Are Flashy Rings & Weddings The Recipe For Quick Divorces?
Is an extravagant wedding and a huge, sparkling rock that many women could only dream of, the answer to an everlasting marriage? A study from Emory University, located in Atlanta, tied big rings and over-the-top weddings to a higher divorce rate. Economics professors from the university surveyed 3,000 people who are married – or were married – and found that people who dropped some serious dough were more likely to end up in divorce court.
Men who spent $2,000-$4,000 on an engagement ring were 1.3 times more likely to end up separated. And if the wedding cost $20,000 or more, women were 3.5 times more likely to get divorced (KRMG.com/News).
Many soon-to-be brides, designers, stylist, planners, and bridesmaids refer to The Knot, basically an online wedding bible, which specializes in everything from wedding ideas and inspirations, to must have playlists and amazing venue sites, as well as do-it-yourself designs and detailed checklists. The Knot says the average wedding in the U.S. costs about $30,000, and the average cost of an engagement ring is about $5,500 (KRMG.com/News). The Knot has a breakdown of all the key costs of the average wedding in 2008 via this link.
The Emory University study does say couples who spent $1,000 or less on the wedding were much more likely to stay married. It also notes high attendance was linked to longer marriages, too (KRMG.com/News). According to an “About Relationships” article, the average cost of divorce in the U.S. is $15,000. However, that does depend on the route you take. A common measurement thrown around is that 50 percent of U.S. couples end up divorced, which is not 100 percent true, as said by Scott M. Stanley of the University of Denver. He also states, “…The 50 percent number came from someone noticing that, in the U.S., we have about 2.4 million marriages a year and 1.2 million divorces a year. Hence 50 percent of married couple divorce,” (More Info).
Relationships do not always come easy, and divorce tend to be expensive, but maybe the most fancy wedding and huge ring is not the answer to the fairytale marriage most people hope for. Robin Meade, from HLNtv states, “…Maybe it’s just that thinking people who focus on the material stuff don’t have a solid relationship to begin with, too” (KRMG.com/News). Fortunately, there are steps you can take in order to maintain a healthy and positive relationship (Healthy Relationships).
For more information on topics related to marriage and divorce, please view our family law page, or read more about divorce law. For even more detailed information on the legal issues surrounding divorce, view the following:
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