As mrs_tribble said, not all relationships are the same and if you don't want one of those elements you mentioned to, uh, exist, then they don't have to. My parents, for example, got married after having a conversation and thinking it through rather than a proper proposal, and had the 'ceremony' in a registration office instead of a wedding. They also don't wear wedding rings, my mum hasn't changed her last name, and they sleep in separate rooms.

... granted, they do live together and obviously my mum got pregnant, but yeah. My bf's parents don't even live together, but they're still a couple.

Obviously I'm not trying to convince you that "getting married is the only way to live your life!!!", just saying that being 'in a relationship' doesn't necessary lead to you being pressured to do things that you don't want to.

I've never made or put on a Halloween costume :(. It might be because I have a phobia of skulls, and even going to the supermarket to buy groceries is Serious Scary Business in Halloween-mask-selling season.