Its cultural in SL and practiced by most of the faiths back there. A family that sends their daughter "empty handed" is somehow looked down upon for years to come and even avoided. Like "Don't marry that girl,men...her mother got married and didn't even give a single item of furniture to her in laws" Shameful but sadly very common. At times even the poor groom is unaware that behind his back he's folks are demanding "gifts". Makes me glad I married a convert who's folks had no idea what these practices were all about!