Brides, Don't Envy Taylor: Expert Spills On Why Big Weddings Won't Spell Happily Ever After

On July 3, 2026, the world seemed to hold its breath as half of Hollywood and most of the NFL descended on Madison Square Garden for Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce's wedding. Roughly 1,000 people were invited to the affair, which experts estimate cost between $35 and $50 million. But while such a star-studded blow-out bash might seem romantic, it's no guarantee of lasting love. In fact, it can be quite the opposite.

One 2015 study found that couples who spent more money on the engagement ring or the wedding were actually more likely to get divorced than those who spent less. While splurging on a 20-carat ring or a couture gown itself won't actually cause a divorce, it can be a sign that a couple is prioritizing something other than a rock-solid bond. "When a couple starts to care more about the public perception of their relationship than the quality of connection within it, it's a red flag," celebrity love coach Nicole Moore tells Women, exclusively.

Big weddings risk prioritizing romantic performance instead of true intimacy. "Weddings say a lot about your expectations," wrote one Reddit user. "Marriage is often messy, difficult, and full of challenges. Weddings are kind of a fantasy. If you love being with someone, the wedding is just a celebration — not a statement." After all, very few of the most extravagant celebrity wedding dresses of all time made for lasting love.

The relationship between enormous weddings and divorce is more one of correlation than causation. Still, just the process of planning a huge wedding, which takes a lot of time and energy, can create a disconnect. "Bigger weddings often require couples to spend so much of their time wedding planning that they neglect quality time leading up to the big event," celebrity love coach Nicole Moore tells Women, exclusively. "For these couples, there's often an adjustment period post-wedding where they have to learn to connect one-on-one again and just be present with each other." Perhaps that's why some celebrities have opted for a wedding that wasn't a total spectacle.

But that disconnect can develop into outright conflict. "Committing to a larger wedding can definitely negatively impact one's relationship if things like budget issues or time constraints come into play," says Moore. Money turns out to be the most common sticking point, but the guest list and division of labor can all lead to fights. Differing expectations can also create tension, especially if one partner wants an old-fashioned ceremony while the other wants something more modern.

Ultimately, the way you navigate wedding planning is an indicator of how you'll navigate marriage. "Disagreements are natural, but creating a safe space for each person to express their thoughts and feelings throughout the process can help mitigate the severity of conflict," psychotherapist Nicholas "Nic" Hardy told Brides.