Sumerian tradition [ca 3000-2000 BCE]
[http://www.gatewaystobabylon.com/myths/texts/life/dumuziwedding.html]
[http://www.auburn.edu/~downejm/sp/rls--courtship.htm

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[The goddess of Uruk, Inanna seeks a mate, who will be the shepherd Dumezi]

Inanna: Let me, the lady, send a messenger to the shepherd:

May he treat me to prime butter and prime milk!
Let me send a messenger to the squire, the farmer,
May he treat me to honey and wine!
To the fowler, who has his net spread out,
Let me, the lady, send a messenger:
May he treat me to choice birds!
And the fisherman, none other! To his reed hut,
Let me, Inanna, send a messenger,
May he treat me to his precious carps!

Narrator: Her bridallers, taking the day off, came. The fowler brought choice birds, the fisherman brought precious carps, filled them in a .... with Milady. The shepherd carried pails of butter in his hands, Dumuzi carried pails of milk over his shoulders, butter and small cheese he carried hung over his shoulders. Whipped, herb-flavored, milk he carried hung over his shoulders. The shepherd called out unto the house, Dumuzi thrust a hand against the door crying:

Dumuzi: Make haste to open the House, Milady! Make haste to open the house!
........
Narrator: Inanna at her mother´s bidding bathed in water,
anointed herself with sweet oil,
decided to put on for outer garment the grand queenly robe;
She also took her man-beast amulets,
was straightening the lapis lazuli stones on her neck,
and held her cylinder seal in her hand.
The young lady stood waiting -
Dumuzi pushed the door open,
and like a moonbeam she came forth to him out of the house.
He looked at her, rejoiced in her,
took her in his arms and kissed her.