It's a cultural thing. Each culture has their own marriage-related customs. When you want to get married in the USA, you basically need to go through it, becaus

It's a cultural thing. Each culture has their own marriage-related customs. When you want to get married in the USA, you basically need to go through it, because everyone has been perfectly conditioned to expect a certain ritual and setting. If you are male, you have to offer a diamond ring. (As a feminist you could ask: why not the opposite? Or: why don't both offer diamonds?) If you are female, you have to put on a certain dress, and in general you are expected to dream about the wedding and everything related. What is especially ridiculous is that people get away with calling it "the happiest day of your life". Think about it: if it really is, then there is not much to expect after marriage. It's time people start changing their attitude to this ritual and focus more on understanding the ways they could make each one happier in the long term.