Difference between Arranged Marriage and Love Marriage
Arranged marriage is a very old custom practiced in North America, South America, Europe, the Middle East, Asia, South Asia, South East Asia and Japan. The custom still occurs due to tradition in rural cultures as well as in aristocratic families. Usually the parents accept the duty of discerning who would be the best match for their child. Although both arranged and love marriages are acceptable in many cultures, they have very different characteristics, outcomes and emotional affects on individuals. They also differ in how they are used, where they are used and who would be interested in using them. For starters an arranged marriage is sometimes done for reasons such as culture, money, bloodlines, vocation, reputation, convenience and ability to find a mate resulting in never being alone. Love marriages are the ones where two people fall in love and decide they want to share that love for the rest of their life, in a committed and long marriage. An arranged marriage can always find love, but it usually doesn't start with love.
What are the Benefits?
One major benefit of a love marriage is knowing that you have someone who loves you and will protect you for as long as you’re together. You have the comfort, piece of mind, and knowledge that you’re genuinely happy with this person. An arranged marriage can come with knowing you will not be alone, making those happy who wanted the marriage and in some cases it is the only way for a person to keep their wealth.
Is It Real Love?
An arranged marriage can start off love-less if you don’t know the person you’re being arranged to marry, but the truth is love does usually come. When you are with someone for so long, a sense of love, understanding and comfort tend to come along in the package. A love marriage although it may seem real, could possibly be a lust marriage or based on delusions, misunderstanding, lack of self-knowledge or misrepresentations. I don’t think you can really say if either is real, but both will generally have love, maybe not being in love, but love will be present.
How Long Does Each Last?
A marriage always varies from person to person, but it has been shown that many arranged marriages stay together longer then love marriages. The reasons for this are a few, but one in particular is that an arranged marriage wasn't based on love in the first place. They are usually done for a personal benefit or to keep a family happy. The thought of disappointing so many people creates a strong bond and will. A love marriage isn't about making others happy; it’s about making the partners involved happy. So when things get tough or unbearable, those in a love marriage are generally able to escape via divorce. Whereas in an arranged marriage, it’s not as common to escape, even if the marriage is unfulfilling. It is well known that 50% of all marriages in the U.S. end in divorce.
Summary
- An arranged marriage is usually done with the consent of the partners involved. Many arranged marriages involve two strangers or two people to get to know each other briefly before choosing to accept the partner chosen and/or accepted by their families.
- Love marriages are generally acts of love that one human being feels for another, wanting to spend their whole life together and committed to one another.
- Love marriages are full of emotions and thoughts of a beautiful passionate future with their other half but this is no guarantee of success.
- An arranged marriage can be categorized as a love-less marriage in the beginning, but also with a strong feeling of care and respect. Love may come after a period of time.
- Arranged marriages means getting to know their spouse better after the wedding, a love marriage has two people who already know and love one another.
