Well well, many thanks gents for confirming this was a true tradition and not just over-enthusiastic journalism, very interesting indeed and great fun too. Such a shame these things die out, perhaps encouraged by the unsympathetic views of some of those who uphold the law. Perhaps it failed in this instance because the groom was from London, was unaware of the tradition, and maybe even thought he was being mugged ?

No I realise they weren't "forced" marriages, but my youth was mis-spent watching too many Western films where the phrase "roping" took on a slighgtly different meaning so I'm afraid I couldn't get that cowboy image out of my head.

Thanks again.

I suspect this was a local variation on the old customs like Barring the way, Handfasting (tying the knot ?) and jumping a besom.

http://www.snopes.com/weddings/customs/barring.asp

http://www.brideandgroom.com/wedding-articles/wedding-traditions-2.asp

http://www.bbc.co.uk/scotland/history/tying_the_knot_handfasting_through_the_ages.shtml
http://medievalscotland.org/history/handfasting.shtml

In centuries gone by, handfasting was a popular custom in the British Isles.

http://www.llewellyn.com/journal/article/1358