Men 'should marry younger, cleverer women'

Men and women who are currently in throes of wedding planning could find that if the bride-to-be is younger and more intelligent than the groom, then the marriage will be a success.

At least that is the opinion of a new academic report published in the European Journal of Operational Research, which has claimed that factors like cultural origin, age and education "may help reduce divorce".

The report cited pop star Beyonce Knowles and her rapper husband Jay-Z as a good example of its theory.

At 28, the Crazy in Love singer is 11 years younger than Jay-Z, 39, and she boasts a better education than the latter, who failed to graduate from high school, the Telegraph reports.

When they tied the knot and cut their wedding cake last April, Beyonce and Jay-Z, unlike many A-list couples, did so in secret.

Jay-Z later told Oprah Winfrey's O magazine that they think it is important to keep their relationship low-key.

Whatever colour scheme or style of wedding you choose, be sure to find a matching flower in the hitched.co.uk wedding flowers section