Wedding Dates to Avoid

When many couples choose their wedding dates, they think about weather, convenience, or having it coincide with another special occasion (such as the anniversary of their first date.) But before you pay non-refundable deposits, or send out save-the-dates, avoid disaster by making sure your wedding doesn't fall on one of these dates.

Sporting Events

Having a major sporting event the same day as your wedding might not seem like such a big deal, but when half of your guests keep disappearing to check the score, or worse, are listening to the game during the ceremony, you'll wish you had avoided these wedding dates. Note that not all may apply to you. In some areas, it would be disastrous to have a wedding during the World Cup, in others it wouldn't be a very big deal.

The Super Bowl
Since the Super Bowl is always on a Sunday, you'll probably be okay having a wedding the night before. Why not organize a viewing party the next day, rather than a more traditional post-wedding brunch? Just be wary if your city is the host city as your guests will have problems finding hotel rooms
February 3, 2008 - Glendale, AZ
February 1, 2009 - Tampa, FL
Date still to be determined for 2010 – either late February or early January – Miami, FL

The World Series
Mid to Late October.

The World Cup
Only held once every four years
The next will be held from June 11, 2010 to July 11, 2010.

Final Four/March Madness
April 5 and 7, 2008
April 4 and 6, 2009
April 3 and 5, 2010

Religious and Cultural Holidays

If you're getting married in a house of worship, they probably won't let you get married on an important holiday. But you'll also want to be sensitive to the religious observances of your guests. Even if they are able to attend, they might be fasting, eating a restricted diet, or have other limitations that will prevent them from fully enjoying your wedding.

12th Night and Epiphany
Always January 6th.

Chinese New Year
February 7, 2008
January 26, 2009
February 14, 2010

Baha'i New Years Day
(begins at sunset the night before)
Almost always March 21

Palm Sunday and Holy Week
If you're getting married in a church, they'll likely frown on weddings happening during the week between Palm Sunday and Easter Sunday.
March 16, 2008
April 5, 2009
March 28, 2010

Easter Sunday
March 23, 2008
April 12, 2009
April 4, 2010

Greek Orthodox Easter
Sunday, April 27, 2008
Sunday, April 19, 2009
Sunday, April 4, ,2010

Passover
(starts at sunset the night before)
Sunday, April 20, 2008
Thursday, April 9, 2009
Tuesday, March 30, 2010
Traditionally, no Jewish marriages are held between Passover and Shavuot except on Lag B’ Omer.

Shavuot
(Starts at sunset the night before. See above note about period between Passover and Shavuot)
Sunday, June 08, 2008
Thursday, May 28, 2009
Tuesday, May 18, 2010

Ramadan
A month-long observation which includes fasting from dawn until dusk.
Begins September 2, 2008
Begins August 22, 2009
Begins August 12, 2010

Rosh Hashanah
2008 - Sunset Monday, September 29, until nightfall Wednesday, October 1
2009 - Sunset Saturday, September 19, until nightfall Sunday, September 20
2010 - Sunset Wednesday, September 8, 2010, until nightfall Friday, September 10, 2010

Yom Kippur (starts at sunset the night before)
Thursday, October 9, 2008
Monday, September 28, 2009
September 18, 2010

Hanukkah (lasts 8 days and starts at sunset the night before the first day)
December 22 - 29, 2008
December 12 - 19, 2009
December 2 - 9, 2010

Christmas
Always December 25

Kwanzaa
Starts Friday, December 26, 2008
Starts Saturday, December 26, 2009 through Friday, January 1, 2010
Starts Sunday, December 26, 2010 through Saturday, January 1, 2011

Inconvenient Wedding Dates

Many wedding sites advocate three-day holiday weekends as great choices for wedding dates – they help you save money, and allow guests more time to travel. The problem is, many guests complain about a holiday weekend wedding date, as hotels and airfare are more expensive, and roads are congested. It also means having to cancel other holiday plans they might have had.

If members of your wedding party are still in school, make sure you check with them about their exam schedule.

New Year's Day
Thursday, January 1, 2009
Friday, January 1, 2010
Saturday, January 1, 2011 (not a 3-day weekend).

Martin Luther King, Jr. Day
January 21, 2008
January 19, 2009
January 18, 2010

President's Day
February 18, 2008
February 16, 2009
February 15, 2010

Memorial Day
May 26, 2008
May 25, 2009
May 31, 2010

Independence Day
always July 4.

Labor Day
September 1, 2008
September 7, 2009
September 6, 2009

Columbus Day
October 13, 2008
October 12, 2009
October 11, 2010

Thanksgiving
November 27, 2008
November 26, 2009
November 25, 2010

Miscellaneous Wedding Dates to Avoid

Daylight savings time
If you're having a Sunday wedding on daylight savings weekend, will your guests remember to change their watches and get to the wedding on time? It is more of a problem in the spring (when the US springs forward) than in the fall (falls back) as its better for guests to be an hour early than an hour late.
Spring Forward
Sunday, March 9, 2008
Sunday, March 8, 2009
Sunday, March 14, 2010

Fall Back
November 2, 2008
November 1, 2009
November 7, 2010

Friday the 13th
It is perhaps a silly superstition. But if you care about such things, or just don't want to risk it, avoid having your rehearsal dinner or wedding on Friday the 13th.

Friday, June 13, 2008
Friday, February 13, 2009
Friday, March 13, 2009
November 13, 2009
Friday, August 13, 2010

April Fool's Day
You don't really need to encourage your guests to play tricks on you, do you?

Tuesday, April 1, 2008
Wednesday, April 1, 2009
Thursday, April 1, 2010