Summer is the season of love, or so it may seem from the number of weddings that take place in Britain during the months of May to September. Around sixty per cent of all marriages in England and Wales take place during these months and there are various reasons why so many couples set their heart on a summer-time wedding.

The fragrance and beauty of an abundant supply of flowers is just one reason and although many varieties can now be obtained out of season, grown in greenhouses or imported from abroad, seasonal flowers are more likely to be fresher and less expensive. The summer offers a wonderful assortment of roses, carnations, gardenia, daisies, freesia and orchids.

Tradition may also play its part in the popularity of summer weddings. Pagan custom considered the summer a good time to marry because of the sun's association with fertility. June especially was considered to be a lucky month. June is named after Juno, the Roman goddess of love and marriage, who vowed to protect those who married in her month.

Almost 28,000 people in England and Wales marry in June each year*. Among these have been such famous brides as Sophie Rhys-Jones, 'Jules', wife of TV celebrity chef Jamie Oliver, and Livia Giuggioli, who married heart-throb actor Colin Firth in June 1997.

Essentially it is actually the weather that lies at the heart of many couples' decisions to marry during summer, and July stands out as the most popular month. The warning given in an old English proverb - 'if the first of July be rainy weather, it will rain, more or less, for four weeks together' - has done little to cool the enthusiasm of a host of couples who choose to walk down the aisle in July.

Victoria 'Posh Spice' Adams married David Beckham on July 4, 1999. Davina McCall and Matthew Robertson, Liam Neeson and Natasha Richardson, and Sharon (Violinist) Corr and Gavin Bonnar all chose July as the month to host their wedding.

According to an ancient proverb you're pretty safe from the threat of poor weather if you observe the golden rule: 'never cast a clout till May be out.' The weather, however, is a law unto itself. It shows little respect for ancient custom or proverbial assurances. Therefore, despite many couples choosing the summer in hope of a warm, sunny day, many do not actually get it and some get an odd mix of rain and shine - which can cause chaos with the caterers!

Actor Ewan McGregor and set designer Eve Mavrakis discovered how fickle summer weather can be when they married on July 31, 1995. The couple now live in London but chose to get married in Eve's homeland, France, in the pretty village of Festalemps. The day began with beautiful sunshine but a tremendous thunderstorm erupted during the marriage ceremony and while the couple were preoccupied exchanging their wedding vows, friends and local villagers were frantically transporting the outdoor reception into the drier confines of the main house, owned by a family friend. No sooner had the tables and chairs been reorganised indoors than the sun came out once more and the furniture and decorations were reinstated in their courtyard setting. The unpredictability of the weather also caused great concern for GMTV celebrity Lorraine Kelly when she married Stephen Smith on September 5, 1992. Lorraine witnessed first-hand that from the depths of a gloomy, grey spell can burst the most dazzling of sunny days. And just as quickly the rain and chill can return.

"The day before our wedding, at Mains Castle in Dundee, it poured with rain and I was really worried my big day would be a wash-out," says Lorraine. "My friends, called 'The Clan', were going to dress up like Scottish clansmen and re-enact battles to entertain guests while the photos were being taken. I didn't want them to be all muddy and wet! In the end the sun shone and the day was perfect. But the next day it poured with rain, like a monsoon, so we were very, very lucky!"

Marco Pierre White, retired celebrity chef and owner of some of London's most fashionable restaurants, was also very lucky when he married his third wife, Mati, on April 7, 2000. Only about six per cent of weddings in England and Wales take place during this month, with April showers being a major concern for many couples.

When Marco and Mati married they chose to have both the ceremony and the reception at Marco's stylish Belvedere Restaurant, in Holland Park. The couple were blessed with a bright blue sky and plenty of spring sunshine, which Marco admits contributed handsomely to the success of the day.

"The weather certainly made life easier because we were able to drink champagne outside, on the lawn," he recalls.

The sunny weather they enjoyed on April 7 was literally out of the blue. According to Met Office records April 2000 was the wettest April since records began, with a total of 143mm of rain during the month. The previous highest April totals were in 1782!

So, it appears, it really doesn't matter which month of the year, or which season you choose for getting married. The weather can let you down at the most unlikely times and similarly can outshine even the gloomiest of forecasts.

If you do find the sun is not among the guests on your wedding day, remember it really isn't the end of the world. Look on the bright side: according to a Native American adage, a nuptial downpour means you'll never cry over your marriage. Seek reassurance also in French folklore. Eve Mavrakis didn't mind that it rained on her wedding day since in France this is considered good luck.

Your wedding is a very special day so remember to keep cool, whatever Mother Nature decides to present as her marital gift.