Five Unusual Marriage Insights That Might Surprise You

Has marriage been on your mind lately? Perhaps you’re gearing up for the big day, or you’re already well into the wedded life. Either way, it’s fascinating to discover how different cultures—and even different legal systems—treat marriage in surprising ways. Below are five stories that just might leave you scratching your head.

1. Wedding Loans and “Less Demanding” Brides

According to a BBC investigation, nearly 80% of personal loans taken by men in the UAE were meant to cover wedding costs. This financial strain led many Emirati grooms to look for what they called “less demanding” foreign brides. In response, the government set up a special fund to help local men by providing monetary support—so long as they married Emirati women. Complicating matters, the UAE lacks US-style bankruptcy laws, which means failing to repay these marriage-related debts can land you in jail.

2. Posthumous Nuptials in France

Yes, you read that right. In France, it’s perfectly legal to wed someone who has already passed away. Historically, a handful of women used this law to marry fallen soldiers shortly after their deaths, completing the ceremony through a stand-in proxy. It’s a bit of a legal throwback, meant to bring some solace during trying times—though today, it remains a seldom-invoked option.

3. The Minister with 31 Marriages

If you think you’ve heard everything, try this on for size: the most divorced individual, at least within traditional one-partner-at-a-time unions, was a Baptist minister who tied the knot 31 times. Most of his brides were teenagers, and he claimed he just “spoke their language.” Interestingly, only five of these marriages ended when a spouse passed away—meaning the rest fizzled out for other reasons entirely.

4. Virginia’s Unusual Restriction

Plenty of folks associate Virginia with the slogan “Virginia is for lovers,” but there’s one kind of union the state won’t recognize: step-siblings tying the knot. Regardless of whether their parents stay together, step-siblings in Virginia aren’t allowed to marry. Oddly enough, this stands out because all other US states permit step-siblings to wed (though the social norms around it can still raise eyebrows).

5. A Game Proposal Gone Wrong

When a devoted fan of the 2018 Spider-Man video game asked the studio to include his marriage proposal in the game, the developers obliged by placing “Maddie, will you marry me?” on a theater marquee. Sadly, the relationship had ended before the game’s official release. As players swung through a virtual New York City, that poignant question remained—unanswered and bittersweet.