Weddings celebrated on special dates, such as Valentine's Day, or numerically significant dates, such as 1/2/03, are up to 36 per cent more likely to end in divorce, according to a new study from the Melbourne Institute of Applied Economic and Social Research.
The report, "Not Your Lucky Day: Romantically and Numerically Special Wedding Date Divorce Risks," the first of its kind in the world, considered the fate of more than one million marriages over 15 years.
Speaking to the Herald Sun, lead author Professor David Ribar said that differences in the characteristics of couples explained some of the higher risks of getting married on special dates.
"Couples who marry on ordinary dates may be more strongly influenced by characteristics of their relationships and their compatibility than couples who marry on special dates," said Professor Ribar.
"Other couples are influenced by things outside their relationship such as an event that has happened to them that has brought them together - or an opportunity to marry on a certain day."
Among other coverage, the research topped the Bloomberg Benchmark report.
The full working paper is available on the Melbourne Institute website.