Page "Culture of Cambodia" Paragraph 21

In Cambodia, premarital sex is deplored.

The choice of a spouse is a complex one for the young male, and it may involve not only his parents and his friends, as well as those of the young woman, but also a matchmaker and a Haora.

In theory, a girl may veto the spouse her parents have chosen.

Courtship patterns differ between rural and urban Khmer ; romantic love is a notion that exists to a much greater extent in larger cities.

A man usually marries between the ages of nineteen and twenty-five, a girl between the ages of sixteen and twenty-two.

After a spouse has been selected, each family investigates the other to make sure its child is marrying into a good family.

In rural areas, there is a form of bride-service ; that is, the young man may take a vow to serve his prospective father-in-law for a period of time.