How did wedding proposals go before the extensive propaganda campaign of the diamond industry?
Dowry.
You did them at Church and they had to be accepted three weeks consecutively, then there would be a wedding.
>>298275
At least in Jewish religion/culture, you did give a ring for a very long time: By law, the man was supposed to give an object of value to the woman, but even the Gemarah notes that it's always been a ring for as long as anyone can remember, even though it theoretically doesn't have to be one.
>>298297
So, reverse Bride-Price?
>>298275
Your dad asked her dad
bumpi
>>298275
With dads
>>298275
Contracts, bride-price, dowries, etc.
>>298275
Actually the reason rings were used is because in case the husband died the woman could have sold the diamond to get some money.
That was back when women didn't really work and were completely financially dependant on their husbands.
>>298275
The same way but without a diamond on the ring pretty much. Also a lot of local variants about dowry, timing, etc.