Page "Handfasting" Paragraph 16

Despite the validity of handfasting it was expected to be solemnized by a church wedding fairly soon afterwards.

Penalties might follow for those who did not comply.

Ideally the couple were also supposed to refrain from intercourse until then.

Complaints by preachers suggest that they often did not wait, but at least until the early 1600s the common attitude to this kind of anticipatory behaviour seems to have been lenient.