Unfortunately for some cultures however, this prejudice is more than that. Some cultures frown upon their children mixing with other races. They think it a matter of family shame if one of their own marries out into a different race – this can have dangerous consequences for the people involved as the culture tries to defend what it believes to be a matter of honor. I know my own husband asked for my father’s permission before we got married. Does your family have any traditional ways of doing a marriage; other cultures have done this for years, it is their traditions. Believe it or not arranged marriages tend to last a lot longer than a marriage of love. One tends to believe that everything will be all polished and perfect for a marriage of love, however after that honeymoon stage the couple starts noticing things they never did. The groomsmen either escort the bridesmaids or follow the groom and best man through the side door. The bridesmaids, ring bearer, flower girl and maid or matron of honor then enter. The bride, escorted by her father or other close male relative, makes her way to the altar. The escort stays standing until the minister asks “who gives this woman in marriage” and he answers. For those they may not want to have just a paper to tell them how important it is, especially if they’ve already lived together for a few years. In a few states, couples that live together a certain amount of time, normally seven years or more, are considered to have a common law marriage. A marriage that is legal is one that is performed by a minister or someone that is qualified to perform the ceremony. The marriage ceremony in Bali includes the couple eating a dish of yellow rice, a symbol of fertility, and in the West rice is thrown at weddings to wish the couple fertility, prosperity and luck. Common law marriages, defined as when a couple lives together without obtaining a marriage certificate, have been recognized throughout the history of marriage. It’s talked about in such a tone of voice that a Las Vegas marriage is almost a clich . Is it really legal to get married on what could be called – and some actually admit to being – a whim? What makes getting married in Las Vegas so popular? Why do so many couples choose to make it the place for their big day (or night as the case may be in Vegas)?