Dating, Marriage, Relationships: How I see it
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I will keep this short and simple.
In the West, marriage is seen as a huge deal. You invite everyone you know, have a big celebration, get the government involved in your relationship and are expected to be together "till death do you part." Dating is casually meeting up with and hooking up with women/men. Relationships are commitments but seen as much less than marriage and do not carry legal weight unless you live together - in some jusrisdictions at least.
The way I see nikah is an umbrella incorporating all of these - with the exception of the casual hooking up of course. If you want to go on dates with a woman, kiss, etc. and do not know if she is the right one for a long-term relationship, you still need to enter into a nikah/marriage. There is a verse talking about divorce/separation before sex. Typically, if a couple has already been together they have sex right after marrying, and waiting a long time does not happen. However, if you use nikah to date and get to know your spouse, then it is not unusual to not have sex.
Basically, if you are serious about someone and want to date, kiss, have sex and so on, enter into marriage, then see what happens. Only God knows how long you will be together with your wives/wife or husband anyhow. This whole notion that you can be dating without nikah is nonsense. The same with the notion of "they lived happily ever after" is unrealistic.
Technically with just this info, one could argue that a man and woman can do a "temporary marriage" or "pleasure marriage" like Shi'ites do, however, God says that it has to be serious and not for taking lovers.
Also, marriage is simply a verbal agreement and the man paying a dowry. That is it. Just dont keep your relationship/marriage a secret. No need for a huge celebration or any celebration at all. No need for any "till death do us part" kind of pressure. No need to get the government involved.