Potential marriage with a very wealthy man… but I’m physically repulsed. WWYD?

[ForeverHopeful3]

33F, about to be 34. Single as a pringle.

But, my family friend just proposed a guy (38) from an extremely wealthy family (millions, big business). She said the family is good and he's their only kid.

THE PROBLEM: I’ve seen a couple of pics + a company video of him and my honest initial reaction was “ew, no”. I’d rate him 2/10 by my usual standards. Maybe a 3. Overall, I feel zero physical spark... I've tried to find one picture of him where I think he looks even just a little handsome and I can't. Even his voice was a turn-off for me in the video. I couldn't make it to 30 seconds😭

Part of me thinks I should at least have one coffee in case attraction grows or I’m being too shallow. The other part feels it would be dishonest – like I’d only be forcing it for the money/lifestyle. I also don't want to waste his time or give the family any sort of false hope :(

Would you meet once anyway, or is zero initial attraction an automatic no, even when the man is literally a millionaire?

I have tried to go on dates with men I didn't find initially attractive in photos but attraction has never grown on me in the past. Usually after 2 dates, I call it quits :(

I love your confidence that he's going to want to marry you!!!!

This is nonsense. Single as a Pringle? I ask you.

I'm not from an arranged marriage culture but I'd absolutely jump at this chance. Listen to your brain, not to your hormones.

Oh FFS.

Are you being forced 🤣
Why are you even considering it?
Leave him alone

To jump to a first date to potential marriage proposal I’m guessing you’re from a culture where arranged marriages are popular.

I say this as my friend married a man from said culture who wasn’t attractive but very very wealthy. To be honest she is living the life of luxury and seems very happy.

I used to live in a country filled with rich men (ME). I was 21 and used to date a millionaire. At the time, he was a lovely guy I wasn’t attracted to him physically and things fizzled out. I met my XH soon after.

However I do look back and wonder what life may have been like if I stayed. Of course, I wouldn’t change it as I have my dc but I did get fleeced in my divorce.

I’d go on a date with him and see how things go. You will have nothing to lose. I find men often look much better in person than in selfies.

I might get flamed but I do think if a man is kind and rich, at least for me physical attraction can be somewhat overlooked.

I'm wondering what country/culture still does this in 2025 ?

If it was guaranteed I would but it's not. It's a chance to meet somebody who might inherit (& maybe waiting too)

Many do.

Such as ?

If he was poor would you consider meeting him? Are you very poor and couldn’t survive on your own money? Are you from a culture where there are a lot of superficial marriages for money/status?

If the answer to any of the above is no then don’t bother.

It’s one thing to not want to snog someone’s face off, completely different to be physically repulsed. Let him find someone who is truly attracted to him and hopefully you can find the same

Suggest you google it.

Many, and it's not a terrible idea. Arranged introductions are not forced marriages. It's essentially the family doing the job of the online dating apps, except in this case they know the people involved and have an idea of what they both want and are like... and unlike the apps, want the daters to find someone, not keep coming back and spending more money. Done properly, it's not forced; if either person doesn't want to meet again, that's fine. It's just arrangements to meet, with a view to getting married. It can be safer too.

It's obviously not perfect, no human institution is, but it's got several edges on online dating.

Pringles are all stacked in together - not single at all

Some people look completely different in photos to real life. I used to work with a guy who looked really gormless and gangly but in photos he was just stunning, like a model.

You can't tell anything about him unless you meet him for a coffee. Come back and tell us what he was like "in person".

I dont think this scenario is real 😭😭

Many Arab and Islamic countries. Many countries require a dowry for marriage.

Is this an arranged marriage? If this is true please don’t go through with it because he’s loaded. Whatever the circumstances I hope he meets someone who’s a lot less shallow than you.

But no harm in meeting him 🤷‍♀️🤷‍♀️🤭

and prepare for a lifetime of Mrs Merton-style jokes: what first attracted you to millionaire Mr Hopeful?

Go for it, he might think you are a right minger as well. You can live happily ever after in your ugly minger mansion for all eternity.

😭😭😭

WTF have I just read?? So the OP is basically should I be a freeloading gold digger to a man I’ve never actually met, who physically repulses me but hey he’s loaded.

JFC this place never fails does it?

I'd meet him simply because I think it's impossible to tell until you meet someone IRL.

It’s a bit of a fetch to insinuate that is the norm in an Islamic family or brand anyone querying it any differently as islamophobic.

In Islam, a woman is only allowed to marry a Muslim and men are allowed to marry Muslim, Jewish of Christian woman.

Before you tell me I know nothing about it, I’ve lived in numerous Islamic countries and was married to an Arab Muslim. I can’t talk about Iran but in many Middle Eastern countries, wealth plays a major factor in arranged marriages.