This paper empirically investigates the role of watta satta on ex ante and ex post marital outcomes- child marriage, spousal abuse and estrangement. Watta satta is a Pakistani bridal exchange tradition, where marriage between two families depends on their ability to trade brides. The results show that watta satta is significantly correlated to the likelihood of child marriage and reduces estrangement but has no significant impact on spousal abuse. Preference for sons is the main driver for both child marriage and spousal abuse. A husband use of violence is negatively contingent on having more sons than daughters. Son preference also has an impact on father’s decision on timing of daughter’s marriage. That is, child brides are more likely in families with fewer number of sons. Alternatively, estrangement is an indicator of wife’s bargaining power. In patrilocal society, estrangement is less likely if in-laws cohabiting with the couple and a woman has more contact with her natal family. Lastly dowry compensates for brides not being young, and has no influence on spousal abuse or estrangement.