The money is gone right from the start. Even if your spouse is with you till you die.
The whole marriage thing is also extremely expensive. I suspect for similar reasons - so that people think twice before throwing it away. In that case they also have angry friends and relatives who invested into expensive travel and presents and probably wouldn't be too happy if it was all for nothing.
But then I've also been with the same person for 19 years who also things the ring this is a scam.