Coming from a purely historical and social context, I would say that nothing is attractive about arranged marriages.

My culture had a long history of arranged marriages, which I suspect still exist now, though fortunately doesn't exist in my part of the country (thank God). And I can assure you, from the numerous texts I've read, nothing came out positive at the end. The stories depicting an arranged marriage often result in either attempted suicide or misery on the girl's end.

Moreover, arranged marriages generally contain the element of secrecy; where I live, you don't get to see the bride until the day you wed, which contradicts to the idea of love of the modern society greatly. Except it's acceptable here, since our cultures are different.

Back on point. Have I ever read arranged marriages AU? I can't say no exactly, since I've clicked into a few unexpectedly. However, most writers depict arranged marriages as a conflict at first, then the growth of a relationship between the two. Is it cliche? Absolutely. But is it realistic? You can't say no to that, because some have been known to harbor love for their partner.

If it is analysed from a purely historical view, arranged marriages are often for political purposes, and are mostly initiated between rich families for, again, money or status. There are almost zero cases in which the couple develops love, except very rarely. However, arranged marriages does test a person's tolerance and patience with another human being.

All I'm saying is, that arranged marriages all depend on the individuals involved. My grandparents were in an arranged marriage once, and it turned out really well, but not all cases are like that. Sometimes, it depends on the personalities of the couple, or tolerance and patience from both ends. However, isn't every relationship like that? A couple survives the test of incompatibility and comes out stronger at the end.

With modern society, I think arranged marriages have a new meaning to it. In the old days, women are forced to wed their husband, with, more often than not, her father's will crushing on her (due to patriarchy society), and don't have a choice. Nowadays, women have a lot more freedom than before, and won't have the bitter sadness in their hearts (at least, less of it) as, once a girl is wed, they can never go back home unless during festivals (again, this is according to my culture). With expanded boundaries of freedom, maybe love and companionship can actually be found in arranged marriages.

Maybe :)
(I don't know what I'm saying it's late :')

Reading through the comments here, I'm one of those people that are part of the arranged marriage culture. Truthfully, I never liked the idea and still am not very fond of it, though there are reasons for it I've come to understand the older I got.
When it comes to stories that feature this sort of thing, I generally read it because I want to read about conflict. CONFLICT. I know that the 'enemies to lovers' trope is exhausted at this point with arranged marriage plots, but I always check somewhat promising ones out because I'm in search of real life issues that can occur in these situations. Yes, like lolthebuldge said, most of the time, it's not just one kiss and everything turns out perfect. Marriage in general takes a lot of work from both sides. Not very long ago, I was on a mission to find any type of marriage story solely because I was so interested in reading a (somewhat) realistic take on it, but alas, my search went stale.

Personally, I have written an arranged marriage fic around 2015 and simply enjoyed toying with the concept. It was experimental, certainly followed every cliche and trope imaginable, but ended up being surprisingly interesting. So... yeah. I chance them from time to time in search of conflict and something interesting, different, maybe even new. You never know.

Hmmm...arranged marriages don't really happen in our culture anymore because we all know most of the time it doesn't work out.

I surprisingly don't read any arranged marriages, or I haven't read a good one the last time I remember, but I for some reason like to write them. Lol. I like the fact that I can build up the character's really well in the end. Arranged marriage AUs are pretty cliche, which is why I try to put in my own twists. And, I like to write arranged without really arranging? Idk if that makes sense. For example in my fanfic, I wrote it with the OC basically planning her own arranged marriage. So, the marriage happened because of her. I like to make things complex and give my characters a mysterious background so I can build it into the story. That's why I like writing arranged marriage AUs.

In simple terms, this AU had to be super well written or I won't read it, but I do love writing them.

I was in an arranged marriage. My parents made me married myself although I can't stand my face and personality. After twenty plus years, I can finally feel the love and it's because me, myself, and I love the same single thing: cheese. Cheese FTW!

