MY boyfriend and I have just celebrated our seventh anniversary.

But instead of congratulating us on a long and largely happy relationship, there’s only one thing our family and friends have had to say – “When are you getting married?”

This is a question I have had to bat away with increasing frequency over recent years, and I find myself answering thro-ugh gritted teeth.

If we wanted to get wed, we would.

Speaking for myself, I wouldn’t mind being married, but the thought of having a wedding makes me cringe and the two things, unfortunately, go hand-in-hand.

“Just go to the register office!” people cry, but I know our parents would be offended if we didn’t invite them.

If they are coming, then our siblings must too, and all their partners. Alr-eady, we would be a party of 14.

And what of our grandparents, aunties, uncles and cousins? I know there would be angry murmurings if they were not invited.

My dad is one of seven, my mum has three sisters, and between them, their spouses and their multiple offspring, we could probably fill a whole church – and that is without accounting for my other half’s large extended family.

Of course, you must also invite close friends, to avoid hurt feelings and simmering resentment, and so the guest list could spiral into triple figures.

More frightening, even than the number of people, is the fact they would all be in one room together. The mere thought of my devoutly religious grandparents meeting some of my boyfriend’s lager-swilling pals is enough to raise my blood pressure.

As well as the guest list, you also have to consider the venue, the outfits, the food, the service and the transport – not a task I would relish.

Add to all this the sheer cost of a wedding – even a modest do will cost thousands – and I find myself thinking, is it worth it?

There are some benefits, of course, to being married – mainly legal and financial ones as far as I can see.

If we are lucky enough to one day have a family, I would like to have the same last name as our children.

I would also very much like to dispense with the ‘boyfriend’ and ‘girlfriend’ tags, which to my mind will always be associated with school romances – shy notes left in lockers and holding hands in the playground.

The word ‘partner’ sounds too cold, and so we resort to ‘other half’, ‘significant other’ and other such nonsense when referring to each other.

But these considerations are not enough to tempt us down the aisle just yet.

Maybe, just maybe, we’ll get round to it one day. But in the meantime – don’t ask!