I think it works out if you're on the same page as your partner i.e. if you're both practicing or both are not really into their religion.
I know of a Russian lady married to an Iraqi guy with three gorgeous children, Mashallah. The lady took her time in converting to Islam but she is practicing now, MAshallah and they've brought up their children to be religious too. They are the cutest couple I know, MAshallah.
I know another Russian lady married to a Pakistani man, again, with three children. Them too are practicing and have been happily married Mashallah.
Another couple I know is Polish girl married to Pakistani man. The girl is so lovely. Within two years she has changed her self. She's learning Urdu, Pakistani cooking, has been to Pakistan too and is starting to practice Islam too.
My younger BIL is married to a woman from Maldova. they have two beautiful boys MasAllah! The girl converted to Islam and is much better at practicing Islam than most people. She has learned to speak in Urdu within a couple of years and is a very kind and loving woman. They are a very happy family MA!
in most of the cases it works if both guy and girl are not practicing their religion and are not too tied to their culture although I have seen few cases in which Guy was not only religious but girl also ended up embracing Islam and learning Urdu etc.
i have a close friend .. girl is polish.. and guy is pakistani... christian and muslim ... they have been married 5 yrs and they have a 13 month old... only reason their marriage works is cuz neither of them are traditional, dont follow their culture and are open to anything that they fancy, and religion is the last thing on their minds. this is in their words.. why their marriage works.
but now the drama starts. what religion is the son to follow? she has converted but she cant do the whole allah allah routine when putting the kid to sleep or going bismillah when he falls.. this comes from within. she sings christian jingles to him cuz thats what her mom would sing to her so its in her subconscious. ... it never pissed the guy off before but now it does.. so instead of fighting it out with the wife..... they both sat down.. and guy voiced his concern.. girl said well i cant make a muslim out of him.. so now the guy has taken over the religious education of his son.. he just couldnt handle the child not knowing anything bout islam.. but its a bit of a battle cuz even he doesnt know so much bout his religion as he never took any interest himself... ab baap beta dono seekh rahay hain :D
but i found it so nice... who says its only the mother that has to teach the child bout religion or culture etc... other men would probably have fought over it with their women... i like the fact that this guy took the matter into his own hands..
This situation reminds me of a family I know. Uncle married a christian lady he went to med school with. Everything was dum dee dum happy until they had their 1st girl. Similar story, since his wife didn't know anything really about islam she couldnt really teach them much. However she was very easy going. He took matters in his own hands as well and started taking them to religous events, taught them a lot on their own. Eventually the wife converted to islam as well, and is super religous now, as well as their 3 daughters. The lady's extended family gave them a lot of trouble.....but the daughters were raised with strong self confidence and would always be able to respond to any negativity their aunts/uncles/grandmother gave them initially. Now everyone is fine with it and no longer tries to make them eat pork, etc, sweet 16.....stuff.....
In mixed marriages there can be huge cultural gap between the couples.You have to know which boundaries you cant cross.You may have to sacrifice more to make it work.But divource is something which can happen in any type of marriage even gay marriage.
Lol, it has a better chance of working than a mixed-marriage between insaan and jaanwar. These days it seems like some spouses have about as much feeling/regard for their partner as a reptile would.