Oct. 31 saw the announcement of Kim Kardashian’s split from spouse Kris Humphries after 72 days of marriage.

Their divorce, which comes as no surprise, raises the question of the promise of marriage and whether it is really necessary in today’s society to walk down the aisle and receive a certificate to prove your love to one another?  I don’t think so.

A wedding to many is no longer about expressing and showing the world your love and dedication towards someone, it is becoming increasingly about the dress, the flowers and the ring. The certificate is just an added bonus.

The Humphries-Kardashian divorce is another in a long line of short celebrity marriages. Britney Spears’ marriage to childhood friend Jason Alexander lasted 55 hours while Dennis Rodman and Carmen Electra lasted all of nine days. Marriage is no longer for an eternity; it is until there is a disagreement.

In the United States, 49 percent of marriages end in divorce. Almost half of all the couples who walk down the aisle and declare their love to one another end up in court fighting over who the dog belongs to. Talk about dedication.

Many couples these days chose to live together and have children without getting married. Traditional? No. Practical? Yes.

This idea of having a partner and a family but without the marriage certificate is becoming increasingly attractive to couples in today’s society.  People know that marriages these days are not necessarily for eternity and if something were to go wrong it is much less hassle if you never walked down the aisle. Not only this, but you save a huge amount on divorce fees.

Whilst the dream of a big, white wedding and declaring your love to one another sounds like your perfect fairy tale wedding, this is all it is: a dream. Yes, you’ll probably be in your element on your big day but ten years later when you and your soon-to-be ex-husband are fighting over every last dime, you’ll regret ever walking down that aisle and signing that register.

The last few years have seen a decrease in marriages. Some might say it is due to the state of the economy and young couples can no longer afford the dream wedding they want. I personally think it is because people have woken up and realized that judging from those that have gone before us and the current divorce rate you may as well invest your money into a new, shiny car instead of a white wedding.

It will cost less and it will be far more reliable.