When a boy was 16, and a girl was 12, they each had a ceremony.  They wore jewelry such as white beads for boys and red shells for girls.   The Mayan married younger than people do now.   A short time after this ceremony, parents began to think of marriage for their children.

A bridegroom's family would hire a atanzahab (matchmaker) to decide whether the gods of that ruled birthdays showed the couple would get along. They also studied their names.

The bride's father would ask for a price for his daughter. The bridegroom's father had to decide how long his son would have to work for his parents-in-law. It was usually from five to six years.

The mother of the bridegroom wove and embroidered a loincloth (sort of like boxer shorts with a skirt front) decorated with parrot feathers for her son and a skirt and brocaded blouse for her future daughter-in-law.

During the wedding ceremony the couple were blessed by the priest who prayed to the gods. There was no special god or goddess of love. It is believed there was no honeymoon  and no promises exchanged. Gifts for the couple were generous.  There was a feast of turkey tamales , potatoes, beans, and tortillas.

In some areas of the Mundo Maya, if the couple was not happy, the bride could return to her parents' house during the first year of their marriage.