This paper demonstrate the importance of capturing the entire process leading from union to disunion, institutional time being distinct, moreover, from relational time. It first describes norms and practices concerning “marriage” and “preconjugal” relationships, and then considers entry to and exit from the union. This leads to questions about the temporal ordering of events and the credibility of that ordering. Some conjugal events are imposed by family, social circle or partner. Other stages are not imposed, but are sometimes anticipated. Comparing qualitative and quantitative information confirms that some situations remain complex and that what is involves is the retrospective reconstruction of event histories. Finally the chapter shows that the diversity of conjugal processes poses problems for comparisons between societies.