From “Sugar Dumpling” to “For Pete’s Sake!”: Why June Weddings Need More Than Just Cake
Hey there,
With June upon us and wedding season in full swing, I wanted to weave something fun into this week’s devotional about marriage. After all, June has long been prime time for “I do’s” — and not just because of the beautiful weather and blooming flowers!
Did you know the month is named after Juno, the Roman goddess of marriage and family? Ancient couples hoped she’d bless their unions with happiness and fertility. There are some delightfully practical (and funny) reasons too: back in the Middle Ages, folks usually took just one bath a year — often in May. By June they were still smelling relatively fresh, so weddings boomed! Brides even carried bouquets partly to help with any lingering odors. (Talk about “something old, something new, something borrowed… and something that could use a little Febreze!”)
Fast-forward to today, and June (along with October) is still one of the most popular months for weddings in the U.S., with summer accounting for about a third of all ceremonies. It’s a beautiful time for new beginnings.
My wife and I celebrate 27 years of marriage this year. Twenty-seven years can sound like a long time — and in many ways it is! But spend any time around even older folks and you’ll quickly meet couples who’ve been married 40, 50, or even 60+ years. Their stories are a powerful reminder that marriage isn’t just about the June wedding day; it’s about choosing each other every single day that follows.
That brings me to one of my favorite humorous illustrations on the subject. Many decades ago, the Saturday Evening Post — that classic American magazine famous for its heartwarming stories, humor, and those unforgettable Norman Rockwell covers — ran a funny article called “The Seven Ages of the Married Cold.” It traces how a husband’s concern for his wife’s cold slowly changes over the first seven years of marriage:
First year: “Sugar dumpling, I’m really worried about my baby girl. You’ve got a bad sniffle… I’m putting you in the hospital this afternoon for a general checkup and a good rest. I’ll bring your meals in from Rossini’s…”
Second year: “Listen darling, I don’t like the sound of that cough. I’ve called Doc Miller to rush over here. Now you go to bed like a good girl, just for Papa.”
Third year: “Maybe you’d better lie down, honey. I’ll bring you something to eat. Have we got any soup?”
Fourth year: “Look, dear, be sensible. After you feed the kids and get the dishes washed, you’d better hit the sack.”
Fifth year: “Why don’t you take a couple of aspirin?”
Sixth year: “I wish you’d just gargle or something instead of sitting around barking like a seal all evening.”
Seventh year: “For Pete’s sake, stop sneezing! Are you trying to give me pneumonia?”
We laugh because it’s so relatable. What starts with extravagant care can drift into routine, irritation, or taking each other for granted — if we’re not careful.
God has a better plan. Marriage is meant to be a lifelong picture of Christ’s unwavering love for His bride, the Church.
“Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her.” (Ephesians 5:25, NIV)
Love like that doesn’t grow cold. It’s covenant love — a daily choice to serve, cherish, and renew. (read more about that here)
1 Corinthians 13:4-7 reminds us that real love is patient, kind, not easily angered, and keeps no record of wrongs. It always protects, trusts, hopes, and perseveres.
And in Revelation 2:4-5, Jesus gently warns the church at Ephesus: “You have forsaken the love you had at first. Consider how far you have fallen! Repent and do the things you did at first.”
The same can happen in marriage. So how do we keep the flame alive?
Make daily check-ins: “How can I love you well today?”
Show small acts of kindness without being asked (yes, even bringing soup!).
Choose forgiveness quickly.
Pray together.
Remember and recreate the things you did when your love was “first-year fresh.”
Whether you’re newly married, celebrating 27 years like us, or approaching your golden anniversary, the invitation is the same: Don’t let routine steal the joy. Return to that first love — for your spouse and for the Lord.
And if you ever catch a summer cold this June… may your spouse still treat you like it’s Year One. Because after all these years, that’s the kind of love worth celebrating — and the kind that makes the best stories!
~ Charlie
