Saturday, 18 August 2012

Love Marriage versus Arranged Marriage


Marriage, considered an auspicious union of partners, has transcended from age-old traditions to modernity, over the course of time.
Most people debate over finding the most appropriate way to select their partners. While some prefer an arranged setup, some like to take things in their own hands. Here’s a look at the more preferred ways of betrothal.

Arranged Bliss

An arranged marriage, by definition, implies a wedlock that is arranged for, by friends and family, in which the prospective partners have no ulterior affections involved. India has been called the land of arranged marriages and it has been since the ancient times that strangers have literally been ushered into marriage, mostly unbeknownst of each other’s identity.

Arranged marriages have evolved beautifully since then, to constitute a family-approved courtship period. Nowadays, matrimonial websites bring the prospective matches within reach and further personal liaisons help in ascertaining the perfect partner. By-gone generations will vouch for the durability of such unions, where prolonged cohabiting tends to bring out the eventual passions. However, arranged marriages come at a price.

In contemporary times, arranged marriages are less preferred due to lack of personal involvement. While relatives and well-wishers make technical arrangements and evaluate the prospect on economic viability and sustenance, no one considers emotional compatibility anymore. While it is good to presume that the couple will learn to accept each other post-nuptials, it is naïve to overlook the possibility of the relationship not working out, in the first place.

Love Marriages

This is where love marriages steal the show. Not only do these unions occur after a significant amount of courtship, but they also ensure that the relationship contains enough love to sustain it over a period of time. Love marriages, by definition, imply a union based on a non-platonic relationship shared by two individuals over a period of time.

This is an easier fix to the arranged marriage problem, because it eliminates the possibility of relatives hunting for prospective partners. Individuals through years of courtship find their perfect partner and seek their parent’s blessings. Not only does this work its ways around the whole ‘arrangement’ procedure, but also saves time and resources.

Couples enter into matrimony, only after exploring each other thoroughly, leaving no room for improvement or doubt. This leads to a better understanding of each other and ensures that the relationship will last longer. However, love marriages can have their disadvantages too. There is no confirmed guarantee that the married couple will share the same ideals, in the process of cohabiting. With time and compromise, the relationship might suffer differences in opinion.
At the end of the day, every marriage needs some work. With a little understanding, love and compromise, any union can stand the test of time, be it love or arranged.

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