It may not be widely known, but arranged and forced marriages are part of life in Australia.

The Federal Government is considering laws to prevent forced marriages, after a number of cases of young Australian women being pressured to wed or forced to marry abroad.

But, of course, marriages arranged by parents and family aren't always forced. Some cultural groups in Australia - among them Indian and Lebanese - are choosing to keep the tradition alive, and their children are happily allowing their spouses to be chosen for them. Some people, however, are agreeing to the marriages because of family pressure.

Other young Australians have 'semi-arranged' marriages, negotiating their way between old traditions and the desire to find their own 'love match'.