Sorry not sorry for wasting comments space xD I saw that you had a lot of good reasons and explanations so I didn't feel the need to chime in because well...I have no idea what's appealing about it in modern times xD

Arranged marriage is slightly part of my culture (or at least matchmaker culture is - my parents met through a matchmaker and a few of my married friends were "matched"). But the more I actually researched on arranged marriages in a few of my classes I realized they actually make sense?

I don't really like a lot of the tropes in arranged marriage aus though i.e. the forced aspect, or when there's a power imbalance. I do like royal aus (that's what I'm writing) and more political marriage au where the characters don't necessarily hate each other but you do get to see them learn to make their marriage work and to love each other. So when fics accomplish that it can be very nice :)

Arranged marriages aren’t really a part of my culture except in rare cases for political reasons (usually for very influential people) and so I don’t really relate to them. However I still enjoy reading them sometimes, especially if they’re royal or historical AUs, because why not? I know they’re kinda repetitive but it’s just for reading/for fun, so I don’t see nothing wrong with it. I do know some of the ones on books and fanfics are also quite unrealistic but well. Who cares? Dramas (from most countries) are unrealistic as well and yet they keep being created and we keep watching them lol.

I haven’t really written any arranged marriages AUs. Also, I do know some people irl from other cultures that have gone through arranged marriages and are quite happy. I think as long as it’s not a life or death forced situation, if people still want to go through arranged marriages then they should. To each their own ~
Edit: I’ve seen people who have gone through arranged marriages before explain that people don’t understand the concept of “arranged marriages” and very often confuse it with “forced marriages”. There’s a fine line a lot but it’s there. I think that’s what many fanfic writers and the commentors below me are doing.

Lol forever no to arranged marriage AU bcs I can't stand the idea of this situation being overly (and often unrealistically) romanticized. And since u allow me to be as not so objective as I'd like to, everything I write below is based off my personal experience & opinion.

Arranged marriage is still common here, and many of my cousins & relatives underwent the same thing too. Heck even my parents got married bcs it was alr arranged. I was also once arranged to marry the son of a family friend (but luckily I managed ti cancel it & many ppl still hate me for it lol #noregret #yolo).
That's why it always somewhat bothers me that why most arranged marriage fics must end up with them being in love or sickeningly sweet in the end bcs the reality around me tells otherwise. And the hate to love trope... gaaaah don't even start with that one. Just.... NOUP

Those couples I know However manage to last until now bcs I know that they can communicate & compromise well. I mean, only kissing won't solve any problem IRL but who cares abt the fights & all the stress from raising children, planning for the family's future, and those stuffs when all the readers want is tye characters suddenly find the other so attractive or pitiful with their tragic background? And to see them live happily ever after like those couples in fairy tale?

Like I know if I'm being unrealistic by asking for the most realistic, accurate depiction of arranged marriage AU. And perhaps bcs romance is nvr my cup of tea to begin with, i always avoid this type of fics.

Well I admit that being arranged to marry someone for certain purposes is also common here (like to errr "unite" two wealthy families?) but yeah since I refused to experience the same thing, why would I even wanna read it in fiction? Maybe I'd have no issue at all if the story's set in a fantasy AU or medieval times since its a situation much more common in those (yet we still get to see the characters refuse to be forced into that situation so). But for stories set in modern day, my answer is still no noup nah.

omg I know this doesnt answer ur question but perhaps u may see that even for someone (esp a woman) who still find arranged marriage smth "common" in our tradition, now we have more freedom to decide on how we'd like to go on with every aspect in our life, incl how and with whom we wanna spend the rest of our life. Ofc its easier for us who live in bigger cities than those from countrysides (let alone those remote areas bcs dayum, Indonesia) but well, when the character is educated enough, why can't they just say forking no to the marriage & live the life they want? Empower the charatecter pls

The closest to an ‘arranged marriage’ in my country is not something our people are very proud of...
The government is currently trying to abolish the act, so I guess that’s a start.
But, we’re here to discuss arranged marriages stories, so let’s do so!

