In the US, generally if the couple is a man and a woman, the man will propose to the woman while holding a diamond ring. The style of the ring is supposed to reflect the woman's style, therefore, while a diamond ring seems to be the most common, there might be another gemstone in the ring. (For example, my engagement ring has a black diamond as the main stone instead of a white diamond. I know another woman who has a sapphire as the main stone.) There are also exceptions. I know of two couples personally where the woman proposed to the man because she was tired of "waiting" for her boyfriend to propose. They used white gold or titanium bands without diamonds in them. Everything really depends on the couple.

Chinese wedding tradition is : The bride and the bridegroom kneel down and bow for two times , the first time they kneel down and bow towards the sky. The second time towards the bridegroom's parents. And then the new couples bow towards each other. ( The bride has a red clothes on the head covering the face. ) But now it seems not so common, because many people especially those who live in the cities wear western style bride clothes, don't kneel down... About marriage: Usually women go to men's house and become one of the men's family. Then they just sometimes visit women's parents. ( on festivals )

Australian men usually propose in a romantic setting such as a restaurant or a couple's favourite location. Sometimes women propose.

In India there is a tradition of arranged marriages.In older times, parents would look for a match for their son/daughter. They would fix the marriage and it was only after getting married that the girl and the boy would see each other's face.Strange,isn't it? Thesedays this no longer happens. People choose their partners on their own and even people who go for arranged marriages date each other before marriage(during their courtship days).

Usually in America, the couple have been dating for many months or even a few years. They know each other well, and they both feel they are well suited for each other by now. They would usually know each other's family, and they would be good friends. An old tradition is for them to be alone, and the young man would bend with one knee on the floor and hold his girl friend's hand. She would be laughing or crying with joy because she knows what he is about to do. He would then look at her in the eyes and say, Sarah? Will you marry me? She would, of course, smile and say, "Yes, I'll marry you". They would hug and kiss and start talking about the date for the wedding, which would traditionally be performed in a church, or perhaps an outdoor garden, unless they get married in a home or before a judge. However, actually, in this day and time, he might ask her if she will marry him without the kneeling, and all the drama.