In the late 19th century, commentators began to write of an "international marriage market." The key variables determining the relationship between migration and marriage were demographics, legal policies, cultural perceptions, and information and technology. In the early United States, the difficulty and dangers of traveling and the uncertainty of life on the frontier resulted in early communities where women were scarce. Imbalances between the number of available women and the number of men desiring partners created a strong demand for immigrant women. As a result of this imbalance, a new system of “picture brides” developed in these predominantly male settlements.

Services that marriage agencies offer typically include:

There is some incidence of dishonesty, fraud, and neglectful service from international marriage agencies. Some firms have responded by offering money-back guarantees and other assurances. Some websites maintain a fraud "black list" . There is debate as to whether proscription or regulation is the better solution to these problems.

Marriage agencies are legal in almost all countries. Certain notable legal issues are:

"Romance on a Global Stage" 2003 anthropology study by Nicole Constable, Professor of Anthropology, University of Pittsburg