The Short-Lived Joy: Inexpensive Weddings, Enduring Marriages

Couples who spend less on their wedding tend to have longer-lasting marriages than those who splurge. A study by two economics professors at Emory University found that women whose wedding cost more than $20,000 divorced at a rate roughly 1.6 times higher than women whose wedding cost between $5,000 and $10,000. Couples who spent $1,000 or less on their big day had a lower than average rate of divorce.

Couples who spend less on their wedding tend to have longer-lasting marriages

A 2014 study by two economics professors at Emory University found that couples who spend less on their wedding tend to have longer-lasting marriages than those who splurge. The study also found that women whose wedding cost more than $20,000 divorced at a rate roughly 1.6 times higher than women whose wedding cost between $5,000 and $10,000. And couples who spent $1,000 or less on their big day had a lower than average rate of divorce.

The national average cost of a wedding is $33,000, according to both The Knot Budget Advisor and The Knot 2025 Real Weddings Study. However, Annie Lee, founder of PLANNIE and principal planner of Daughter of Design, raises an interesting point regarding the average price of a wedding.

The wedding industry has long associated lavish weddings with longer-lasting marriages. However, more is not always better. 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.

The study's authors didn't examine why, although they floated a few theories. “It could be that the type of couples who have a … (cheap wedding) are the type that are a perfect match for each other,” said Professor Hugo M. Mialon, who co-authored the study with Andrew M. Francis.

A few other findings of the study 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.

The national average cost of a wedding is $33,000

The national average cost of a wedding in the United States is $33,000. This figure is based on a survey of 13,000 brides and grooms by wedding website The Knot. The median cost is the value for which half of the weddings are more expensive and half are less expensive.

Couples who spend less on their wedding tend to have longer-lasting marriages than those who splurge. A study by two economics professors at Emory University found that women whose wedding cost more than $20,000 divorced at a rate roughly 1.6 times higher than women whose wedding cost between $5,000 and $10,000. And couples who spent $1,000 or less on their big day had a lower than average rate of divorce.

The wedding industry has long associated lavish weddings with longer-lasting marriages. However, more is not always better. 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.

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.

A big wedding doesn’t mean an expensive wedding. According to the study, if you’re serving burgers and Bud Light at your backyard wedding, don’t worry. You and your spouse may have the last laugh.

Couples who spent $1,000 or less on their wedding had a lower divorce rate

A 2014 study by two economics professors at Emory University found that couples who spend less on their wedding tend to have longer-lasting marriages than those who splurge. The study also found that women whose wedding cost more than $20,000 divorced at a rate roughly 1.6 times higher than women whose wedding cost between $5,000 and $10,000. And couples who spent $1,000 or less on their big day had a lower than average rate of divorce.

The national average cost of a wedding is $33,000, according to both The Knot Budget Advisor and The Knot 2025 Real Weddings Study. The Knot 2025 Real Weddings Study, an annual survey that collects data from roughly 17,000 couples who wed last year in the US, paints an in-depth picture of how much weddings cost. The study also gathers even more data about weddings today to help couples understand everything about weddings while they navigate the planning journey.

The wedding industry has long associated lavish weddings with longer-lasting marriages. However, more is not always better. 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. Having a large family and support group who care, at least enough to attend a wedding, is incredibly important to a long-lasting marriage.

Couples who spent less than $1,000 were 53% less likely to divorce than couples who spent $20,000 or more. The increased apparent longevity of the lower-income couples probably reflects a lack of economic freedom more than anything else. Even middle-income earners have to rely on dual income in most places in America just to make ends meet. Sometimes people don't get divorced because the stay-at-home partner can't afford to make it on his/her own. Another reason divorce rates were lower when women traditionally didn't have jobs was because they were dependent on their husbands for their income, and couldn't afford to leave him.

The average length of marriage is now 38 years

The national average cost of a wedding is $33,000, according to The Knot Budget Advisor and The Knot 2025 Real Weddings Study. However, a study by two economics professors at Emory University found that couples who spend less on their wedding tend to have longer-lasting marriages than those who splurge.

The study found that women whose wedding cost more than $20,000 divorced at a rate roughly 1.6 times higher than women whose wedding cost between $5,000 and $10,000. And couples who spent $1,000 or less on their big day had a lower than average rate of divorce.

The authors believe theirs is the first academic study to examine the correlation between wedding expenses and the length of marriages. Couples in the United States spent an average of $29,858 for their big day in 2013 – a record high – according to a survey of 13,000 brides and grooms by wedding website TheKnot.com.

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.

The wedding industry has long associated lavish weddings with longer-lasting marriages. However, more is not always better. A few other findings of the study 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.

ONS projected that 21% of couples would divorce within 10 years in 2010

In 2010, the ONS projected that 21% of couples would divorce within 10 years. However, with eight years of data on these couples, the actual divorce rate is 4% lower than the projected rate.

The national average cost of a wedding is $33,000, according to The Knot Budget Advisor and The Knot 2025 Real Weddings Study. A 2014 study by two economics professors at Emory University found that couples who spend less on their wedding tend to have longer-lasting marriages than those who splurge. The study also found that women whose wedding cost more than $20,000 divorced at a rate roughly 1.6 times higher than women whose wedding cost between $5,000 and $10,000. And couples who spent $1,000 or less on their big day had a lower than average rate of divorce.

The ONS projection for 2010 couples was 42%. Adding in overseas weddings reduces this to 39%. The final divorce rate figure for 2010 couples over their first decade of marriage is likely to be 15%.

The biggest reason for falling divorce rates is the lack of commitment from couples. 48% of individuals who get married before 18 are more likely to file for divorce within ten years of marriage as compared to those who marry after the age of 25. 60% of couples married between the age of 20-25 will end in divorce. Those who wait to marry until they are over 25 years old are 24% less likely to get divorced.

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