When should YOU GET MARRIED?
A writer once said, “Once in a while, right in the middle of an ordinary life, love gives us a fairytale.” Every person at some point in their life yearns for love, love in some way or form — love at first sight (Eros); loving affection that develops over time (Storge); intensely jealous and possessive with the loved one (Mania); and selfless caring without self-interest (Agape).
You may agree that ultimately everyone desires Storge and Agape love. Love is a wonderful feeling and it is even more wonderful when the man of your dream arrives and wedding bells start to ring.
So he has proposed, now what?
Operation “Perfect Wedding” has begun. Your big day has to be perfect — flowers in full bloom, the perfect blend of your favourite colours must be fresh and breathtaking; the music has to set the perfect mood giving the guests an audible feast; and the cuisine should be exquisite and tantalize the tastebuds. But the one problem that lingers is when should be the big day?
You’ve always heard that June is the most popular month to get married. You may have even watched the movie Bride Wars and saw the importance that was placed on getting married in no other month but June. So what has the month got to do with it anyway? What is so magnificent about getting married in the month of June?
History shows that some married in the month of June to honour Juno, the Roman goddess of marriage. Others did it to time conception so births wouldn’t interfere with harvest work. A marriage in June could result in a conception early enough so that a wife wouldn’t be too full with child to not be able to help out during the harvest. A June wedding also meant that the baby would be born soon enough so that the recovered bride would be in shape for the next harvest pending no unexpected second bundle.
So when considering your wedding plans and how romantic a June wedding may seem, keep in mind that the real concern at the centre of that tradition was getting the most out of you before you became pregnant and useless!
Brides in the 15th century chose to marry in June because it coincided with their “annual bath” — yes annual — thus ensuring a relatively sweet-smelling honeymoon. This is a funny custom. It seems that in old times taking a bath was not a daily ritual like today. Since the yearly bath took place in Spring, women still didn’t smell too bad so they chose June to get married so they would smell good for their new husbands.
Bathing is a daily ritual today so hygiene would not be an issue if one should get married in any other month of the year. But getting married in June is the best time of the year in many cultures since the weather is usually good around that time. April is the time of rain, in July it starts to get hot, and of course in the winter, it is cold.
An old saying even preaches that the month in which you marry may have some bearing on the fate of the marriage. “… Marry in April when you can, joy for maiden and for man; Marry in the month of May, and you’ll surely rue the day; Marry when June roses grow, over land and sea you will go; Those who in July do wed, must labour for their daily bread…”
Apart from good weather, there is nothing really spectacular about being a June bride except in the case where you want to seriously pay homage to Juno or follow the old legend that guarantees your travel “over land and sea”. Any other month is just as good as June for a wedding.
Marriage Counsellor Dr Alejandro Tulloch said, “the beauty of marriage is not defined by the month you get married in, but by the hard work, dedication and love that you have put in the relationship.” So, although the most popular month to get married is June, you don’t have to get married then. Whichever month you choose, pick a date that holds meaning for you and your fiancé. Any month can be magical for a wedding. After all it is your day, so it’s up to you to create the magic!