Personally, I avoid reading Arranged Marriage!AU fanfics. I don’t find anything interesting in a storyline that’s overused: parents arrange marriage (poverty, debt, alliance, etc), married couple hate each other/the guy or the ‘dom’ of the relationship is cold towards the girl or the ‘sub’, e happened and they slowly fall in love before deciding that the marriage isn’t so bad after all. Whenever I see the storyline going that way, I immediately back out of it- it’s gonna be the same as the rest, one way or another.

Though, I feel that people like this sort of stories mainly because they’re all up for the angst and love-hate relationship. They probably think it’s nice watching two people who hate each other slowly fall in love, and the ups and downs that they had to face to get to that point of the stage where they love each other and can’t stand without having the other with them. And, maybe authors write it to challenge themselves or just because they can, possibly.

I've been writing arranged marriage fanfiction (and the story is still on-going) and I do know that some of the readers might get turn off when reading that kind of story since idk, maybe because they can expect where the story will goes??

In my place, arranged marriages are still common and my best friend's parents were married through arrangement. So, I guess it's something that quite close to real-life situation.

I started writing arranged marriage fanfiction simply because I'm trying to break away from the stereotypical of arranged marriages that people find it typical like: hate to love or abusive husband to not anymore. Or best friends and married (my story is this way lol)

The characters in my story are childhood best friends and married because it's the guy's family tradition (weird, I know). But, the characters decided to file a divorce once they graduated from university hahaha. Basically the whole story revolves around a few months before their divorce.

It's fun to write such genre because readers - and even as the author - you get to explore the development of the characters and how their relationship will grow. Instead of writing an angsty one, I'd rather go for a romance-comedy because I think it will be appropriate for all readers.

At the same time, I get to learn that relationship for a married couple isn't as easy as dating couple and so on.

Plus, I watched a lot of k-dramas that revolves around marriages (e.g: Go Back Couple and Matromonial Chaos) and definitely inspired me. These dramas didn't portray arranged marriages, but it just inspired me and challenge myself to write a story that I have little knowledge of and learn it from real-life situations, stories or dramas that I've watched.

It's kind of cliche tho and people might get bored instantly esp if it's expected and I guess, authors who decided to write an arranged marriages fanfiction probably find it difficult to keep up the interest of the readers throughout every chapter - I've been there hahaha. But afterall, it's really fun to do and it's up to the readers to read and enjoy it :))

maybe it's easier for people to fall in love if they HAVE to fall in love??
haha idk

I feel like I don't really like the arranged marriages the way that they're portrayed in most fanfics (esp. modern day ones because I just can't imagine it happening and typically a lot of modern-day arranged marriage aus tend to be a little cliche and boring since they all follow the same storyline) but if it's a good fantasy/historical au with an arranged marriage, I probably would feel more inclined to read it? esp. royal aus because those seem more probable since a lot of marriages ARE arranged and happen for political alliances, not just "oh, I owed my friend in the past, so I will give my daughter/son to his/her's daughter/son".

and also, I would actually appreciate a modern-day arranged marriage au IF the main characters weren't completely jerks to each other in the beginning of the story. I feel like it's such a common trope to have the arranged marriage happen between bad boy/girl x good boy/girl that it gets so repetitive and therefore labeled as cliche. they're usually preeeeetty unoriginal because it's always like "omg I hate u I will never love u ever ok??" and then like "OMG I actually am falling in love with u but I can't tell u bc then I would be super shy and embarrassed also I get jealous when i see u with someone else" and then like "OMG we both love each other yayy everything is a big misunderstanding let's have 10 kids and live together since WE ARE married already!!!!!!!!???!!!"

well, not all of them follow the storyline, but the ones that I do see generally do. so, I just thought it would be a nice story to see the couple actually enjoy each other's company from the start. I don't think I've ever seen a story like that, actually.

let me stop rambling now haha. :')