Introductions usually go like this: "This is my wife, Jennifer." Why include the title and not just a name or other descriptive phrase? Shorthand. Husband and wife mean something to the two of us, and while its meaning isn't necessarily exactly what others might infer (although seriously, do you think any random set of people would have the same exact construction of those terms?) it's close enough that in one word we can convey a sense of our relationship that took us years to determine for ourselves.

Getting married was for us, not anyone else. If it fits with what other people consider marriage, well that's great, but not important.

Culturaly laden words, true. But I take what I want from culture, without embracing or rejecting it wholesale.