By Robert "Chip" Mues   |   October 4th, 2025   |   Divorce   |   No Comments
signs of divorce before marriage

Wedding Money Problems and Signs of Divorce Before Marriage

The signs of divorce before marriage.Robin “Birdie” Yarusso, from Minneapolis, has been a wedding planner for 25 years. Recently she posted a viral TikTok sharing the signs of divorce before marriage that she has observed after planning hundreds of weddings.” The video has received over 3.1 million views! Birdie as she likes to be called says, “I can tell a bride and groom that’s going to get divorced before they even get married. So I’ve planned like 100 weddings and probably like 25 – 30 proposals, and there are certain things that happen that I’ve seen time and time again with my brides and grooms that have divorced later on.”

One of the red flags she sees is the cake smash. If it is discussed beforehand and both parties want to do it, then that is fine, however when it is a surprise then that is when it becomes a problem. She still doesn’t recommend the cake smash as few of her brides and grooms have gone on to successful marriages!

Pastor Kevin Thompson, Lead Pastor of Community Bible Church in Fort Smith, AR, author and blogger about marriage and parenting, says “That whenone person shoves the cake in the other’s face unexpectedly, it shows four questionable characteristics: pride, force, revenge, and contempt. All of these characteristics don’t bode well for a happy marriage.”

Red Flags That May Be Signs of Divorce

Another sign of trouble ahead is financial issues. If one of the partners is secretly making upgrades to the wedding plans and not telling the other, then it indicates that they don’t agree on handling money. It is commonly recognized that financial strains and disagreements on how finances are handled can be a major factor in a divorce.

Also, secret arrangements behind the other person’s back could also indicate that whichever one is lying about the expenses, that perhaps they can’t be trusted and are being dishonest about other things as well. Birdie says “If I have a couple that is going into major debt for their wedding, hiding spending from the other, not respecting one sides feelings towards certain financial boundaries – that marriage most likely will see those issues come out later and could be a reason for divorce.

The third red flag is when either the bride or the groom’s mother or father is too pushy and overstepping their boundaries and the child doesn’t reel them in and puts a stop to it. Overbearing in-laws when allowed to take over can be a disaster.

If the mother and or father is too vocal about wedding choices, and decisions, that is likely going to be a continued problem for the couple when they are faced with big decisions, such as buying a house or whether or not to have children, or even how to divide the holidays. If the children’s wishes aren’t respected during wedding planning, then it is likely going to be a trend that continues and a reason for unhappiness and disagreements between a couple.

Overbearing In-Laws as Early Signs of Divorce Before Marriage

Dramatic behavior at a wedding can also indicate difficulties in the marriage. For example, if one of the members of the couple becomes overly intoxicated that’s generally not a good sign. Birdie indicated that means that the couple is not aligned in behaviors. She also said a groom who is totally checked out to the wedding plans and doesn’t carry his own weight in participating can be an indicator of trouble. The bride can feel that it is too much of a burden not to be able to share, which can lead to resentment.

Although Yarusso sees these behaviors as true indicators of a failed marriage, she also believes that while she is not a therapist, if these are signs that one sees in their relationship, they should be addressed. Planning a wedding can be a trying time, and can serve as a stress test in a relationship. If you are planning a marriage, think about her words and if you see any of these issues surfacing, it might be wise to get some counseling

While not directly on point, this video reminded me about a blog I posted on 7 years ago on September 22, 2018 titled, “An Expensive Wedding, Is it a Road to Divorce?” Click here to read it. I wonder what “Birdie’s” thoughts are on that subject?

Click here if you would like to view “Birdie’s” TicTok video.

While these behaviors don’t guarantee a breakup, they are strong signs of divorce before marriage that couples should address early with counseling or open communication.

Schedule An Appointment.

Please consider joining or following us!

© 2025, Ohio Family Law Blog. All rights reserved.

A Wedding Planner Share’s the Signs of a Likely Divorce Based on Her Observations of the Couple’s Behavior!
Share this post!

Leave a Reply