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If you’re planning a wedding, you’ve probably heard every opinion under the sun. Spend more. Spend less. Go big. Keep it simple. It’s enough to make anyone want to elope.
But here’s something you might not expect. A study from Emory University suggests that spending too much on the engagement ring or the wedding might actually increase the chances of divorce. Yep, that’s the opposite of what the wedding industry wants you to believe.
According to the research, men who spent between $2700 and $5400 on an engagement ring were more likely to end up divorced than those who spent $500 to $2000.
But before you go hunting for a $20 ring online, there’s a twist. Spending too little — under about $680 — wasn’t great for long-term happiness either.
So the magic number seems to be somewhere in the middle. Think thoughtful, not flashy.
💒 The Wedding Price Problem
Now for the big day itself. Weddings that cost more than $27,000 were linked to a much higher divorce rate. Women with weddings in that price range were 3.5 times more likely to get divorced than those who spent between $6800 and $13,600.
That’s a huge difference. And honestly, it makes sense. Big weddings can bring big stress, big expectations, and big debt. None of those are great for a new marriage.
❤️ What This Really Means
The takeaway isn’t that you should skip the ring or cancel the party. It’s that spending more doesn’t guarantee a stronger marriage. In fact, it might do the opposite.
Most couples say the best parts of their wedding weren’t the expensive things anyway. It was the people, the moments, the memories. And those don’t come with a price tag.
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