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Why are so many women crashing emotionally after the wedding is over? In today’s episode, we pull back the curtain on the hidden pressures, silent expectations, and comparison traps that push people into stress, anxiety, and post-wedding depression without ever understanding the cause. We break down the truth behind the marriage premium and penalty, the real cost of chasing “the perfect day,” and how these cultural messages shape your identity, health, and long-term happiness far more than you realize.

If you have ever questioned why something that is supposed to feel magical can leave so many feeling empty, you are not alone. This episode will help you see the whole picture with clarity.

Episode Resources:
1. From Motherhood Penalties to Husband Premia: The New Challenge for Gender Equality and Family Policy, Lessons from Norway
2. Stanford study identifies another explanation for the ‘marriage premium’
3. Marriage Penalties in Means-Tested Tax and Transfer Programs: Issues and Options
4. Research Brief: The Marriage Divide, Marriage Penalties, and United States Welfare Policy
5. Selection and Specialization in the Evolution of Couples’ Earnings
6. Wage Premium and Wage Penalty in Marriage versus Cohabitation
7. The Male Marital Wage Premium: Sorting Versus Differential Pay

Here are the related episodes, each one builds on today’s conversation:
#412 | Being an Adult Doesn't Mean You've Grown - https://apple.co/42kU36P
#411 | Why Most People Fail Long-Term—And How to Win - https://apple.co/4hzFToW

Evolve Together Experiences:
🤝 Out of the Mud (OOTM) - “Breaking Free From Social Pressures” - https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/IykObX8eR7ixJaQ-qqZogw#/registration

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Connect with Emilia, Bianca & the EVOLVE VENTURES Community:

Website: http://www.evolveventurestech.com
Emilia’s IG - https://www.instagram.com/evolvewithemilia/
Bianca’s IG - https://www.instagram.com/evolvewithbianca/

Connect with Emilia & Bianca from Evolve Ventures for FREE:
https://calendly.com/emiliasmith/free-evp-communityconnect?month=2025-07

Show notes:
(1:57) The hidden rise of post-wedding depression
(3:22) Marriage premium Vs. Marriage penalty
(7:51) The truth behind expensive weddings
(11:32) Wedding pressure and women’s health decline
(15:10) Comparison, panic, and identity loss
(17:54) How to avoid becoming another statistic
(20:31) What actually builds a healthy marriage
(23:30) When life priorities get misaligned
(26:58) Outro