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Plot Twist: It’s the Groom Who Cries First, According to Data from 25,000 Weddings

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New data from 25,000 weddings analyzed by the Betting on the Wedding app reveals surprising trends in modern celebrations: grooms are more likely to cry first than brides, 75% of couples now skip bouquet and garter tosses, and 85% have ditched the traditional cake smash. The findings come from the most comprehensive dataset of real wedding outcomes ever published, drawn from celebrations on six continents.

ST. LOUIS, June 11, 2026 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ — As peak wedding season kicks off, we finally know who really cries first at the altar, and it is not the bride. Betting on the Wedding, an app that lets guests place lighthearted bets on moments during a wedding, is shedding light on surprising trends in modern celebrations. By tracking both guest predictions and the actual outcomes when bets are called, it provides an unprecedented view of what really happens on the big day.

“With over 25,000 weddings analyzed across more than 100 countries, we can see not just what guests expect, but what actually takes place.” Greg Stahl, co-founder of Betting on the Wedding

Launched in late 2023 by husband-and-wife team Greg and Stacy Stahl, Betting on the Wedding gained early traction through viral posts on Instagram and TikTok, quickly establishing itself as one of the most talked-about wedding entertainment apps and modern wedding games. The team has since gathered feedback from thousands of couples and continues to adapt the experience to meet the evolving needs of the modern bride and groom.

Unlike traditional wedding research, which relies on surveys or anecdotal evidence, Betting on the Wedding collects real-time data on both guest predictions and actual outcomes. This approach produces insights that are both unique and highly accurate, data that most other wedding companies simply cannot access. The result is the most comprehensive dataset of real wedding outcomes ever published, drawn from celebrations on six continents.

“With over 25,000 weddings analyzed across more than 100 countries, we can see not just what guests expect, but what actually takes place,” said Greg Stahl, co-founder of Betting on the Wedding. “It is a unique lens into how weddings are evolving and how couples are personalizing their celebrations.”

As couples search for the best wedding entertainment options and most creative wedding reception games for 2026 celebrations, Betting on the Wedding has emerged as a category-defining choice for interactive wedding guest engagement. Unlike most wedding reception games, the experience begins days before the ceremony itself, as guests debate predictions, compare picks with each other, and build anticipation long before they arrive at the venue.

Unexpected Trends Unveiled (additional insights available upon request):

It is the groom who cries first. When couples bet on who would cry first, the groom beat the bride to tears 56% of the time, even though guests were split nearly 50/50 on the prediction.58% of grooms cry upon seeing the bride walk down the aisle, marking increased emotional openness among men.85% of couples avoid smashing cake during the cake-cutting, signaling gentler celebrations and more photo-friendly traditions.Nearly half (48%) of brides have an outfit change, emphasizing the rise of fashion in wedding festivities.84% of best men and 91% of maids of honor rely on notes or phones for speeches, indicating preparation and structure are valued over spontaneity.75% of weddings now skip bouquet and garter tosses, suggesting these once-traditional activities are falling out of favor.

Gaps Between Expectations and Reality

Betting data revealed notable surprises where guests’ expectations diverged significantly from actual outcomes:

Bouquet & Garter Toss: 66% of guests predicted these traditions would happen, but only 25% of weddings actually included them, a more than 40-point discrepancy.Ed Sheeran Songs: While 81% of guests anticipated hearing Ed Sheeran at the reception, only 41% of weddings played his music.Officiant Jokes: Officiant jokes are common, but not a guarantee. 83% of guests expected an opening joke, yet it occurred in 66% of ceremonies, reflecting a trend toward more direct, heartfelt openings over warm-up comedy moments.DJ/Emcee Mistakes: Nearly half (45%) of guests bet the DJ or emcee would botch a name, yet only 18% experienced such mishaps, revealing higher-than-expected professionalism.

What Today’s Couples Are Inventing

Beyond the most popular predictions, modern couples are creating their own wagers that reflect how wedding culture is evolving. Among the most popular custom bets couples have invented:

How many Taylor Swift songs will the DJ play?Will someone wipe out on the dance floor?What will the late-night snack be? Pizza, tacos, and donuts are the leading contenders.Will there be a conga line?

“Our data shows weddings are becoming more interactive, meaningful, and reflective of each couple’s unique personality,” said Stahl. “Guests are no longer just observers, they are active participants in creating memorable experiences.”

Frequently cited among the best wedding apps and most innovative modern wedding games, Betting on the Wedding is built for couples planning interactive wedding receptions and looking for unique wedding guest entertainment. Couples set up the app prior to their wedding and share a personalized link to their betting pool via wedding websites, invitations, email, text, or a QR code at welcome parties.

In a major update timed to peak wedding season, guests no longer need to download anything to participate. With a single tap of the personalized link, anyone can place bets directly from a browser, removing the biggest barrier to participation: the app download itself.

