[DemolitionRed]

It wasn't that long ago when it was only the bride who was expected to wear a ring on her finger. Its only in more recent years that both families are expected to pay for the wedding or not pay for it at all and let the bride and groom foot the costs.
Its not so long ago that a brides vows were to 'love, honor and obey'.

All of these things are based on Christian values where the wife was deemed as meek and virtuous.

Bible teachings include:
Men should have authority over women and wives should obey their husbands
A woman's primary role is to procreate and bring up children
Women are more prone to sin
Women cannot be priests
Women should be sexually pure
Women should dress modestly
Men can divorce their wives, but wives cannot divorce their husbands
Women (and men) should not use contraception
Rape of women is less bad than rape of men
http://www.philosopherkings.co.uk/Womeninthebible.html