It's helpful for some legal right. But if you still want the traditional ceremony I think a church will marry you without a license if you prefer or do it yourselves.

A marriage license is a contract between two people witnessed by an officiant and up to two witnesses. That is here in California.
Required for what specifically? What are you asking?
I am an officiant here in California and have performed a wedding in Oregon.
For the most part, weddings are just window dressing for you to sign your license with an officiant, which is why judges can marry you with no ceremony, either. Also, don't be fooled by movies a ship's captain can't legally marry you once you leave the ship.

Oh... by all means. You know all my answers are just an experience. Protect yourself! Thats a non gender answer. Love is blind. You look at each other like you'll take a bullet for your other. Being blindsided kind of feels like you took that bullet. A marriage license gives both sides a legal equal balance of possessions. You can start over with one half or nothing. Dont fool yourself that your that so called soul mate. Another can always take that place. Thats why you should love ,honor, and respect. That keeps your marriage alive and kicking.

For a legal union, yes. That has nothing to do with a church.

I would like to know how many people would actually get married if one partner did not pressure the other one into the marriage .

In spite of not ever wanting to go into a church again, I'm good with the concept of marriage. As far as I'm concerned, it can be done by a judge or ship captain, it doesn't have to be by a priest. The idea of making a "forever" commitment has its advantages and making it legal and binding is fine with me. With rights come responsibilities (like not cheating on your partner).

I once read something interesting...that marriages should be more difficult to get and divorces should be easier. Their premise was to require people to live together for, like, a year before they can marry. But when you know it's over, don't make people go through madness and give 1/3rd of their money to lawyers to make it happen. I'm still not sure if I agree 100% with that, but I think it's good to ponder.

Required by whom? It you want a legal contract between you, your spouse and the state, then yes. If you want a binding relationship, then absolutely not.

This kernel of wisdom came from a marriage counselor: marriage is a contract; love is a feeling; and relationships are work. I've found this to be a truism. Best of luck!