Attention all you frugal lovers out there. I’ve got great news.
According to a new study, spending between $2,000 and $4,000 on an engagement ring is significantly associated with an increase in the risk of divorce.
Two Emory University researchers who studied 3,000 married couples in the U.S. showed that there’s a correlation between money and divorce. The researchers studied income, religious attendance, how important attractiveness was to each partner, wedding attendance, and other metrics to determine the aspects associated with eventual marital dissolution.
According to the study, a wedding ceremony has a massive impact on whether you will get divorced or not. One of the biggest factors is how many people attend the wedding and how much was spent on the ceremony.
Shockingly, couples who eloped (just the couple at the wedding) were 12.5x more likely to end up divorced than couples who were married at a wedding with 200+ people. Turns out having a large family and support group who care, at least enough to attend a wedding, is incredibly important to a long lasting marriage.
The Number of People Who Attended The Wedding
But there’s even better news: a big wedding doesn’t mean an expensive wedding. According to the study, the more you spend on your wedding, the more likely you’ll end up divorced.
Couples who spent less than $1,000 were 53% less likely to divorce than couples who spent $20,000 or more. Contrary to what the wedding industry wants you to think (that the average wedding costs an astounding $30,000), more is not always better.
How Much Spent on the Wedding
This is great news for frugal lovers across the country.
A few other findings of the study said suggested that you should spend at least three years dating before getting married, be wealthy but don’t be a gold digger, and don’t skip the honeymoon.
Time Spent Dating
Honeymoon?
While researchers already knew that a longer courtship and a well-planned wedding is indicative of the success of the marriage, this is the first time we’ve seen a correlation between the amount spent on a wedding and the success of the marriage.
H/t The Atlantic.
