I did not marry my girl friend I dated.
Interesting, well dating does not always end in marriage their are many stages to courtship. And dating is only one form of courtship.
What are the stages you know?
Dating is simply the wooing of  female, getting  a feel for each other, and then maybe gauging her receptiveness to marriage.
When was the earliest recorded history of dating?
Dating is a relatively recent term that has only emerged in the last few centuries.
OK,So what are there cultural aspects relating to dating?
Some cultures require people to wait a certain age, then they are allowed to begin dating. generally by their parents,