The Torah says: “When a man takes a new wife, he shall not go out with the army, nor shall any [military duty] be imposed upon him; he shall be free at home for one year and shall bring joy to the wife he has taken”[1].
In the first year after the wedding, the Torah specifically gives newlyweds, who have yet to learn to understand each other, special opportunities for closeness and communication. But these opportunities will be put to good use only if the young spouses truly use this special year to understand each other’s inner, emotional needs and ways of thinking. If they spend as much time together as possible, for example, in the evenings after their daily activities, or on Shabbat and holidays—calmly and peacefully, setting everyday concerns aside. If, during this special period, in the hours they devote to each other, they learn to share their feelings and experiences and discover how they can support one another.
Every bride, regardless of her age or whether this is her first marriage, must perform a “hefsek taharah,” count “seven clean days,” and immerse in a kosher mikveh. A bride may immerse during the day rather than at night, but no earlier than the eighth day.
The “hefsek taharah” and the counting of the “seven clean days” should be timed so that immersion takes place as close to the wedding as possible, no earlier than four days beforehand.
To learn the laws concerning a bride who is a virgin, one may consult a kallah teacher who prepares brides for marriage, or a rabbi.
[1] Devarim, 24:5-6. Devarim (“Words”) is the fifth and final book of the Pentateuch.