Wedding Traditions

Definition of "Wedding"
Marriage by purchasewas once the preferred custom. The word "wedding" comes froom the anglo-saxon word wedd which meant that the groom would vow to marry the bride and that the barterted goods and/or currency would go to the bride's father.
The word "wedding" itself comes from the root term meaning to gamble or wager. Thus the ceremony was little more than the purchase of a bride for breeding purposes.
 

Choosing the Day & Month
Although most weddings now take place on a Saturday it was considered unlucky in the past. A Friday was also considered unlucky (Especially Friday the 13th). The famous rhyme advises a wedding in the first half of the week.

Monday for wealth, Tuesday for health, Wednesday the best day of all, Thurdays for losses, Friday for crosses, Saturday for no luck at all.

The following rhyme advises in which month to be married

Married when the year is new, he will be loving, kind and true.
When February birds do mate, you wed nor dread your fate.
If you wed in March winds blow, joy and sorrow both you will know.
Marry in April when you can, joy for maiden and for man.
Marry in the month of May and you will surely rue the days.
Marry in June roses grow, over land and sea you will go.
Those in July do wed, must labour for their daily bread.
Whoever wed in August be, many a change is sure to see.
Marry in September shrine, your living will be rich and fine.
If in October you do marry, love will come but riches tarry.
If you wed in bleak November, only joys will come remember.
When December snows fall fast, marry and true love will last.