Is marriage JUST for the wealthy?

This weekend I watched my sister marry the love of her life, easily and radiantly stepping into her “new” chapter, ready to tackle the world alongside her new husband.

There were many whispers of how they had already inspired one another to be more ambitious, healthy and kind, and how marriage would further serve them to build a better future than either could alone.

The next morning, I stumbled on this article: Why Marriage Is Increasingly for the Affluent (WSJ).

As someone who thinks about couples and finances full-time, it immediately had my attention.

The article states that marriage rates are dropping across the board, with the fastest reduction amongst the bottom two-thirds of earners, and further that the children of the poorest parents are nearly half as likely to wed as those from the wealthiest families. (30% compared to 59%).

I couldn’t help but wonder: Are we losing the romantic ideal of marriage — choosing the love of our life to have and to hold, for richer or for poorer?

Or simply circling back to marriage’s oldest role: a wealth-preserving transaction for the already-privileged?

The article describes the “capstone model,” where couples insist on achieving financial milestones, like home ownership or career stability, before saying “I do.” Something I can certainly understand in an era of soaring housing prices, volatile markets, and global uncertainty.

However, I still found it disheartening that marriage is being treated like a checklist item, something to do only after maxing tax accounts and hitting FIRE goals.

Because marriage can create stability.

The right partner is a teammate to weather storms, pool resources, help inspire you and share their knowledge -- advantages that often accelerate, not delay, long-term success.

And it’s important to acknowledge, you most certainly don’t have to be married to build a life together. Whether you sign the paper or not, the turning point is the day you truly see yourselves as a team – financially, emotionally, physically.

Marriage, or any version of true partnership, shouldn’t be a prize for getting your finances perfect; it’s the partnership that will help you create the life you want.