Example of an Arranged Marriage

Marriage is a union between two people who love each other, but what happens when it is an arranged marriage? This thought probably never crossed your mind, and to be honest it never crossed mine either. Although, the interesting part about all this is, my parents are living proof of an arranged marriage. It is not a simple task to fall in love with a complete stranger, but my parents proved to me that it could work out, even though it is a long way to the path of success. In addition, many people do not know what an arranged Indian marriage looks like, but it is time I cleared that up for those people who have no clue.

First, the groom will get some background information on the bride. A general description of how she looks, what things she is able to do like cooking/cleaning, and the level of education she has finished. The parents of the bride will let the parents of the groom know all of the details about her through a phone call and that is, the only way he finds out about the girl and usually if the groom likes what he has heard then his family will meet with the bride’s family. During this time everyone will gather at the bride’s house and have tea, this is the first time they will see each other. If everything goes well and both the groom and the bride mutually like each other, then they move on to the next step.

Now, both families meet again to plan the engagement, picking the date, time, location, and how much money/gold is to be given to each other’s families. Usually for the women, the male’s side of the family gives 45 grams in gold and one thousand dollars to the bride to be. Moreover, the groom’s side gets two thousand dollars and a four-gram gold chain. Unless either the bride or the groom is not from a wealthy f...

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...ing well in her new home. After the parents see for themselves then they leave her alone for good to start her family life.

Throughout the process of an arranged marriage has helped me immensely to realize how each encounter my parents had has gotten both of them closer to one another; how truly an Indian arranged marriage differs from ones we see in America. Yes, they were strangers at first, but through the long path that they have taken, they have come far. Both my parents got over their fears and shyness of living with a stranger and adapted to their surroundings, learning to love one another no matter what the circumstance may be. Helping me to realize that it is hard to love someone you do not know, let alone marry someone you have never seen, but if it is never tried, you could have missed something good in life. My parents are the perfect example of that!