> it also doesn't imply "you can marry whoever you want".
Per my understanding, parents, or their proxies (matchmakers, astrologers, interested close family and friends) source the prospects that their children consider. Which means those potential matches have parental "pre-approval", with things like education, career, and family background already taken into account. From that pre-vetted list, "you can marry whoever you want" is mostly true, from what I've been told. Unless some major red flag comes up during the family meet-and-greet.
It's possible my sample is limited to people from upper-class backgrounds.
Per my understanding, parents, or their proxies (matchmakers, astrologers, interested close family and friends) source the prospects that their children consider. Which means those potential matches have parental "pre-approval", with things like education, career, and family background already taken into account. From that pre-vetted list, "you can marry whoever you want" is mostly true, from what I've been told. Unless some major red flag comes up during the family meet-and-greet.
It's possible my sample is limited to people from upper-class backgrounds.