Marriage Materials

  I am just throwing this out into the void- but what is the point of all the "things" we MUST have for a wedding?! I know they have some symbolism and importance, but I still feel that way to much money is spent on the truly unimportant.
  For instance, a wedding/engagement ring sybolizes devotion, fidelity, and eternity. A diamond is chosen as the stone because it is the toughest, rarest, and clearest. These are all symbols of marriage. Is it really necessary to spend thousands of dollars on? Must me have a diamond? Why not coated cubic zirconia? Most people wont know the difference, it looks the same to the naked eye. It lasts a long time, too. It allows all that money that was saved to be put to use elsewhere, instead of sitting aimlessly on a finger.
  What about the dress? Of course every woman wants to look beautiful on  her one special day. Why must we pay so much for an article of clothing that we will only wear for a few hours, then hang in the back of our closet never to be worn again? Why are there tuxedo rentals, but not prominent wedding dress rentals? Food for thought.
  We can spend thousands of dollars on the reception, too. Why not a more simple, possibly more casual party similar to an open house?
  I suppose I am a loon and everyone reading this will think me crazy for not wanting the once-in-a-lifetime experience. But that's just the thing. I want to focus on the experience, not the headache ensued by spending mass amounts of money on a few hours of one day filled with material, not matrimony.