 A man seeking a bride was expected to pay a bride price to her father before the marriage took place , according to Gardizi 's description of the late 9th @-@ century Magyars . The Hungarian word for bridegroom – <unk> from <unk> <unk> ( " purchasing lad " ) – and the expression <unk> <unk> ( verbatim , " bride for sale " ) confirm the reliability of the Muslim author 's report . A decree of Stephen I of Hungary prohibiting the abduction of a girl without her parents ' consent implies that pretended abduction of the bride by her future husband was an integral part of ancient Magyar matrimonial ceremonies . 
