When my husband and I were married, we were both very financially secure. It was pointless and a waste of time, money, and effort (also undue stress) to us. We started our lives together by being married at my Mother in Law's house overlooking a lake by a Judge (with about a dozen guests). Total cost: $120 (the cost of appetizers at a local bar/restaurant for the group after our "wedding." Conversely, my best friend at the time (in law school with me), had no financial resources or stability. Along with almost $200,000 of college debt (she always withdrew the maximum so that she could live independently during her studies), she planned an elaborate wedding that cost her almost a quarter million dollars (the venue alone was just shy of $100k). The sad part was that her husband also carried $150,000 in student loan debt). This wonderful and deserving couple started their lives together with well over a half million dollars in debt.