Mail order bride marriage is a tremendously growing trend in our globalized world. Either through specialized dating websites or with the help of mail order bride agencies, international couples find their partners easily. But what are mail order brides, how does this industry work, how legal is it to “order” a bride, and how can you do it? If these questions pop up in your mind more frequently in recent days, you should check through this article to find all the answers our team of experts provided.
As simple as it is, mail order brides are women looking for foreign partners. They use different means to achieve this goal. As we already mentioned, they address mail order bride agencies, so they help them through the whole process of finding a partner. Also, they meet partners on their own by exploiting specialized websites. The second option is more popular than the first one because it’s more affordable and allows you to control the process more.
Mail order brides come from different cultural backgrounds. That’s why you can encounter mail order bride sites with various audiences—Latin, Slavic, Asian, and even African.
Moreover, these women are of different ages, not just in their 20s-30s, so you can find a partner of the age close to yours if you want. And, needless to say, mail order brides have versatile personalities, with various hobbies and interests, which increases your chances of finding a person who shares your worldview.
The concept of mail order brides dates back to the 17th century, emerging primarily in the American West. As pioneers moved to remote regions, they faced a lack of women for marriage. Men began advertising in newspapers or writing to matchmakers, seeking wives willing to relocate. Women, often from urban or overseas areas, saw these unions as an opportunity for stability or adventure. The most popular colonies that “required” for such wives were British, French, and Portuguese.
Over time, the practice expanded globally, with women from economically challenged regions connecting with men abroad through agencies. While the methods evolved, the idea remained rooted in the hope for a better future.
Interesting fact: in the mail order bride history, you can come across the “tobacco wives” term—the name of women who came to Jamestown, Virginia, a British colony, to marry settlers. This was done to prevent British men from marrying indigenous women.
How does a mail order bride work now? Do these women also need to write to newspapers in search of opportunities to become someone’s wives?
No, but the idea is pretty close. As we said earlier, modern mail order brides use dating websites, posting their profiles and chatting with men on the platforms. Women use both specialized mail order bride sites and dating sites that don’t focus on marriage but can also provide space for finding a soulmate. What are these websites? Well, there are plenty of such, but our team singled out several top suggestions that offer affordable pricing, decent privacy policy, and effective communication tools:
How big is the mail order bride industry? The statistics show that in the USA only, in 2017, there were around 17,000 recipients of K-1 visas, with the most popular destinations being California, New York, Florida, Texas, and Washington.
Yes, mail order brides are real, but the term can be a bit misleading! It doesn’t mean you can literally “order” a bride like a product. Instead, it refers to international matchmaking, where individuals from different countries connect—often through specialized websites or agencies—with the goal of building a romantic relationship or getting married.
Historically, it started with letters and photos exchanged by mail, but today, the process mostly happens online. Women (and sometimes men) from countries like the Philippines, Ukraine, or Colombia often join these platforms to meet someone from wealthier nations. Their motivations vary—some seek love, others want better opportunities, or simply a fresh start in life.
Some men also doubt the authenticity of mail order brides, thinking that the fact that often membership for women on sites is free means that ladies work for these sites.
However, it’s far from the truth. Often, the reason behind such perks for women is that the majority of mail order brides there come from developing countries and can’t afford to pay for the membership. Meanwhile, the majority of men on such websites come from developed countries, and the price ratings are more affordable to their wallets.
“Do mail order bride marriages work legally in my country?” Checking the answer to this question is crucial. We can assure you that mail order brides are legal almost in all countries, although it comes with several nuances.
In the USA, when you marry a mail order bride, you need to face certain regulations like VAWA, which protects brides upon their entry, and under which they can address authorities if they face violence in marriage; and IMBRA, a so-called set of rules for men who want to marry mail order brides. When a couple is in the process of applying for a fiancée visa, a visa sponsor (you) will have their background checked under this act.
Such big countries as the UK and Canada don’t have specific regulations for mail order brides, but they just set the process of obtaining a fiancée visa, which is applicable in every country.
Yet, it’s worth saying that in the Philippines, for example, marriage brokers are banned—in the 1990s, when mail order bride industry was popular in the Philippines, the media uncovered how many Filipino women suffered from the abuse after marrying foreigners. To protect women, the Anti-Mail Order Bride Law was passed.
So, are mail order brides legal? Yes, because international love can’t be prohibited, but you need to check all the requirements beforehand.
Okay, the process doesn’t look like purchasing something on Amazon because, although it contains “order,” the term doesn’t mean the actual buying. It’s about taking certain steps that will require financial investment to get a mail order bride.
Firstly, you start by finding a suitable mail order bride website. When selecting a site, pay attention to your needs and possibilities; such criteria as pricing, communication tools, audience, privacy, and search options must be on your check-up list.
Then, when you choose the site, create a profile there. Upload photos where you look your best and write a bio, but cut the story short yet catchy.
Also, to stand out among other profiles, you need to have not only an attractive account but also an active one. Of course, it’s applicable only if the site allows for such activity as posting on Newsfeed. If it does, it’s a perfect way to show all sides of your character and draw girls’ attention.
If it’s not, that’s not a problem because your main weapon in the mail order bride hunting is communication tools. Whether you choose to mail or opt for live chat, always make sure to make your first intro message memorable (positively). A trivial “Hi, how are you?” cannot draw someone’s attention, but a comment about hobbies, a joke, or a compliment definitely does. However, don’t cross the line and don’t make the first message too creative because it can confuse a woman.
When chatting, invest in different interaction tools like audio or video calls to make your communication more engaging—it will help to keep the spark on and lead you to the meeting offline stage.
By the way, if you have serious intentions, meeting your girl is obligatory when applying for a fiancée visa in the USA. So, at least two meetings should happen before you move to the final stage—bringing your mail order bride to your homeland.
What is this stage about?
Steps are simple, actually, but they require financial investment from your side (around $2,000), patience, and readiness for obstacles that can appear on this journey. However, true love doesn’t see any obstacles 💓