Mixed Marrige
Question
How should a family act halachically in a situation where the husband is an Ashkenazi Jew and the wife is Yemenite? Before their marriage, they did not discuss their differing halachic approaches. In order to avoid conflict, whose halachic opinion should determine the family’s general practice in halachic matters? Alternatively, should each spouse continue to follow their previous halachic tradition individually?
Answer
Shalom!
Thank you for your question.
When a woman gets married she marries “into” her husband’s family. As such, his customs are followed only with regard to halachot that affect him, regarding the other Halachot that don't affect him she should continue as her custom.
For example, if the husband is stringent and ends Shabbat 72 minutes after sunset (while most people end it about 45 minutes after sunset) she is not obligated to observe it, since we can say that this doesn't effect him.
SOURCES: Igros Moshe, O.C. 1:158, Y.D. 4:3:1, E.H. 2:12, 4:32; Minchas Yitzchak 4:83;