A note from our friends at Faithful Platform:
“For better, for worse, for richer, for poorer…” Anyone who’s attended a few wedding ceremonies is all too familiar with this classic line in the traditional marriage vows. These vows signify the moment two become one, but most married folks can attest to the many decisions the “two” make separately that impact the “one”. This is especially true when it comes to finances. The practice of wise stewardship isn’t something that a couple starts doing together to benefit their marriage, but something that must take place long before “I do”.
Biblical marriage often intertwines both hearts and bank accounts, as two people must now learn to function and make decisions together as one unit. Most couples experience the reality of this when they start wedding planning and budgeting together.
Statistics paint a sobering picture of newlyweds and debt. According to a recent study by LendingTree, around 45% of couples carry debt into their marriage, with an average debt of over $20,000. The weight of this financial burden can strain relationships and discourage newlyweds who are trying to build a solid foundation for a fruitful marriage. While many factors contribute to this debt, one of the major sources is often the cost of the ring and wedding celebration.
While the engagement ring is usually a purchase a young man makes on his own, the tendency to overspend on this big purchase can leave couples in debt before they even make it to the altar. However, we know that it’s possible to get the exact ring she wants without compromising on a wise and healthy budget.
Our company, Faithful Platform, was born when Austin Willard, Founder & CEO, was working in college ministry and saw firsthand the number of young men buying overpriced engagement rings from big-box stores, simply because they weren’t properly educated on the purchase. Austin, having grown up in the jewelry industry, knew how sleazy the business could be and saw the exorbitant retail markups on rings directly impact his friends trying to pursue marriage.
Today, our team has served couples throughout the country and internationally and saved them thousands of dollars on one-of-a-kind engagement rings, wedding bands, and anniversary gifts. We operate online and our custom design model allows us to save a tremendous amount of money compared to traditional brick-and-mortar retailers. We pass those cost-savings on to our clients to truly live out our motto: save on the ring, invest in the marriage.
Wise stewardship begins long before the vows and we take pride in our ability to help Christian couples be good stewards of their resources. Faithful Platform clients get a customized ring-buying experience and money back in their pockets to use where it’s needed most. For some couples, that’s their wedding or honeymoon fund, and for others, it’s paying off student loans or saving for a home.
We are extremely passionate about building healthy marriages and are excited to be a part of Grace Marriage’s mission to shift the drift in today’s culture!