Couples who spend a lot of money on their dream wedding are more likely to divorce

The wedding day is supposed to be the most beautiful day in life for many. Bridal couples are now paying a lot for this. No wonder, because the prices for services in this segment are constantly increasing. In a survey commissioned by the print service provider "Kartemacherei", 16 percent of those surveyed said they had spent between 6,000 and 10,000 euros on the wedding in 2021. Another 19 percent even invested 10,000 to 15,000 euros in their wedding.

After all, 37 percent of those surveyed were able to manage with a budget of less than 6,000 euros. About six percent of the couples really let it rip and spent over 20,000 euros on their special day. Admittedly, such an extravagant celebration that leaves nothing to be desired for guests and spouses, leaves a lasting impression. However, that's not all that matters: According to a recent study by the British non-profit organization The Marriage Foundation, couples planning an expensive dream wedding are at greater risk of getting divorced than those planning a low-key celebration celebrate.

The study surveyed 2,000 married Britons over the age of 30. They should provide details of the total cost of the celebration, when they got married and whether they are still married. It turns out that out of ten couples who spent more than £20,000 on their wedding, one broke within three years of vows.

This corresponds to about eight percent of those surveyed who celebrated such an expensive wedding. In the overall average of the study participants, a little less than five percent divorced within the first three years. On average, a British wedding costs around 9,000 British pounds, i.e. around 10,717 euros.

The pollsters suspect that expensive weddings could have a negative impact on the future of the bridal couple for two main reasons. First, some spouses go into debt for the intoxicating celebration of their own volition and then have to deal with financial problems. As a result, disputes can arise more often. Second, the illusion of the perfect dream wedding can be too stark a contrast to reality for the spouses.

After a luxurious country villa break with great food, music and champagne, the three-bedroom apartment can seem a little drab. In a way, the study result is also a satisfaction for all those who decided against a perfect, huge wedding staged for Instagram. Previous research by the Marriage Foundation seems to confirm these findings.

The pollsters found that weddings with only one to ten guests also represented a high risk of separation. Around 34 percent of marriages that were concluded in a small circle failed after ten years at the latest. For comparison: the overall divorce rate among the 2,000 respondents was 18 percent within the first ten years of marriage.

Here, too, the pollsters provide a plausible explanation: More guests could therefore be good for the marriage because they reinforce the decision to commit to one person. In plain language: Others think it's good that you're marrying this person and are happy for you. Couples who only have a few guests feel this psychological effect less.

A 2013 study by the same organization looked at how often first-married couples divorce compared to second-married couples. It turned out that almost half of all those who were getting married for the first time separated, namely 45 percent. In contrast, only 31 percent of second marriages ended in divorce.

Now one could argue that this is because the bridal couples who decide to say yes for the second time are mostly older and therefore have more life experience. But one thing is also certain: most older couples do not spend that much on their wedding celebrations.

Be it because they want to protect themselves from disappointment or find it inappropriate to celebrate so big again. Or because they know that the money can be invested more sensibly than in a single brilliant day. It doesn't matter why they end up with a less high wedding budget. Bridal couples who marry for the second time ultimately distort the statistics on wedding costs and any resulting risk of divorce.

But honestly, no one needs a wedding that just looks good for Instagram or lives up to someone else's expectations. It is much more important what the bridal couple actually likes, how and where they celebrate - and maybe a realistic look at their own financial situation does not hurt. Nobody should have to go into debt for their wedding party. Anyone who heeds these rules has probably already solved some problems.

PS: The case of this Brazilian model shows that saying yes is only a limited alternative and protects against divorce.

This article was first published in February 2022.