Relatively high spending on engagement ring inversely associated with marriage duration among male respondents

'A Diamond is Forever’ and Other Fairy Tales:
The Relationship between Wedding Expenses and Marriage Duration

De Beers: “Isn’t two months’ salary a small price to pay for something that lasts forever?”

This was one of the campaign slogans aimed to link the purchase of a diamond engagement ring to the hope of a long-lasting marriage. So how are the odds?

"Overall, we find little evidence that expensive weddings and the duration of marriages are positively related. On the contrary, in multivariate analysis, we find evidence that relatively high spending on the engagement ring is inversely associated with marriage duration among male respondents. Relatively high spending on the wedding is inversely associated with marriage duration among female respondents, and relatively low spending on the wedding is positively associated with duration among male and female respondents."

Oops, De Beers, that sounds pretty bleak. Anything positive to report about the whole marriage ceremony? Fortunately, yes.

"Additionally, we find that having high wedding attendance and having a honeymoon (regardless of how much it cost) are generally positively associated with marriage duration."

Here are some important hints for men when purchasing an engagement ring. In short, go cheap and your marriage will last longer. Like $ 500 will do.

"Spending between $2,000 and $4,000 on an engagement ring is significantly associated with an increase in the hazard of divorce in the sample of men. Specifically, in the sample of men, spending between $2,000 and $4,000 on an engagement ring is associated with a 1.3 times greater hazard of divorce as compared to spending between $500 and $2,000. Furthermore, spending $1,000 or less on the wedding is significantly associated with a decrease in the hazard of divorce."

How significant are looks, church attendance and the size of the attendance at the wedding?

"In the sample of all persons, greater differences in age and education between husband and wife and reporting that one’s partner’s looks were important in the decision to marry are both significantly associated with a higher hazard of divorce. On the other hand, relatively high household income, regularly attending religious services, having a child with one’s partner, relatively high wedding attendance, and going on a honeymoon are all significantly associated with a lower hazard of divorce. Thus, the evidence suggests that the types of weddings associated with lower likelihood of divorce are those that are relatively inexpensive but are high in attendance."