Wedding Dates that you should AVOID
September 8th, 2009
It sounds so tempting to pick up a calendar, close your eyes and point to a date for your wedding….but think again! Keep in mind that YES this is YOUR wedding day, but that you are also inviting all kinds of family and friends to celebrate WITH YOU!
Always check with your entire bridal party and family to make sure there will not be any conflicts with the date you choose. Also, something you might not have thought of- there are some holidays or national events that might hinder your guests from booking that plane ticket or sending in their RSVP cards with a YES on them.
Steer clear of these days for your wedding!
Here are a few dates to stay clear of when choosing your BIG DAY!
- New Year’s and Christmas (Anywhere between the 23th of December and the 5th of January)
- Thanksgiving (In US, the fourth Thursday of November)
- Superbowl weekend
- The World Series
- In the US, the weekend before April 15 – tax day! Probably not too big of a deal, but you never know!
- Memorial Day weekend
- Labor Day weekend
- Some say Memorial Day and Labor Day are great days but be aware of friends and family already having plans like the vacation they mapped out a year ago.
- Mother’s Day
- Father’s Day
Some wedding dates might even bring bad luck to your wedding day- but I will let you be the judge!
- Weekends that include a Friday the 13th
- Getting married on a Full Moon
- The Ides of March (March 15)
- September 11
- Daylight savings days – let’s hope your guests remember what time it is that day!
Also keep in mind some religious days-
- If you are Jewish, or many of your guests are Jewish, you may wish to avoid Friday evening weddings, and Saturday weddings before sundown. Don’t marry on Rosh Hashanah. Most synagogues frown on marriages during the Days of Awe (the 10 days between Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur), as that is a very busy time. Depending on your community or denomination, you may be able to get married immediately after Passover, or may have to wait until after either Yom HaShoah or Shavout.
- If you are Christian, or many of your guests are Christian, you’ll want to avoid Holy Week (from Palm Sunday Weekend through Easter Sunday, and Christmas weddings (weekends around December 25). Some churches find Sunday weddings after the service a joyful celebration of the Sabbath, others frown on a wedding during the day of rest. Check with your congregation to be sure. Also, be aware that December is a busy month for most Christians, and thus it is better to plan a wedding for a different month if many of your guests are Christian.
- If you are Muslim,or many of your guests are Muslim, be aware that Shawwal is considered a favorable time for a wedding, but the sacred months of Muharram and Ramadan are very bad times for a wedding. Many Muslim weddings occur on Sunday. You’ll want to consult your mosque before selecting a date, of course.
Budget Weddings-
If you are on a budget, try to stay away from Friday evening or Saturday evening weddings. Instead shoot for a Sunday wedding- or if you are having a smaller wedding then a weekday can work as long as all of your guests know far in advance.
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My sister got married on Memorial Day weekend. Half of our extended family didn’t attend because they served in wars. I think if she had to do it all again, she’d pick a non-holiday weekend.