Current EA changes that affect this page
Adopting children was added while remarriage after a spouse dies remains unresolved. Adoption provides another family option; the patch does not say that remarriage itself is fixed. Update 0.4.5 lists a fix ensuring suitable courting candidates are available. This is separate from the unresolved remarriage-after-death problem. Remarriage after a spouse dies remains an acknowledged issue in 0.4.5. Adoption was added as a workaround, and should not be described as a marriage fix.
Compare the available partner information
Read the traits and status shown by the game rather than inferring benefits from a portrait or background. The official description connects partner choice to wealth, status and inherited traits, without establishing a universal optimal match.
Plan the action cost
Gifts involve money, while conversation can involve time and Energy. Inspect the available options and their costs in the current build. A courtship plan can record the action and observed progress without predicting a guaranteed proposal after a fixed number of attempts.
Keep business and family decisions distinct
The diary says spending time with a spouse can support family growth, while asking for business help competes with that time. This is a qualitative relationship. No fertility formula is inferred, and the planner will not convert it into a percentage.