“My wife and I had talked about doing something like this for the wedding, and it was so much more fun than we were expecting. The number of our friends who came up to me complaining that I busted their bet was hysterical. Just such a unique way to add to the fun of it all.”

Verified five-star review, Apple App Store

Greg and Stacy Stahl bring deep entrepreneurial experience to the venture. Stacy previously founded HowHeAsked.com, acquired by The Knot in 2016, and later launched Sweeter Cards, acquired in 2024. Greg is a former Googler and has served as VP of Marketing at multiple startups.

About Betting on the Wedding

Betting on the Wedding is a leading wedding entertainment app and interactive wedding game that turns weddings into memorable, shared experiences by letting guests place playful bets on unique, funny, and sentimental moments. Consistently named among the best wedding apps and most creative wedding reception games for modern couples, the customizable platform enhances ceremonies, cocktail hours, and receptions by fostering excitement, laughter, and deeper connections among attendees. For under $50, couples can add unlimited guests, unlimited bets, custom wagers, a split-the-pot feature, and more, with guests joining straight from a browser, no download required. Couples can download Betting on the Wedding on iOS and Android. Learn more at bettingonthewedding.com.

Media Contact
Stacy Stahl, Betting on the Wedding, 1 941-544-7632, stacy@bettingonthewedding.com 

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SOURCE Betting on the Wedding

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DMCC Signs Strategic Partnership with Hong Kong Tinkam Capital to Drive Industrial Investment between Hong Kong and Dubai

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DMCC and Hong Kong Tinkam Capital (HKTC) sign strategic partnership to explore development of power and energy equipment production park in Dubai Collaboration aims to support industrial investment and Chinese company expansion in UAE across advanced manufacturing, energy and green tech sectorsPartnership reinforces growing UAE-China economic ties and Dubai’s advanced manufacturing ambitionsDMCC hosts over 1,000 Chinese companies in its district

DUBAI, UAE, July 27, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — DMCC, the leading international business district that drives the flow of global trade through Dubai, has signed a strategic Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Hong Kong Tinkam Capital (HKTC) to explore the development of a state-of-the-art power and energy equipment manufacturing park in Dubai, reinforcing industrial cooperation and investment between the UAE and China.

The agreement establishes a framework for collaboration between both organisations to support the development of a power and energy equipment production park in Dubai while attracting upstream and downstream Chinese companies across the industry value chain in strategic sectors such as advanced manufacturing, green technology and energy.

Through the partnership, DMCC and HKTC will also facilitate knowledge exchange, promote industrial investment opportunities, and connect prospective Chinese enterprises with DMCC’s business ecosystem, reinforcing Dubai’s role as a gateway for Chinese company expansion and investment.

The high-level visit was facilitated by Wu Yufan (Elvis Wu), President of Longdy Group Greater China Region. The signing took place during a high-level visit to DMCC led by Guo Hongwei, Executive Deputy Director of the Management Committee of the New Quality Productive Forces Development Fund under the China Economic Reform Research Foundation, alongside Ye Xiongchang, Chairman of Hong Kong Tinkam Capital, and senior representatives from China’s advanced manufacturing, green tech, power and energy sectors. The delegation was welcomed by Ahmad Hamza, Chief Free Zone Affairs Officer at DMCC.

Ahmad Hamza, Chief Free Zone Affairs Officer, DMCC, said: “China remains one of DMCC’s most important strategic markets, with more than 1,000 Chinese companies now operating from our district and registrations growing at double-digit rates over the past five years. We welcome this partnership with Hong Kong Tinkam Capital that reflects our shared ambition to deepen commercial ties between the UAE and China while creating new opportunities across advanced manufacturing and energy infrastructure. By combining Hong Kong’s industrial expertise with Dubai’s world-class business environment, we are creating a platform to attract investment, strengthen industrial capabilities and support the next phase of economic growth.”

Ye Xiongchang, Chairman, Hong Kong Tinkam Capital, said: “This partnership reflects the growing momentum of the Dubai-Hong Kong investment corridor and creates a strong platform for deeper industrial collaboration between our two markets. Together with DMCC, we will explore opportunities to develop a world-class power and energy equipment manufacturing ecosystem in Dubai while supporting Chinese enterprises looking to establish and grow their presence in the UAE. By connecting industry, investment and expertise, we can help businesses access new markets and contribute to the region’s long-term industrial development.”

The MoU provides a framework for both organisations to cooperate on identifying investment opportunities, engaging prospective enterprises, sharing expertise and supporting projects that contribute to the development of Dubai’s industrial and energy ecosystem.

The agreement builds on the rapidly expanding economic relationship between the UAE and China. China remains the UAE’s largest trading partner, while DMCC is home to more than 1,000 Chinese companies operating across sectors including energy, technology, construction, financial services and precious metals and stones.

