Marriage In The Wasteland

Marriage
Throughout the Wasteland romance and marriage differ greatly depending on the societal standards of the people involved. While the major cities hold ceremonies for couples, some do nothing at all.

Before the Great War, it was custom to court your beloved for a significant amount of time before deciding to ask for their hand in marriage. Should the couple deem themselves a good match, one will purchase a ring - usually a gold band with or without a diamond - and kneel before their beloved and ask if they would do them the honor of becoming their spouse. Should they agree, they will wear these rings in a display of their love for one another, then plan a ceremony where a person of great authority would pronounce them married in front of their loved ones.

While the tradition of exchanging rings may have died out, new customs have taken their place:

In small settlements, a couple will announce to their families their desire to marry, and should their parents agree, the mother and father will hold a small ceremony stating that the marriage has brought the families together. Should the parents or parent refuse, it symbolizes the lack of unity within the family.

In even smaller settlements or nomadic groups, the couple simply declares their unity.