Their modern lives notwithstanding, many younger Javanese still turn to primbon for wedding planning.

While the majority of Indonesian weddings are held on Saturday and Sunday, a good number take place on other days, including busy work days. 

For young Javanese couples, the choice relates to the Primbon, a Javanese text offering guidance for daily life with elements of prediction that include finding the best dates to hold a wedding. The dates are usually determined by elders considered experts in understanding and interpreting the text’s messages for specific people and circumstances.

Adherents believe following the Primbon’s guidance will lead to a prosperous and lifelong marriage and that ignoring it will result in obstacles. 

Rizki Septiandi is a believer. So much so that he sacrificed the presence of his close friends on his big day.

The 34-year-old married Adriana Kartika on the afternoon of April 10, 2020, a Tuesday. "Our friends complained about why it wasn’t held on a weekend and that it was hard to attend. We told them we understood if they couldn’t attend,” Rizky said.

Though they come from different religious backgrounds, which is often still an issue for couples in Indonesia wanting to wed, Rizki and Adriana share a strong belief in the Primbon. 

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