London - If you’re planning a wedding, you may want to cancel the ice sculptures and ten-tier cake.
For according to new research, when it comes to a happy marriage a cheaper wedding is best.
A study by US economists at Emory University in Georgia found that women whose weddings cost £12 450 (about R200 000) or more were three and a half times more likely to get divorced than those who spent under £6 221. With the average cost of a British wedding at over £18 000, this means that many couples could see themselves walking down the aisle and into the divorce courts.
The research, published by the Social Science Research Network, also found that men who spent between £1 244 and £2 488 on an engagement ring were 1.3 times more likely to end up divorced than those who spent under £1 244.
Relationship counsellors believe this statistic may show that couples who spend thousands on a wedding could be compensating for a less-than-perfect relationship.
Susanna Abse, of the Tavistock Centre for Couple Relationships, told the Sunday Times: “However much you have spent, when it’s over it’s just the two of you.” - Daily Mail