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Want a happy marriage? Have a big, cheap wedding

By Brandon Griggs, CNN

Updated 2320 GMT (0720 HKT) October 13, 2014

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A trip down the aisle shouldn't mean stumbling into debt. Experts say it's important to determine your spending priorities as a couple -- and then skimp on the rest as needed.
Photos: Wedding $: What to skip and where to splurge
Wedding $: Where to skip or splurge – A trip down the aisle shouldn't mean stumbling into debt. Experts say it's important to determine your spending priorities as a couple -- and then skimp on the rest as needed.
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Favors are frequently left behind on the tables. As one expert says, guests just don't care -- they're just there to party. If you really want your guests to go home with a token, consider making it edible.
Photos: Wedding $: What to skip and where to splurge
Wedding $: Where to skip or splurge – Favors are frequently left behind on the tables. As one expert says, guests just don't care -- they're just there to party. If you really want your guests to go home with a token, consider making it edible.
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Wedding cake makes a great photo op, but many guests just take a bite or two, if any. Consider a small "show cake" and a less-expensive dessert bar.
Photos: Wedding $: What to skip and where to splurge
Wedding $: Where to skip or splurge – Wedding cake makes a great photo op, but many guests just take a bite or two, if any. Consider a small "show cake" and a less-expensive dessert bar.
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Wedding planners say full glasses of Champagne are routinely left un-sipped. Skip the Champagne toast and just have it as option at the bar, or offer sparkling cider.
Photos: Wedding $: What to skip and where to splurge
Wedding $: Where to skip or splurge – Wedding planners say full glasses of Champagne are routinely left un-sipped. Skip the Champagne toast and just have it as option at the bar, or offer sparkling cider.
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A bride may have dreamed of a frothy, fancy designer dress since childhood, but many come to regret the expense and the discomfort of wearing it all night. Plenty of brides say they're just as happy having an off-the-rack or sample dress altered so it fits perfectly.
Photos: Wedding $: What to skip and where to splurge
Wedding $: Where to skip or splurge – A bride may have dreamed of a frothy, fancy designer dress since childhood, but many come to regret the expense and the discomfort of wearing it all night. Plenty of brides say they're just as happy having an off-the-rack or sample dress altered so it fits perfectly.
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Fancy shoes also might not be worth the splurge. They're often hidden under the dress, and brides slip them off the first second they can.
Photos: Wedding $: What to skip and where to splurge
Wedding $: Where to skip or splurge – Fancy shoes also might not be worth the splurge. They're often hidden under the dress, and brides slip them off the first second they can.
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A vintage veil that's been passed down for generations is one thing. But many brides find that the cumbersome veil they've spent a fortune on is the first thing to go the second the ceremony is over.
Photos: Wedding $: What to skip and where to splurge
Wedding $: Where to skip or splurge – A vintage veil that's been passed down for generations is one thing. But many brides find that the cumbersome veil they've spent a fortune on is the first thing to go the second the ceremony is over.
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One bride says she worked out a deal with her florist to "rent" the flowers, which were collected at the end of the night and brought in to decorate local hotels and restaurants.
Photos: Wedding $: What to skip and where to splurge
Wedding $: Where to skip or splurge – One bride says she worked out a deal with her florist to "rent" the flowers, which were collected at the end of the night and brought in to decorate local hotels and restaurants.
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Printed programs and menus are lovely, but often skippable. If you're determined to have a menu for everyone, print each guest's name at the top so it becomes a place card.
Photos: Wedding $: What to skip and where to splurge
Wedding $: Where to skip or splurge – Printed programs and menus are lovely, but often skippable. If you're determined to have a menu for everyone, print each guest's name at the top so it becomes a place card.
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It might seem incredibly necessary to drape every last surface with flowing fabric, it's often less expensive just to focus on better lighting. Plus -- guests are too busy drinking, dancing and merrymaking to look up and see what's above them.
Photos: Wedding $: What to skip and where to splurge
Wedding $: Where to skip or splurge – It might seem incredibly necessary to drape every last surface with flowing fabric, it's often less expensive just to focus on better lighting. Plus -- guests are too busy drinking, dancing and merrymaking to look up and see what's above them.
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Story highlights

