Well i wouldn't know seeing as like you i got married and don't know what a civil union constitutes. In our state i assume there's a huge difference in what a civil union constitutes to a marriage. However VT on the other hand probably doesn't, says a lot about Vermont really. Anyway i think the major chunk of difference comes in seperations; don't have to go through the whole tedious divorce crap and its easier just ti sever the union. Also as i understand it if a man and a woman get a civil union the woman can't change her name to Mrs and take the man's surname but what the heck does that matter as we only talk about it now because of gays. ivil unions is all basically for tax purposes and financial loopholes. Marriage gives that but for that you have to commit to love and all that; thus the state makes the assumption that (in theory anyway) you'll be together forever. That's why divorce is a lot more difficult.