Relationships, Marriage, & Family Life in Argentina
Argentines believe a girl becomes a woman on her 15th birthday and this is generally about when people start dating in Argentina. Most teens date fairly informally, often on group dates as movies, dinner, and dancing are all common activities. As people get into their 20s many people get more serious about dating and many Argentines are married by their early- to mid-20s.
Most people in Argentina live with their parents until they marry, which has perhaps encouraged people to marry earlier than in some countries. This also makes dating a bit tricky for some people as it is not uncommon for young couples to go to a hotel called a telo for some privacy.
Once a man decides to marry he will ask his girlfriend's father for his permission. Once granted, and if the girl accepts his proposal, the couple will wear their wedding rings on their right hand until the marriage, when the rings are moved to the left hand. The official wedding takes place at a governmental registry office with the wedding couple and a couple witnesses and close family, but no one else.