Chinese Zodiac and Marriage: What Traditional Families Check
In more traditional families, a match-maker or elder compares the couple's zodiac animals before an engagement. A clash pair (six years apart — Rat–Horse, Ox–Goat, and so on) is treated as a warning sign; a secret-friend pair is considered fortunate.
Beyond the animal
A stricter version compares the full bāzì ("eight characters") — the animal and element for the year, month, day and hour of birth for both people. This is the domain of a professional practitioner and is more about tradition and reassurance than prediction.
Choosing the wedding date
Families also pick an auspicious day, often avoiding the bride's or groom's běnmìngnián and the seventh lunar month (the "Ghost Month"). Spring and autumn are popular.
A modern view
Plenty of "clash" couples marry happily. Treat the animal check as a conversation about differences in pace and temperament, not a verdict.