In theory, if you are on the same page with your partner in terms of lifestyle, marriage shouldn't change much. If you can live in a 1bhk now, why would you move to a bigger house just because you got married? While I do not agree with lifestyle expenses, I agree that marriage expenses can drown you, or not. If you guys can agree on a registered marriage, and a party with close friends and relatives in a house, you would have bypassed this expense. This almost never ever happens. I had asked my parents to just buy me a house and my parents in law to buy their daughter a house - instead of inviting 5000 people, they all laughed at me, and continued with the spending. If this is your state, don't get married.