Bride by mail

"Bride by Mail" is a fascinating topic! In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, it was a common practice for women to order a mail-order bride from a catalog or agency. These women, often from rural areas or with limited social opportunities, would receive a catalog or advertisement from a bride agency, which would feature profiles of women from other parts of the country or even abroad.

The idea was that these women would be matched with a suitable husband, often from a different region or even a different country, based on their physical appearance, personality, and social background. The agency would provide the couple with information about each other, and the couple would then correspond through letters or even meet in person before deciding whether to get married.

Bride by mail was particularly popular among farmers and ranchers who needed help with farm work or wanted to expand their family. The practice was also seen as a way for women to escape poverty, limited job opportunities, or social isolation.

However, the practice of bride by mail was not without controversy. Many critics argued that it was a form of exploitation, as women were often pressured into marrying men they had never met in person. There were also concerns about the lack of cultural understanding and the potential for misunderstandings between the couple.

Despite these concerns, the practice of bride by mail continued until the mid-20th century, when it began to decline due to changes in social attitudes and the rise of more modern forms of matchmaking.

Would you like to know more about the history of bride by mail or its cultural significance?