thoughts on a wedding

i usually don't care if i piss people off, but i hope nobody takes this one the wrong way:
wow, i never realized before how cynical i am about the institution of marriage. there was a wedding this weekend and i heard the vows and couldn't help but think that there's a 50/50 chance this couple won't make it. then the "traditional" wedding night jokes didn't really happen because the couple is already living together, so they do already have sex... it was basically just a big party and now they're going on a vacation to maui. why do people do this? the "dress, the dance, the cake, the car, the whole darn thing" (thanks shania)? on the other hand, i also am aquainted with a live-in unmarried couple of about 15 years who may call it quits pretty soon. is it better that they never got married, so now there's no divorce? just heartbreak and loss. yeah, that must be better.
not that i regret my own marriage. i think the fact that we skipped the giant party helped us focus on what our vows were really about - a commitment to support and stand by each other no matter what happens. i wonder if other people realize that's what they're promising when they say "i do".