hmm..i found some definitions ke! :P An arranged marriage is a marriage that is at some level arranged by someone other than those being married and is usually used to describe a marriage which involves the parents of the married couple to varying degrees: In a traditional arranged marriage the parents choose the child's future spouse with little or no input from the child being taken as having final authority. If the child refuses the choice of the parents, the parents may choose another possible spouse or the child may be punished or disowned (or in rare cases, killed, accidentally in the heat of passion or intentionally with legal authority to do so). In a modern arranged marriage, the parents choose several possible mates for the child, sometimes with the help of the child (who may indicate which photos/biographies he or she likes, for example). The parents will then arrange a meeting with the family of the prospective mate, and the two children will often have a short unsupervised meeting (an hour long walk around the neighborhood together, for example). The children will then eventually choose who they wish to marry (if anyone), although parents may exert varying degrees of pressure on the child to make a certain choice of which they must approve. A modern arranged marriage with courtship is the same as above, except the children have a chance to get to know each other over a longer period of time via e-mail, phone, or multiple in-person meetings, before making a decision. Finally, in an introduction only arranged marriage, the parents will introduce their child to a potential spouse (that they found through a personal recommendation or a website, et cetera). The parents may briefly talk to the parents of the prospective spouse. From that point on, it is up to the children to manage the relationship and make a choice based on whatever factors they want, love or otherwise. The parents may try to influence the child's choice or generally pressure the child to choose someone soon (especially when parents are hoping to become grandparents). In almost all of the above cases except the traditional arranged marriage, the child may usually be presumed to have the option of finding a spouse on his or her own and presenting them to their parents who may or may not have any legal authority in deciding the matter with finality. Many children in cultures which do not promote arranged marriage view an arranged marriage as an option they may choose to use if they are unable or unwilling to spend the time and effort necessary to find an acceptable spouse on their own. In some cases, parental disapproval turns violent, even leading to loss of lives. This sometimes is the reason forcing children to marry according to parent's wishes. Sometimes, the term "arranged marriage" may be occasionally be used even if the parents had no direct involvement in selecting the spouse. This could mean a meeting through a website or third party. Many Indians are choosing to meet their partners online, and the growth of Matrimonials Sites have become exponential over the past 5-10 years. A "marriage of convenience" is the term is most often applied if the couple decides to marry primarily for reasons other than love.