Study: The costlier the engagement ring, the shorter the marriage...

According to research conducted by Emory University, couples who spent more on engagement rings and weddings were more likely to divorce than those who opted for less expensive options.

In a survey conducted on 3,000 married couples, researchers found that men who spent between $500 and $2,000 on an engagement ring were 1.3 times less likely to divorce than those who spent $2,000 to $4,000.

The same study revealed that women whose wedding costs exceeded $20,000 were 3.5 times more likely to end up divorced than those who spent $5,000 to $10,000.

Interestingly, the study also found that men who spent less than $500 on engagement rings experienced higher divorce rates. 

Couples who spent less than $1,000 on their weddings decreased the chances of divorce. Also, having more weddings guests led to longer marriages.

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Coordinators of the study believe that the link between divorce rates and costly weddings and engagement rings had to do with brides and grooms wanting to create the perfect wedding day—even if they aren’t in the position to afford the costs.

“In 1959, Bride’s magazine recommended that couples set aside two months to prepare for their wedding and published a checklist with 22 tasks for them to complete. But by the 1990s, the magazine recommended 12 months of wedding preparation and published a checklist with 44 tasks to complete.”

Researchers also point out that there’s not much evidence that supports the wedding industry’s underlying message that extravagant ceremonies equate to positive marital outcomes.

Culled: MadameNoire.