Final answer:
In some cultural traditions, the bride and groom offer bride wealth or bride service to the bride's family, which can be in the form of valuables or labor. The specifics vary greatly among different cultures and historical periods, from traditional items like livestock to modern gifts like cars and jewelry.
Step-by-step explanation:
After a marriage consent, what bride and groom offer varies across different cultures and traditions. In some cultural practices, a form of bride wealth or bride service is observed. Bride wealth typically involves the transfer of valuables from the groom's family to the bride's family, while bride service may involve the groom undertaking a period of work for the bride's family.
Historical examples include the exchange of money, cattle, house goods, or jewelry. In some communities, bride's wealth is required to be paid in full before the marriage can be deemed legitimate, whereas other cultures may accept partial payment before the wedding with the remainder paid later.
Alternatively, the groom's labor can be offered before or after the wedding, which may emphasize mutual support and family bonds.
Examples of items offered in the past included cows, copper gongs, and ceremonial clothing, but in contemporary settings, offerings can be gold jewelry, cars, furniture, or even land.
The expectation and type of items or services exchanged can lead to family and broader societal relationships that reflect the economic and symbolic worth assigned to the marriage by the involved parties and their communities.