their relationship does not require a âpiece of paper.â I get it. Recently an acquaintance told me that she doesnât need to be married, that âitâs just a piece of paper,â and she doesnât need said piece of paper. I agree with her that the piece of paper is unnecessary, in one sense. If my acquaintance were âmarried,â in spirit, the piece of paper is secondary. Some people are clearly married, without the formal piece of paper; others are not. My take is that marriage is not a piece of paper. Itâs more than a piece of paper.