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This article is mostly focused on the marriage traditions of the
Zeribian nobility. The commoner traditions are in all regards less formal and less standardised.
Courtship
Zeribian young people are not supposed to date members of the opposed sex privately. They have the chance of meeting possible marriage partners in public gatherings (
links to traditions) meeting of the
noble house. Ultimately the marriage deal is decided by the family.
Proposal
Zeribians treat the marriage like a business deal. The most important thing to consider when choosing a mate, is how the deal will affect the the family financially, and how it will help the relationship between the families involved. Marriage within the same noble House is strongly preffered. The second cousins (or
ura) are considered optimal mates (read more of that here
Zeribian family and kinship).
The proposal is initiated parents of the interested family. Often the family hires a professional match maker, who helps to interpret if the marriage has the divine favour, and what deal is favourable to both of the families. A proposing group is send to the other family's house to make the first proposal. Traditionally it has the match maker, and some relatives or clients from the other family, but not the parents or the future partner. Then a formal meeting is arranged between the fathers of the family. It is quite common that the future partners never meet before the wedding, if the families live on distant islands.
Wedding
Weddings are large and important family gatherings.
Married life
The new wife usually moves to the home of the husband's family.
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