Originally, the marriages in Portugal were arranged, however with the passing of time, the families allowed marriages of love to occur in Portugal. Yet these marriages had to always have the permission of the family. According to the Portuguese wedding traditions, the groom has to ask the bride’s father permission to marry the bride. If the father gives his permission by giving the couple his blessing, then the marriage can occur. The blessing is as important for the groom as it is for the bride, as in Portugal, it is an honor to know your father accepts your husband, and is happy for you to marry him. Now a days some families still follow these Portuguese wedding traditions of receiving the blessing from their father, and even though it is still considered a very cordial and respectful thing to do, most families just decide to announce their engagement to their family.