About DMCC
DMCC is a leading international business district that drives the flow of global trade through Dubai. We make it easier for our members to do business, helping them access the world’s fastest growing markets from a dynamic district that offers everything they need to thrive. This approach is why we are the preferred location for over 26,000 top multinationals and high-impact startups, contributing significantly to Dubai’s position as a global hub for trade and innovation. DMCC is where the world does business.

For more information, visit dmcc.ae.

About HKTC
HKTC is headquartered in Hong Kong, an international financial hub, and operates as a comprehensive financial group specializing in global asset allocation and cross-border capital management. The company focuses on two core areas—international trade and financial investment—and is committed to playing a pivotal role amid the ongoing transformation of the global economic landscape.

HKTC keenly identifies the opportunities presented by the reconfiguration of emerging industries, actively leverages Hong Kong’s unique role as a super connector, and adheres to highly compliant international operational standards to professionally guide China’s high-quality production capacity toward global deployment. We are not merely capital providers but also architects for industrial implementation—providing robust momentum for Chinese enterprises’ establishment and growth in overseas markets through innovative financial instruments and comprehensive capital services.

Especially in high-potential growth markets such as the Middle East, Southeast Asia, and Africa, HKTC has established a robust resource network and localized service capabilities. Leveraging world-class trade hubs like the Dubai Multi Commodities Centre (DMCC) as strategic pivot points and capitalizing on its exceptional ecosystem that aggregates global resources, we assist China enterprises in overcoming geographical constraints to precisely align advanced production capacities with the economic development needs of host countries. Throughout this process, HKTC consistently adheres to the philosophy of “co-deliberation, co-construction, and shared benefits,” emphasizing deep integration with local economies to achieve long-term win-win outcomes for Chinese capital, Chinese technology, and host country development, thereby truly enabling Chinese production capacities to take root and flourish overseas.

In the future, HKTC will continue to collaborate with world-class partners such as DMCC to empower more enterprises to access the fastest-growing markets globally, serving as a vital financial bridge that facilitates seamless economic circulation between China and the world economy.

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/apac/news-releases/dmcc-signs-strategic-partnership-with-hong-kong-tinkam-capital-to-drive-industrial-investment-between-hong-kong-and-dubai-302835102.html

SOURCE Dubai Multi Commodities Centre

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TGT Technology at MWC 2026: Focus on Edge Intelligence to Build the “Hub” for Global Information Services in the AI Era

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SHANGHAI, July 27, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — From June 24 to 26, TGT Technology made its debut at the 2026 MWC Shanghai under the theme “AI-Empowered, Edge Intelligence,” showcasing its strategic transition from a “connectivity service provider” to a “leader in omnichannel intelligent connectivity solutions.” As a globally leading cloud communications (AIoT) service platform, TGT Technology is redefining the infrastructure landscape of the edge intelligence era.

TGT Technology’s booth remained consistently bustling, drawing significant attention from global customers, telecom operators, and industry partners.

Focusing on “Cloud Communications + Edge AI” to Build an Autonomously Evolving Intelligent Entity

“In the AI era, the efficiency of data flow determines the boundaries of intelligence,” said Mr. Henry Zhang, Founder, Chairman, and CEO of TGT Technology. Leveraging global connectivity data accumulated from tens of millions of endpoints, TGT Technology’s global cloud communications (AIoT) service platform is evolving from a passive connectivity pipeline into a “decision-making brain” with autonomous learning capabilities.

TGT has built a unique “cloud-edge collaboration” architecture: the cloud efficiently schedules massive amounts of data, while the edge performs real-time inference and decision-making at the endpoint, effectively addressing the three core challenges of latency, bandwidth, and privacy and security. Its proprietary vertical-domain agents can proactively sense scenario requirements, enabling end-to-end intelligence—from intelligent scheduling of network resources to dynamic optimization of connectivity strategies—and providing global enterprise customers with continuously evolving intelligent connectivity capabilities.

Deep integration of “cellular + satellite” expands coverage across land, air, and space

The large-scale implementation of edge intelligence begins with ubiquitous connectivity. Through strategic partnerships with leading global satellite operators, TGT Technology has established a layered connectivity architecture comprising “near-field Wi-Fi/Bluetooth, wide-area 4G/5G, and airspace MEO/LEO,” achieving continuous coverage from the ground to low altitudes and up to high altitudes.

vSIM/eSIM Technological Innovation: Connecting Millions of AI Devices

Through its independently developed vSIM/eSIM technology suite, the TGT platform has connected millions of AI devices, covering a diverse range of categories, including smartphones, portable mobile devices, smart wearables, in-vehicle devices, and industrial IoT gateways. As one of the few platforms in the industry to offer a complete technology suite—including CloudSIM, SoftSIM, eSIM, and iSIM—TGT Technology is emerging as a critical foundation for AI infrastructure.

