Wedding Dowry
| A
dowry was a sum of money or property brought by a woman into her marriage.
Fathers gave their daughters substantial dowries to attract decent husbands
because property was worth more than a bride's beauty to a potential suitor.
Dowries were considered the brides possession and helped protect her and her
future children incase of misfortune. Dowries gave women leverage in the
marriage and husbands were more motivated to please a wife with a large dowery
than a poor wife. The most recent form of a dowry is the bride's family paying
for the entire wedding, but this is slowing changing. By Nicole Mazzeo Wrapwithus wedding favors |