  • Study: Couples who spend less on their wedding have longer-lasting marriages
  • A similar correlation was found between cheaper engagement rings and lower divorce rates
  • The research was based on a survey completed by 3,151 ever-married adults in the U.S.
If you're serving burgers and Bud Light at your backyard wedding, don't worry. You and your spouse may have the last laugh.
A new study found that couples who spend less on their wedding tend to have longer-lasting marriages than those who splurge. The study, by two economics professors at Emory University, found a similar correlation between less-expensive engagement rings and lower divorce rates.
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.
"Or it could be that having an inexpensive wedding relieves young couples of financial burdens that may strain their marriage," he said.
The research was based on a detailed survey completed by 3,151 adults in the United States who are, or have been, married. The authors believe theirs is the first academic study to examine the correlation between wedding expenses and the length of marriages.
Weddings: they're all Champagne toasts and rose petals a-plenty -- at least until the bills start rolling in. Eliminate any awkwardness or unexpected expenses up front by figuring out who is responsible for footing each part with some guidance from Martha Stewart Weddings.
Photos: How to split the wedding tab
Weddings: they're all Champagne toasts and rose petals a-plenty -- at least until the bills start rolling in. Eliminate any awkwardness or unexpected expenses up front by figuring out who is responsible for footing each part with some guidance from Martha Stewart Weddings.
Photos: How to split the wedding tab
How to split the wedding tab – Weddings: they're all Champagne toasts and rose petals a-plenty -- at least until the bills start rolling in. Eliminate any awkwardness or unexpected expenses up front by figuring out who is responsible for footing each part with some guidance from Martha Stewart Weddings.
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<strong>Engagement Party</strong> -- Anyone can host, but usually it falls to the bride's family to pay.
Photos: How to split the wedding tab
How to split the wedding tab – Engagement Party -- Anyone can host, but usually it falls to the bride's family to pay.
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<strong>Engagement Announcement</strong> -- The bride's parents should pay for placement in local papers and papers in the groom's parents' distribution area if they live in a different region.
Photos: How to split the wedding tab
How to split the wedding tab – Engagement Announcement -- The bride's parents should pay for placement in local papers and papers in the groom's parents' distribution area if they live in a different region.
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<strong>Planning expenses, bride's attire, floral arrangements, wedding day transportation, photo and video, officiant's travel and lodging, lodging for bridesmaids</strong> -- This usually falls to the bride's family.
Photos: How to split the wedding tab
How to split the wedding tab – Planning expenses, bride's attire, floral arrangements, wedding day transportation, photo and video, officiant's travel and lodging, lodging for bridesmaids -- This usually falls to the bride's family.
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<strong>Flowers and gifts for bridal attendants, the groom's ring, and a present for him</strong> -- The bride.
Photos: How to split the wedding tab
How to split the wedding tab – Flowers and gifts for bridal attendants, the groom's ring, and a present for him -- The bride.
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<strong>Wedding Reception</strong> -- Sorry, bride's family, but you're traditionally on the hook for this, too.
Photos: How to split the wedding tab
How to split the wedding tab – Wedding Reception -- Sorry, bride's family, but you're traditionally on the hook for this, too.
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<strong>Corsages and boutonnieres for immediate members of both families, lodging of groom's attendants</strong> -- This one falls to the groom's family.
Photos: How to split the wedding tab
How to split the wedding tab – Corsages and boutonnieres for immediate members of both families, lodging of groom's attendants -- This one falls to the groom's family.
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<strong>Rehearsal Dinner</strong> -- The groom's family.
Photos: How to split the wedding tab
How to split the wedding tab – Rehearsal Dinner -- The groom's family.
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<strong>Marriage license and officiant's fees, bride's bouquet and her engagement and wedding rings and a gift, gifts and boutonnieres for groom's attendants, honeymoon expenses</strong> -- Groom, that's all you.
Photos: How to split the wedding tab
How to split the wedding tab – Marriage license and officiant's fees, bride's bouquet and her engagement and wedding rings and a gift, gifts and boutonnieres for groom's attendants, honeymoon expenses -- Groom, that's all you.
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<strong>Alcohol and Flowers</strong> -- In some circles, the groom's family may pick up these expenses.
Photos: How to split the wedding tab
How to split the wedding tab – Alcohol and Flowers -- In some circles, the groom's family may pick up these expenses.
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Specifically, 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 study won't be cheered by the booming wedding industry, which encourages couples to spend freely on everything from invitations and flowers to videographers and Champagne. 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.
"The wedding industry has long associated lavish weddings with longer-lasting marriages. Industry advertising has fueled norms that create the impression that spending large amounts on the wedding is a signal of commitment or is necessary for a marriage to be successful," Francis told CNN in an e-mail.
"Overall, our findings provide little evidence to support the validity of the wedding industry's general message that connects expensive weddings with positive marital outcomes," he said.
Planning a wedding? In addition to slashing costs, you might want to invite those extra co-workers and far-flung cousins, too. The Emory study also found that the greater the number of people who attend a wedding, the lower the rate of divorce.
"This could be evidence of a community effect, i.e., having more support from friends and family may help the couple to get through the challenges of marriage," Francis said. "Or this could be that the type of couples who have a lot of friends and family are also the type that tend not to divorce as much."