A friend’s daughter has just announced her engagement, with a wedding to come early next year.
Amidst all the excitement it got me to thinking – do fellas still approach their girlfriend’s parents asking for permission to marry, before they pop the question?
It seems a bit archaic, especially when many couples live together first.
The hubster and I did things the old-fashioned way and didn’t move in together until we got married. And before announcing our engagement, and despite the fact that I’d been living out of home for a few years, the hubster still visited my dad to request my hand in marriage.
Why Ask for Permission to Marry?
Dad and my stepmum thought it was a nice gesture, and very respectful of him. I think that’s why the hubster wanted to do it – after all, these people would soon become his in-laws and he felt it was important to get things with his future family, off on the right foot.
I can’t help wondering though – would we have listened if we hadn’t been given parental blessing? Probably not 😉 !
Back in the day it was probably about the young man proving that he could provide for the young woman in question – whereas these days, I would hope each of them has a job and is financially responsible, and more than capable of providing for themselves!
I can’t help wondering what the future holds … what will our kids do when the time comes? As Mr 22 doesn’t even have a girlfriend at the moment, I doubt the subject has even crossed his mind!
Miss 19 on the other hand, tells me that even though it is a bit old-fashioned, she would insist on it. How weird to be the parents at that time! A whole new frontier in our parenting journey.
So … what do you think? Should young men still approach their beloved’s parents, asking for permission to marry their daughter?
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