Marriage amongst the ancient heathens was always considered an important institution. It meant a financially stable environment in which children could be raised. Essentially this was thought of as a business contract or bargain between two families. Many of the pre-marriage rituals were set up to ensure that the future wife and any offspring of the marriage may produce were cared for. Thus marriages were negotiated by both parties involved. A Viking male wishing to have a woman in marriage would approach her family first, hopefully with prestigious friends to negotiate on his behalf. If an agreement was struck, these friends served to witness on handa sellan, that is the handshake that ended the agreement the couple should be wed. At this time the morning gift was agreed upon as well as the hand geld or dowry, and other specifics.