I had two siblings get married in recent times and their celebrations were under $15,000 in the NYC/Long Island area. I think people need to revisit their relationship with money and readjust themselves. Not everyone needs a ridiculous over-the-top celebration. If you are of humble means, there's nothing wrong with a humble life and a humble wedding for that matter.

Are they forgoing living together, forming a financial partnership or just forgoing the ceremony? There's a huge difference between living solo and just not bothering getting a license (see Quebec). Although those lacking the paper might have some difficulties due to the definition of "spouse" that is in place wherever they're being called on it. HIPPA for example, or immigration.

No one can afford it. It's not hard to understand. Outside of like 3 places in the US people are on the ropes. Yes it's evil and toxic. The only solution is to find the source of the inequality and destroy it, cremate whats left.

There's a fundamental flaw in the article (and likely also in the underlying research) ; it assume that unless you're married, you're single. That's far from truth; roughly half of partnered couples aren't married at all.