Despite compliments or contempt regarding the practice of mail order brides, there is actually not much of a difference when compared with arranged marriages.
Perhaps the latter is more attached to religious beliefs and customs, hence is treated as age-old rituals having survived the dark ages.
To marry a bride then, one approached a party specializing in the service.
This party can either be a solo effort or an agency of so-called experts.
After consulting the heavens and ascertaining the stars are properly lined up for a long and lasting relationship, meetings are set up followed by proposals and consummation.
Many a time, the couple does not set eyes on one another until the wedding day or night itself.
As though separation from one's familiar surrounding is insufficient, wedded bliss is expected to bloom out of the union of strangers.
The absence of marriage counselors do not deter the couple from building a life together as it was unheard of to call it quits just because one hung the towel wrong or forgot to milk the cow.
Alongside modern times the practice to marry a bride takes on a new plane.
To safeguard the interests of both parties, stringent screening is performed to eliminate those who want to get a free ride to new lands under the pretense of love.
Health checks may also be called for as many brides originate from less developed nations.
Similar to adoption policies, poor medical backgrounds and dubious history of activities may mark one down the list.
This practice is a fusion of arranged marriage with natural meeting of individuals.
By shortcutting the process with prepared profiles and a system of identifying potential pairs, it is quite similar to a job interview.
As one passes each stage, it hopefully results in acceptance to the new surroundings.