Halakhah к Шир ха-ширим 3:11

Of interest in these days when so many women are employed outside of the home, is the question of work on the part of the bride during the postnuptial week. This issue is raised by Rabbi Ephraim Grunblatt in the Adar 5734 issue of Ha-Pardes. The question concerns a bride who was unable to obtain leave from her job for the entire seven-day period and wished to know whether, according to Jewish law, she might report to work during the week following her wedding. Since the previously cited sources speak only of a prohibition against work on the part of the groom it would appear that there is no explicit ban with regard to employment on the part of the bride. Teshuvot Maharsham, III, no. 206, does permit a bride employed as a seamstress to work at her trade during this period, but stipulates that she may do so only with the acquiescence of her husband. Maharsham, however, does not explain why he deems permission of the husband to be necessary, Maharsham's position may perhaps be understood in light of comments by Rabbi Simchah Elberg, Shalmei Simḥah, I, no. 70. Citing the verse "on the day of his wedding and the day of the rejoicing of his heart" (Song of Songs 3:11), Rabbi Elberg argues that the groom is bound by a two-fold obligation, viz., to gladden his bride and also himself to rejoice. Maharsham may well have reasoned that the bride may engage in work only with the acquiescence of the groom since it may be assumed that her employment will mar the groom's own joy. It should be noted that one source, Pesikta de-Rav Kahana, no. 22, while giving no reason, clearly indicates that a bride may not engage in labor for a period of seven days following her wedding.