PDM, as usual you elucidate comples things very well and make them simple :
so what we have so far :
love
communication
trust
friendship
partnership
being able to make each other laugh
culture
if spouses get on with in-laws
i am sure more to come.
i am afraid my marriage was not a typical arranged marriage much publicised in UK and Canada - as Reggie mentioned about a young film-maker.
it was more of a person mediating between two families and we were given a little time as well - not very common.
since the culture of both families were same - she did not have any problem in settling down either.
But arranged marriage as a whole can be rather painful - if there were any statistics ( and you need to rely on people being truthful ) less that 50% are a success.
that's my opinion only.
in my family - almost all are arranged marriage - none appear to be unsuccessful - but for a long time in our family arranged marriage is done slightly differently - like mine - so .............
