Yes it is true. People date all the time before they get married, perhaps not to the extent of Neil Patrick Harris's character, but flirtatious social interaction and dating is very common. Sometimes people don't even get married anymore because they feel that they don't need to get married to express their love for each other in the part of the United States I live in, but it varies depending on the State. I hope this answers your question.

Every person is different. Some people have a lot of partners before they marry, some marry their first love. Some people never marry, instead they live with one partner or more. Then there are people who like to live by themselves.

Some of my friends are even living together (without marriage plans also) and some are even living with someone for the second time! Now... dating I think it is common and normal, some do it more frequently than others, but then living with someone I think it's just beyond my limits, however it is a thing very very common here too. Should you consider Mexico western too? I have some acquaitances that I know for sure would just have a night stand at any given chance, I know some would even have girlfriends when they're married, so I guess that insane amount of relationships doesn't stop at marriage (for some people).

I would like to express my view about this via a pic I found on fb and I agree http://a2.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash3/556449_469159719784346_26305853_n.jpg