Before I read other comments:

Marriage is a life event. In order to live a full life you must find someone and negotiate a double coincidence of wants. Then you invest and reinvest in each other. To fall in love is a misnomer. To choose to love is how it rolls out. It is easier when pretty and feeling healthy but I have promised to choose to love regardless. It feels like a pretty emotional high at the beginning.

It is difficult to describe the amount of stability and instability I have experienced with this choice. My spouse has the power to build me up and tear me down. She generally chooses to build me up. I generally choose to build her up.

I have lived in communities where I could only rely on her. I have lived in communities where I didnt have to rely on her. I choose her daily.

I think there are some strong societal wealth consequences to getting and staying married. Wealth lends more stability and options over time.