History PlayingWith / BureaucraticallyArrangedMarriage

** In their society, the [[FamilyHonor family functions as a mini-state unto itself]]. Marriages are used as a way to [[NobilityMarriesMoney keep wealth and status within the family]], [[AltarDiplomacy seal alliances with other clans]], [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vani_(custom) resolve disputes]] between FeudingFamilies, [[ShotgunWedding save face in the event of illicit hanky-panky]], and [[HeirClubForMen produce legitimate heirs]]. Breaking the engagement, refusing the marriage, or getting a divorce ''may'' be [[HonorRelatedAbuse punishable by death/ostracism/etc]].

** The People's Republic of Ruritania is trying to create {{Super Soldier}}s, and AliceAndBob has been selected for its SuperBreedingProgram.

* '''Conversed''': "So these two strangers who never even met are getting married by the government? Surely many citizens would have escaped by now."

* '''Basic Trope''': An ArrangedMarriage set up by a government [[TheTheocracy and]]/[[PriestKing or]] religious leader.
* '''Straight''': AliceAndBob each receive a letter in the mail stating that they are to be married, per order of the [[PeoplesRepublicOfTyranny People's Republic of Ruritania]], and the date and time the "wedding" is to take place.

** Several couples are married en masse, all by order of the PRT.
** AliceAndBob are brother and sister, and the PRT explicitly legalized their incestuous union, among many others.
** ''Everybody'' in the PRT has a BureaucraticallyArrangedMarriage.

** AliceAndBob are part of a BreedingCult.
** The PRT is trying to create {{Super Soldier}}s, and AliceAndBob have been selected for its SuperBreedingProgram.

** AliceAndBob date, and eventually they get engaged, and go down to the courthouse or city hall to get a marriage license.
** AliceAndBob, a couple, are forcibly divorced by the PRT

** The marriage between AliceAndBob is arranged by their parents.

** AliceAndBob are engaged, but not married.
** AliceAndBob MarryForLove.

** The law (civil, religious, or both) where AliceAndBob live state that if an unmarried man and woman have sex and are found out, they ''have'' to get married [[AppealToForce or else one or both of them will be executed]]. (Depending on the setting, this may apply to situations of rape as well as consensual sex.)
** The engagement was set up by government or religious leaders, with no input from AliceAndBob. And the only reason it's being held off is because [[JailBaitWait Alice is not of legal age yet]].
** The government's computer is excellent at matching people up; AliceAndBob's marriage is no different than any other PerfectlyArrangedMarriage.

** Bob awkwardly asks Alice if she's into watching television, right before the mass wedding.
* '''Zig Zagged''': Some marriages are arranged by the government, some by religious leaders, some by parents or other relatives of the couple, sometimes by a couple that chooses to MarryForLove.

** AliceAndBob do not get married in story.

** The institution of marriage as we know it does not exist in this setting, in either a civil sense or a religious one. Instead, couples either hook up and go their separate ways, or else move in together with little or no fanfare. No one has to sign any paperwork, get a blood test, present a divorce decree or death certificate if it's not a first marriage, exchange rings or make vows, or anything like that, and there's no reception, FairyTaleWeddingDress, flowers, cake, tux, gift registry, etc.

** Or, "Let's create a {{Utopia}}!"
** RuleOfDrama for a story about a BreedingCult.
* '''Lampshaded''': "Dear Citizen Number 12345, you are hereby ordered to report to the Palace of Ruritania for your marriage to Citizen Number 246810..."
* '''Invoked''': ???

** Leaders of a BreedingCult use it in an attempt to create a master race, or a superhuman.
** Leaders of a dictatorship try to use a joyful event to distract people from the fact that it's, well, a dictatorship. Or, to control every aspect of its citizens' lives.

** The government decides not to meddle in its citizens' marriages.
* '''Discussed''': ???
* '''Conversed''': "Another fanfic about [[FandomSpecificPlot/HarryPotter Fudge's marriage law]]. I can already predict what happens next. The only question is: Snape or Draco?"

%%

%%* '''Played For Laughs''': ???
%%* '''Played For Drama''': ???

* '''Inverted''': AliceAndBob date, and eventually they get engaged, and go down to the courthouse or city hall to get a marriage license.

** AliceAndBob are brother and sister!
* '''Downplayed''': Princess Alice is married off to KingBobTheNth, in order to [[AltarDiplomacy seal a political alliance]] between Tropestan and Wikistan.

* '''Conversed''': ???

* '''Exaggerated''': Several couples are married en masse, all by order of the PRT.

* '''Justified''': It's part of a BreadAndCircuses plot on the part of the PRT.

* '''Subverted''': The marriage between AliceAndBob is arranged by their parents.

* '''Double Subverted''': In their society, the [[FamilyHonor family functions as a mini-state unto itself]]. Marriages are used as a way to [[NobilityMarriesMoney keep wealth and status within the family]], [[AltarDiplomacy seal alliances with other clans]], [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vani_(custom) resolve disputes]] between FeudingFamilies, [[ShotgunWedding save face in the event of illicit hanky-panky]], and [[HeirClubForMen produce legitimate heirs]]. Breaking the engagement, refusing the marriage, or getting a divorce ''may'' be [[HonorRelatedAbuse punishable by death/ostracism/etc]].

* '''Parodied''': [[OddCouple Adam and Steve]] get matched up due to a computer glitch, and argue over who's the {{Seme}} and who's the {{Uke}}

* '''Averted''': AliceAndBob do not get married in story.

* '''Enforced''': "Let's create a {{Dystopia}}!"

* '''Exploited''': Leaders of a BreedingCult use it in an attempt to create a master race, or a superhuman.

* '''Defied''': [[RunawayFiancee Alice leaves the country]], and seeks asylum in Tropestan, rather than being married off to some man twice her age that she's never met.

* '''Conversed''': ???

Parodied: ???
Zig Zagged: ???
Averted: ???
Enforced: ???
Lampshaded: ???
Invoked: ???
Exploited: ???
Defied: ???
Discussed: ???
Conversed: ???