In some societies it is the custom for parents to arrange the marriages of their children. Often the bride and groom will not be{{U}} (31) {{/U}}for their opinion in this matter, and sometimes they do not even meet each other {{U}}(32) {{/U}}the day of the wedding.
Most Americans find the idea of arranged{{U}} (33) {{/U}}difficult to understand or accept. They believe that two people should marry for love, after a period of dating and courtship. During that period, the prospective marriage partners are supposed to{{U}} (34) {{/U}}enough about each other to decide{{U}} (35) {{/U}}or not they will be able to build a successful marriage.
In the United States marriages are seldom formally arranged, but quite a lot of informal arranging goes on before two people{{U}} (36) {{/U}}husband and wife. People who get married are{{U}} (37) {{/U}}to each other by friends. {{U}}(38) {{/U}}friends have already decided that the two people are right for each other and arrange for them to meet. Friends have such great influence; their approval of a dating or mating partner is very{{U}} (39) {{/U}}.
Families also exert open and subtle{{U}} (40) {{/U}}on their children to influence their{{U}} (41) {{/U}}of marriage partners. Parents often arrange dates for their own children. Also, they can meet the perfect marriage prospect for their son or{{U}} (42) {{/U}}through business relationships. Since parents often{{U}} (43) {{/U}}their children financially, they feel that they have the{{U}} (44) {{/U}}to help the bride and groom select{{U}} (45) {{/U}}they will live, what type of furniture they will purchase, and{{U}} (46) {{/U}}their life-style will be like.
To a large{{U}} (47) {{/U}}, social class determines the choices of a marriage partner in the United States. Marriages are usually arranged{{U}} (48) {{/U}}people of similar religious, ethnic and financial, backgrounds. Despite what we see in the movies, the son of a bank president{{U}} (49) {{/U}}marries or even meets a coal miner's daughter. Americans may not accept or understand arranged marriages,{{U}} (50) {{/U}}marriages in the United States are arranged nevertheless.