@lilkeszi, you get it. It cannot be easy having everyone look at the top of your head. And you nailed it about the intention of the in-laws for making the traditional wedding. They simply don't want it to be something you can do simply because you have the money. If you go there thinking you are going to pay and take their daughter away, you'd have another thinking coming because,your money would not be enough. That is the misunderstanding people have about customary weddings in South East Nigeria. It is not that these weddings are getting more expensive: it is that they are designed to be a difficult process. Our society, however, has exulted money above all things, and many believe that if they spend enough of it, then things would become easier. But these elders just decided to capitalize on it. They now look at the type of cars their inlaws are driving before they state the starting bride price. Lol.

And yes, they get to know each other well during the process of marriage and that's the way it should be.