Interesting sidebar: Yesterday my (high school) students were reading a short story about a couple who became engaged and set their wedding date for a week later.
Several girls laughed at this notion, saying essentially, "You can't put together a wedding in a week! It's just not possible! I mean, all those things you have to get together!" I asked them what they thought was essential for a wedding, and I wasn't surprised: A church, people, clothes, a place for the reception. This launched into a discussion of exactly how little it takes to be married: A blood test and a marriage license from city hall. Probably $100 would do it today. They were SHOCKED.
I should note that this was in an at-risk class. These kids come from homes with single mothers, never-married parents, and most of them have never been involved with a wedding. They thought being married LEGALLY HAD TO involve thousands of dollars and floral bouquets. They just don't know things. They did not know that it isn't the church ceremony that "marries you"; rather, it's the license from city hall. Then we talked about the pros vs. cons of being married -- and how it's about stability and commitment, not just emotion and love. And we talked about legalities. It may not have had anything to do with my state curriculum, but those kids now know a few things about the world that they didn't know before -- and it was all so far out of their realm of understanding that they went to google to check my facts!
Things these kids don't know is terrible-sad. I'm remembering a year or so ago that one of my girls was crying because she was pregnant and "her baby daddy wouldn't help her". I pointed out to her that this wasn't his choice -- that he couldn't walk away from his responsibilities, that she could have his wages garnished, and though he could choose to be unpleasant, the law would help her. She genuinely didn't know. She thought he could say, "Sorry", and walk away.