Srimad-Bhagavatam: Canto 3 - Chapter 1 - Verse 13
Sanskrit:
पुरा पिता नो भगवान्दक्षो दुहितृवत्सल: ।कं वृणीत वरं वत्सा इत्यपृच्छत न: पृथक् ॥ १३ ॥
ITRANS:
purā pitā no bhagavāndakṣo duhitṛ-vatsalaḥkaṁ vṛṇīta varaṁ vatsāity apṛcchata naḥ pṛthak
Translation:
In days long ago, our father, the most opulent Dakṣa, who was affectionate to his daughters, asked each of us separately whom we would prefer to select as our husband.
Purport:
It appears from this verse that free selection of a husband was allowed by the father, but not by free association. The daughters were asked separately to submit their selection of a husband who was famous for his acts and personality. The ultimate selection depended on the choice of the father.