Traditional Kazakh marriages were not always arranged entirely by parents. A custom known as kyz koru gave young people an opportunity to meet and learn about each other before formal matchmaking began.

A young man who heard about a talented, respected or attractive girl in another village could travel there with friends. Such visits often became social gatherings where young men and women sang, improvised poetry, competed in wit and took part in aitys.

Importantly, the young women were not merely being observed. They also evaluated the visitors and could openly express their opinions.

If a young man and woman developed mutual affection, their families could later begin formal matchmaking.

This freedom was not available to everyone and varied depending on the period, family background and social environment.

From a modern perspective, the most interesting aspect of kyz koru is that it allowed personal acquaintance and mutual interest to come before negotiations between families.