Learn more: https://en.tugegroup.com/
Partnerships: sales@51tgt.com

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SOURCE TGT Technology

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HashKey Exchange Launches New Flagship Crypto Trading App

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HONG KONG, July 27, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — HashKey Holdings Limited (3887.HK), a comprehensive Asian digital asset group, announced a landmark global product and brand strategy launch with a new flagship Crypto Trading App featuring a “multi-site unification” model now made available to users.

The two previously separate applications (HashKey Exchange and HashKey Global) have been successfully merged into a single portal. Under strict compliance boundaries, this upgrade integrates core jurisdictional hubs including Hong Kong, Singapore, the Middle East (Dubai), and Bermuda. The company enters into a new phase of efficient synergy across core compliant markets in Asia and worldwide, serving as a key operational milestone for its core “Asia Connect” strategy at the product infrastructure layer.

In the early stages of the compliant virtual asset industry, licensed exchanges typically operated under regional “siloed” models due to varying legal and regulatory requirements across countries. The core of the “multi-site unification” lies in “unified entry, localized compliance.” Users can now download a single application to seamlessly manage their compliant accounts across the Hong Kong, Global, Singapore, or Middle East regions within the same App based on their respective KYC (Know Your Customer) and KYB (Know Your Business) credentials. While front-end interfaces are aggregated, underlying services remain strictly bound to local regulatory frameworks through rigorous localized management. Regional features within the App are accessible only to users meeting specific local criteria and users in unauthorized countries or regions cannot access restricted station features, streamlining user interaction paths while clearly adhering to compliance redlines.

With the official launch of the new App, HashKey Exchange has standardized its service dimensions for each site according to the latest local licensing qualifications. By adding and deeply integrating multi-regional sites, the platform offers investors a secure, compliant, and diversified global digital asset trading ecosystem.

HashKey Hong Kong (Base Hub): Focuses primarily on spot trading with robust OTC capabilities—supporting fiat on/off-ramps for 4 fiat currencies and around 40 digital assets. Additionally, it features a wealth management section covering various tokenized assets and compliant on-chain financial products, catering to both retail and Professional Investors (PI) with competitive asset allocation options.

HashKey Singapore: Focuses mainly on OTC block trading and supports opening same-name virtual accounts. Minimum OTC orders start at $10 USD, with single-transaction caps up to $50 million USD for corporate clients and $8 million USD for individual clients across 21 cryptocurrencies.

HashKey Middle East: Provides spot trading and proprietary brokerage services.

HashKey Global: Focuses on derivative trading scenarios, serving international compliant users while strictly isolating restricted local jurisdictions.

Alongside expanding its service footprint, the App has undergone comprehensive feature upgrades. The new system integrates a Web3 wallet service portal isolated from centralized exchange operations, offering users a compliant gateway to explore the on-chain ecosystem.

For institutional users seeking high-security asset allocation, the unified HashKey Exchange App delivers rigorous cybersecurity protection backed by multi-jurisdictional licensing. Driven by ongoing technical upgrades, the platform maintains industry-leading digital asset insurance coverage to safeguard a smooth and secure trading experience. From its roots in Hong Kong to deep anchors in financial hubs like Singapore and the Middle East, HashKey Exchange is weaving fragmented footholds into a seamless, fast, global compliant trading network. Moving forward, HashKey Exchange will continue using the Pan-Asian region as its core connection to expand the boundaries of financial infrastructure for compliant digital assets.

About HashKey Exchange

HashKey Exchange is a digital asset exchange under the listed company HashKey Holdings Limited (3887.HK), dedicated to setting new benchmarks for virtual asset exchanges in compliance, fund protection, and platform security. Hash Blockchain Limited (HashKey Exchange) is among the first batch of licensed retail virtual asset exchanges in Hong Kong. It currently holds Type 1 (Dealing in securities) and Type 7 (Providing automated trading services) licenses under the Securities and Futures Ordinance (SFO), as well as the Virtual Asset Service Provider (VASP) license under the Anti-Money Laundering and Counter-Terrorist Financing Ordinance (AMLO) granted by the Securities and Futures Commission (SFC) of Hong Kong. HashKey Exchange has obtained ISO 27001 (Information Security) and ISO 27701 (Data Privacy) management system certifications. In compliance with laws and regulations, HashKey Exchange does not provide services to users in Mainland China, the United States, and certain other jurisdictions.

HashKey Exchange News Release & Advertising Standard Terms and Disclaimer

Disclaimer: Service content and available features for each station are provided in accordance with applicable local laws, regulations, regulatory requirements, and licensing scopes, and may vary depending on the compliance requirements of different jurisdictions.

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SOURCE HashKey Exchange

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