefer women who pursue them sexually.
    The Truth: Evolution tells us the exact opposite. Most men like to feel like they've worked for a women's attention. However, that doesn't mean that you have to sit in the corner and wait for a man to approach you. Go ahead and signal to a guy that you're interested by flirting. Just avoid things like grabbing his crotch in a crowded bar.

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    Myth: Happy couples always have good sex.
    The Truth: No one always hits a homer in the bedroom. You could be in the best relationship and have an off night if one of you isn't feeling well or is stressed. If you are always having bad sex, it may be a bigger problem. If this is the case, discuss what you both need in bed to enjoy yourselves more

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6. ... I now have a permanent date for all forthcoming sex parties.
I enjoy the opportunity for exhibitionism at sex parties done right, yet I've always been shy about playing with new people. When I attend a play party with my husband, the sexual tension in the air makes us want to rip our clothes off on the spot.

Sometimes we retreat to a shadowy corner, where we can feel the thrill of getting intimate in a somewhat-public space. Sometimes we harness that energy and bring it all the way back to the bedroom.

7. The fact that I haven't shaved in a week doesn't deter him.
Neither does the fact that I have morning breath, corpse-cold feet or foundation-free skin. Now that I think about it, nothing much deters him from seeking out sexy time.

8. He still finds me hot to trot when I'm wearing my fuzzy Cookie Monster pajama pants.
I've never been one for lacy camisoles, thongs or other filmy, sheer or otherwise boudoir-like lingerie (unless it's for science, of course). Thank God.

I used to wear at least cute boxer shorts and a form-fitting tank top when I joined a man in bed, but my husband finds me hot even when I'm wearing my ridiculous PJs. Or those hideous cotton briefs with the hearts on them that looked so cute on the Web site. Or those hideous cotton briefs paired with a pair of socks, because I am halfway to getting dressed or undressed.

9. We can laugh at the things that used to make us horrifically self-conscious.
Use your imagination. Sex can be a minefield of neuroses.

10. He knows just how to turn me on.
The way he rubs my back during foreplay. The way he kisses my neck. The way he touches this with that in a very specific way ... These are all tried-and-true methods learned over an extended period of time. No one knows what makes you feel good more than you do. But a long-term partner can come pretty damn close.

Steph Auteri is a writer specializing in sex, relationships and other sources of angst related to the back-and-forth between men and women.


10 Outrageous Theme Weddings

    Football Wedding This couple was married at the Cincinnati Bengals' Paul Brown Stadium. No word on whether the bride wore a sports bra.

    Hello Kitty Wedding Never moved past your Hello Kitty pencil case? You can pay to have two giant creatures escort you down the aisle, like this couple.

    jennfc.com

    Star Wars Wedding We hope Yoda presided over this wedding ("Take the bride, do you?"). The London Telegraph reports on one such union where a Princess Leia was the ring bearer, clad in the infamous gold bikini.

    klobtime, Flickr

    Biker Wedding Why leave your Harley at home for the big day when you can ride down the aisle in style? This couple takes leather to the altar and shows their guests exactly how to ride off in to the sunset, without chafing.

    Mad Man Dan / FaithRiders

    WWII Wedding Time to party like it's 1942? All 100 guests at this wedding got into theme, donning fur wraps, berets and caps adorned with feathers. For authenticity they piped in the sound of sirens and Lancaster bombers flying overhead.

    Hartlepool Mail

    Zombie Wedding If the undead get married, then it really is a union that will last forever. To make it authentic you could even get carried in a coffin to the altar. Consider eating beforehand if you don't like brains.

    wedlog.com

    Disney Princess Wedding For your Cinderella day, you can buy a gown from the official Disney fashion line, or have your wedding at the actual theme park for 10 grand and up. Next up: "Lion King" groomsmen!?

    bridezilla.com

    Gangster Wedding Bonnie and Clyde made being a gangster romantic and now you can too with some vintage duds and smart pinstripes.

    thebreadline, Flickr

    Renaissance Wedding Grab your lute and mount your trusty steed! If you're donning a garter, run swiftly. One rather aggressive medieval tradition called for guests to grab a piece of the garment by any means necessary.

    youandyourwedding.com

    Lord of the Rings Wedding "One ring to bring them all and in the darkness bind them." Take your "precious" to the altar and recite lines straight from Tolkien's classic as the vows. These LOTR superfans earn bonus points for their Minas Tirith cake.

    Sarah and Patrick Needham