Marriage is a union between two people in love, yet “marriage” is a generalized term because there are many different kinds of marriages depending on what the couple desires.
There are all types of marriages: open marriages, loving marriages, estranged marriages, and more.
You may have heard of traditional and modern marriages but may wonder what the difference is between them.
A traditional marriage describes a marriage in which the husband is automatically considered to be the head of the household.
The woman was expected to “obey” her husband, as he is the primary decision-maker as well as the breadwinner.
In a modern marriage, spouses consider themselves equals, so they make decisions together, they usually both work outside the home, and they manage their households together.
In traditional marriages, duties were based on gender, as men worked to provide for the family while the woman was expected to remain home and manage the household all day.
Managing the household entailed caring for the children if there were any, shopping, cooking, and more. Here is an overview of some interesting facts about the different types of marriages and more.
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When did marriage begin to evolve into something more modern?
As women became increasingly frustrated with being treated as if they were inferior to their husbands and other men, they began to band together to fight for more rights.
The more women fought to be treated as equals, the more changes began to occur inside and outside their households, but major changes didn’t occur until the 20th century.
Even though it’s currently a new millennium, women continue to be viewed as somewhat inferior to men, although they have significantly more rights than they did centuries ago.
Is polygamy still legal in Utah?
Although polygamy – when someone is married to more than one person at a time – is illegal in all 50 states, in the state of Utah polygamy is only considered an infraction instead of a crime.
Lawmakers have engaged in political battles over outlawing the ability for a person to simultaneously have multiple marriage licenses on file.
However, there are others who continue to avidly uphold a person’s “right” to marry multiple spouses at the same time, so who knows if the laws will ever change in Utah?
What is a micro-wedding?
A micro-wedding is a smaller, more intimate wedding ceremony and reception that usually consists of up to 50 or fewer guests.
More and more couples are opting for micro-weddings, as they’re a great way to share their wedding day with only their closest friends and family members while saving them a great deal of money in the process.
There is no need to go into debt in order to host an enormous wedding – huge weddings cause enormous financial problems as well as high stress levels.
How have wedding vows changed from what they were years ago?
For centuries, marriage vows for women included that she agreed to “obey” her husband, but this has since been replaced.
It wasn’t until the 1920s that “obey” was replaced with “love, honor, and cherish,” thanks to the women’s Suffrage Movement.
The term “speak now or forever hold your peace” has also been omitted from current wedding vows.
Are arranged marriages still a thing?
Yes, there are still many cultures that continue to practice arranged marriages.
India, Bangladesh, Pakistan, China, and Afghanistan are just some countries that still practice arranged marriages.
Surprisingly, many arranged marriages actually last longer than non-arranged ones, so obviously, these types of marriages can be positive, and the customs exist for a reason.
Why do some couples agree to have open marriages?
An open marriage is a marriage in which both spouses agree to allow each other to engage in romantic relationships with other people while continuing the marriage.
An open marriage simply works for some married couples, and as long as they are both happy, then there shouldn’t be a problem.
Some couples have even stated that transitioning into an open marriage is the only reason they’re still happily married.
How did wearing wedding bands become a traditional way to represent marriage?
The wedding band originated in Ancient Egypt, as Egyptians believed that the ring finger was connected to the heart through an invisible vein or passage of some sort, which is why they felt that placing a ring on a bride’s “ring” finger was a representation of love and marriage.
Despite the fact that this theory has never been scientifically proven, it remains a huge tradition in modern marriages.
How much is the average wedding band?
Statistics show that Americans spend an average of $4,500 on a wedding band.
However, not every couple can afford such a hefty amount, so many couples spend substantially less than the average, and there are suitable bands for as little as $100.
On the other hand, couples with seemingly unlimited amounts of cash will spend tens of thousands of dollars on a wedding ring.
Why do people spend so much on weddings?
Most couples want the absolute best for their special day, and even for couples who will be paying for the wedding themselves, they like to plan it as luxuriously as possible.
However, more isn’t always better, and some couples have even divorced before they finished paying for their extravagant weddings.
It is definitely not necessary to pay astronomical amounts in order to have a pleasing wedding.
What are some smart ways to save on a wedding?
Since spending a great deal of money isn’t necessary in order to have a wonderful and memorable wedding, there are some great ways to save money.
You might want to limit your guest list to family and close friends only, as you can always celebrate with others separately at a later date.
You can also opt to get married in the morning on a weekday, which is when venue prices are usually less expensive.
How much is the average wedding dress?
Women absolutely love shopping for their wedding dresses, and they often make an event of it with all their bridesmaids and maid of honor.
The average cost of a wedding dress in America is around $1600, while some spend a lot less or a lot more.
Some women will find the least expensive but acceptable dress possible because many couples feel it’s impractical to pay so much for a dress that they’re only going to wear for one day.
Is it disrespectful to wear the same dress to a second wedding that was worn at the first?
Most people would agree that it would be pretty disrespectful and insensitive to wear the same dress with your second husband that you wore with your first husband.
Even if you absolutely love the dress, you’re better off selling the first dress and buying a new one.
How would you feel if your soon-to-be husband wore a pair of underwear for the honeymoon that had his ex’s name on them?
What are some of the strangest wedding themes or locations ever?
People love themed weddings and there are some that are considered to be extremely strange and even flat-out crazy.
NFL player, DeAngelo Williams, married his sweetheart in 2016, and they had a Walking Dead-themed wedding in which everyone, including Williams and his wife, were made up as zombies.
There are stories of couples getting married inside Costco and Taco Bell, and one couple even had an edible Lego wedding cake.
Strangest laws related to marriage and divorce
There are some extremely strange laws related to marriage and divorce, and the most shocking is that it’s legal in Hong Kong for a woman to kill (with her bare hands only) her husband if she finds him cheating.
In France, it’s legal to marry a dead person, and in Saudi Arabia, a woman can legally divorce her husband if he fails to bring her hot coffee each morning.
There are numerous other strange marriage and divorce laws, some that are extremely unbelievable and extremely ridiculous.
Have men always worn wedding bands?
Men have not always worn wedding bands, as it was initially only traditional for women to wear wedding bands.
It wasn’t until WWII that dual wedding bands became a tradition, and it was originally introduced as a way for men to remember the wives that they left back at home when they went to fight in the war.
After the war was over, dual wedding bands continued to become more and more popular among numerous cultures around the world.
Is it rude to invite an ex to your wedding?
Firstly, you need to determine why you’re even considering inviting an ex to your wedding in the first place.
Are you harboring unresolved feelings for your ex?
If you have a child with your ex, perhaps it wouldn’t be too weird for him to be invited if he’s going to bring the child you share, but still, it could be awkward for him and your new husband.
Couples these days tend to have more modern marriages, where each spouse treats the other equally and they share responsibilities.
However, there continue to be couples who have an old-fashioned way of thinking and feel more comfortable having a traditionally based marriage.
As long as both parties are happy and the woman doesn’t mind being in a more domestic role, then their union should be as happy and as lasting as any other marriage.
