 In Plymouth Colony , " courtships were usually initiated by the young people themselves , but as a relationship progressed toward something more permanent , the parents became more directly involved . " Parents were concerned with the moral and religious qualities of the proposed spouse , as well as the financial means of each party 's family . The first step toward marriage was generally a betrothal or pre @-@ contract , a ceremony carried out before two witnesses in which the couple pledged to wed in due time . Several weeks or months after the betrothal was contracted , the couple 's intentions were published . " A betrothed couple was considered to have a special status , not married but no longer unmarried either . " Sexual contact was prohibited between a betrothed couple , but the penalty for it was one @-@ fourth of what it was for single persons , and records indicate a relatively high number of babies born less than nine months after a wedding ceremony . 
