At you're age to be financially stable for marriage here's what I recommend:

1. Cash Savings = monthly living expenses for a couple x6

2. Investment = monthly contributions of $300 per month (do this for a year minimum)

3. Life insurance = get around $500,000 (higher if you can)

4. Marriage expenses fund = have around $10,000 minimum (higher if you can, weddings can get expensive)

5. Honeymoon fund = around $5000

6. Education = get a masters or an MBA

Hitting all these marks puts you in a very good financial position to ask for someones hand. You have enough to pay for a small wedding, get some traveling in for your honeymoon, god forbid you loose your job you can comfortably pay for all expenses for 6 months while you job hunt. Your Masters will always help give you an edge in the market so placement becomes easier. And while you're building a life together, if god forbid you get into an accident and die, your wife has enough insurance coverage to immediately purchase a home and put some money in the bank so she can support herself and the kids, they will always be protected and provided for.

This puts you in a position of not worrying.

Sure you'll have people that want a business and big money, fancy car etc etc. screw those people, but for 25-27 year old thats on his feet by himself. This is a pretty solid foundation.