The consensus in Scripture is that the groom 'comes for the' the bride at an hour of his own choosing, within the limitations of his agreement with her father. There are some logistical limitations, particuarly since there is a feast and celebration to arrange, but the impetus seems to be on him.

In Matt 1:24 we read:
Then Joseph being raised from sleep did as the angel of the Lord had bidden him, and took unto him his wife:

It could be that it just happened that that was the day that he was planning on the marriage anyway. Or it could be that 'being raised from sleep... took' merely means, 'he arose from sleep, didn't divorce her, and eventually took...' But these seem less natural than the idea 'he arose from sleep and arranged to marry her immediatly (ie that day, that week)"


In the parable of the foolish virgins we read that it is the duty of the bridesmaids to ‘wait’ for the bridegroom.[1] And in the rest of the Scriptures we read that it is our duty, as the bride of Christ, to ‘wait’ on him… preparing ourselves in joyous anticipation for his return to take us to His chamber. In the example of Abrahams servant it was his will, to leave immediatly, which took precedence over the will of the brides mother and brother. Similarly we read that Isaac, on receiving the report from his fathers servant, 'took Rebekah into his mothers tent'.