Should dowries be given today?

Answer:

Dowries (bride money) has been a long-standing tradition among mankind. The Bible records that it was practiced(Genesis 29:18; I Samuel 18:25; Hosea 3:2), but there is no law stating it had to be done for typical marriages under the Old Law and it is not mentioned in the New Law. It was required only in the case of fornication between unmarried, unengaged couples and in this case, served more as a fine than a requirement. The mentioning of dowries in the Old Testament shows that the amounts given varied greatly.

There is nothing wrong with dowries if your traditions call for it, but there is no biblical requirement for them.