Love, Marriage, and Romance.

Which comes first: Love or Marriage?

It is somewhat of a chicken and egg situation.

Can two people learn to love each other?

Yes, according to a study by Gupta and Singh. Their study suggests that love in arranged marriage starts out very low but can
increase gradually over a period of years, surpassing that of romantic
marriages after about five years.

This is partially true because love in romantic marriages (also known to many as chemistry)
declines steadily. Many studies have shown this to be true.

For Americans and members of other cultures who think marriage must be grounded in love, romance, and chemistry, this seems impossible.

According to the PBS Television Special Lasting Love for Valentine’s in 2003, "Love is an enduring mystery to the human race. We don’t seem to know where is comes from, when it will strike, who it will attract us to and if it will last. Statistically, marriages in America have over a 65% chance of failure."

That is a dismal record.

Although arranged marriages are not as common as they once were, supporters of arranged marriages in India say their divorce rates are lower than western society because parents are better able to choose a suitable partner for their children.

Regardless, many studies have suggested when people go into marriages with the expectations of lasting love, whether they are arranged by parents, a personal matchmaker, or ignited by chemistry, love and marriage have the best chance of enduring.