Any children of their union were considered illegitimate, since their own relationship was not legitimate. Some women became concubines of married men because their families were not able to afford to provide a dowry for them. This was considered an embarrassment. Many slaves lived in this manner. The relationship was not meant to be permanent; it was only supposed to last until the slaves had gained their freedom. This can be different for many people, if you’ve grown up with religion in your home and it was a very big deal it still will be and it is something you’ll definitely want in your marriage. However for those that never grew up with it they may not see the importance of having religion in the marriage or even in their life. Where to Find Great Marriage Gifts Finding the perfect marriage gift for the newlywed couple isn’t difficult, but it can take some research and creativity to find a great marriage gift. From picture frames, wine glass sets, commemorative plates and dishes, to larger gifts such as furniture or vacations, opportunities abound for finding the ideal present. Is this really something worth upsetting the person you love about? Is it something that you can’t reach a compromise with? Isn’t it possible that you are being just a tiny bit unreasonable? Which leads to the next best piece of marriage advice – and that is to look first to your own actions before you start assigning the role of the unreasonable party to your partner. 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. Talking things out, holding family meetings, resolving each issue as it arises, and just listening can all help. Sometimes kids view a second marriage as shameful, and might withdraw or overreact to situations without any direct cause. If they are still in touch with the parent from the first marriage, it’s important to make sure they are developing a healthy relationship and growing positively with either parents or families.