This blog has been updated. Please go here for 2021, 2022 and 2023 dates:
Wedding Dates to Avoid in 2021, 2022 and 2023
Just got engaged and trying to set the perfect date for your wedding? Before you pick that perfect date, keep in mind that there are some dates that may not work at all because of family commitments, holidays or sporting events. We have put together a list of the dates that you may want to avoid.
Your Own Schedule
Before you set your date, you and your fiance should check your own calendars. You should also consult with immediate family members and friends that you want to participate in your wedding.
Holiday Weekends
There are pros and cons to setting your wedding date on a holiday weekend. For one thing, it is easier for people to travel to your wedding. If the holiday is on a Monday, you can have your wedding on Sunday, which could save some money. On the flip side, some of your guest may already have commitments for the holiday weekend. Also, depending on the holiday, your vendors may be in high demand. For instance, florist are very busy around Valentine’s Day and Mother’s Day. Here is the list of the major holidays:
Martin Luther King Jr. Day (always a Monday)
- Weekend of January 18–20, 2020
- Weekend of January 16–18, 2021
Presidents’ Day (always a Monday)
- Weekend of February 15–17, 2020
- Weekend of February 13–15, 2021
Mother’s Day (always a Sunday)
Make sure your moms are okay sharing this weekend with your wedding. And you should consider if you want to your anniversary to fall on the same weekend as Mother’s day when you have your own family.
- Weekend of May 9–10, 2020
- Weekend of May 8–9, 2021
Memorial Day (always a Monday)
- Weekend of May 23–25, 2020
- Weekend of May 29–31, 2021
Father’s Day (always a Sunday)
You should take the same time in considering this weekend as Mother’s Day weekend. Do you want to share your anniversary with Father’s Day?
- Weekend of June 20–21, 2020
- Weekend of June 19–20, 2021
Independence Day
- Saturday, July 4, 2020
- Sunday, July 4, 2021
Labor Day (always a Monday)
- Weekend of August 31–September 2, 2019
- Weekend of September 5–7, 2020
- Weekend of September 4–6, 2021
Columbus Day (always a Monday)
- Weekend of October 12–14, 2019
- Weekend of October 10–12, 2020
- Weekend of October 9–11, 2021
Halloween
Some people are into having their wedding in costume, but if you are not, maybe you should avoid a Halloween wedding. You should also know that if you are planning a Vegas wedding, Nevada became a state on October 31. Each year, Nevada celebrates Nevada day on the Friday before Halloween creating a three day weekend.
- Thursday, October 31, 2019
- Saturday, October 31, 2020
- Sunday, October 31, 2021
Thanksgiving (always a Thursday)
- November 28, 2019
- November 26, 2020
- November 25, 2021
New Year’s Eve
- Tuesday, December 31, 2019
- Thursday, December 31, 2020
- Friday, December 31, 2021
Religious and Cultural Holidays
Religious and Cultural holidays may impact your ability to have your wedding at your house of worship. It can also impact your guests’ ability to attend your wedding or, at the very least, restrict their level of participation.
Palm Sunday
- April 5, 2020
- March 28, 2021
Easter Sunday
- April 12, 2020
- April 4, 2021
Passover (begins at sunset)
- Wednesday, April 8, 2020
- Saturday, March 27, 2021
Tisha B’Av (begins at sunset)
- Saturday, August 10, 2019
- Wednesday, July 29, 2020
- Saturday, July 17, 2021
Rosh Hashanah (begins at sunset)
- Sunday, September 29, 2019 until nightfall on Tuesday, October 1, 2019
- Friday, September 18, 2020 until nightfall on Sunday, September 20, 2020
- Monday, September 6, 2021 until nightfall on Wednesday, September 8, 2021
Yom Kippur (begins at sunset)
- Tuesday, October 8, 2019 until nightfall on Wednesday, October 9, 2019
- Sunday, September 27, 2020 until nightfall on Monday, September 28, 2020
- Wednesday, September 15, 2021 until nightfall on Thursday, September 16, 2021
Hanukkah (begins at sunset)
- Sunday, December 22, 2019 until nightfall on Monday, December 30, 2019
- Thursday, December 10, 2020 until nightfall on Friday, December 18, 2020
- November 28, 2021 until nightfall on Friday, December 6, 2021
Christmas
- Wednesday, December 25, 2019
- Friday, December 25, 2020
- Saturday, December 25, 2021
Kwanzaa
- Wednesday, December 26, 2018 until Tuesday, January 1, 2019
- Thursday, December 26, 2019 until Wednesday, January 1, 2020
- Saturday, December 26, 2020 until Friday, January 1, 2021
Ramadan (dates may vary based on the lunar calendar)
- Thursday, April 23 until Saturday, May 23, 2020
- Monday, April 12 until Tuesday, May 11, 2021
Eid al-Fitr (dates may vary based on the lunar calendar)
- Saturday, May 23 until Sunday, May 24, 2020
- Wednesday, May 12 until Thursday, May 13, 2021
Eid al-Adha (dates may vary based on how each family observes; the holiday lasts for about four days)
- Sunday, August 11, 2019
- Thursday, July 30, 2020
- Monday, July 19, 2021
Ram Navami
- Thursday, April 2, 2020
- Wednesday, April 21, 2021
Krishna Janmashtami
- Saturday, August 24, 2019
- Tuesday, August 11, 2020
- Monday, August 30, 2021
Days of Remembrance
These are the historically significant days like the anniversary of September 11 or Pearl Harbor Day. Depending on your family, these dates may be more significant in planning your wedding.
Patriot Day
- Wednesday, September 11, 2019
- Friday, September 11, 2020
- Saturday, September 11, 2021
National Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day
- Saturday, December 7, 2019
- Monday, December 7, 2020
- Tuesday, December 7, 2021
Major Sporting Events
Whether or not you are a sports fan, some of your guests definitely are. Aside from these national events listed below, check with your college for major games and homecoming if these are important events to you and/or your fiance.
Super Bowl Sunday
- February 2, 2020, in Miami, FL
- February 7, 2021, in Tampa, Florida
Final Four During March Madness
- Saturday, April 4, 2020 and Monday, April 6, 2020 in Atlanta, GA
- Saturday, April 3, 2021 and Monday, April 5, 2021 in Indianapolis, IN
World Series
These dates aren’t usually scheduled until closer, but they tend to be late October. For more information, check the MLB site: MLB Events.
NBA Finals
These dates haven’t been announced yet, but tend to be mid-June. For more information, check the NBA important dates here: NBA Schedule.
Unlucky Dates
If you’re superstitious, you might want to watch out for these historically fateful inauspicious dates.
The Ides of March
For ancient Romans, an “ides” was simply a date that marked the middle of the month—until Julius Caesar was assassinated on March 15 in 44 BC. Since then, many have been warned to “Beware the Ides of March.”
- Friday, March 15, 2019
- Sunday, March 15, 2020
- Monday, March 15, 2021
Friday the 13th
This unlucky date has questionable origins. Some say it comes from the last supper where Judas, the betrayer of Jesus, was the 13th guest. Others point out that the famous Babylon’s Code of Hammurabi doesn’t include a 13th law, which suggests this superstition is as old as 1700 BC. Friday And it wasn’t until a successful novel titled Friday, the Thirteenth was published in 1907 that Friday became part of the unlucky equation.
- September 13, 2019
- December 13, 2019
- March 13, 2020
- November 13, 2020
- August 13, 2021
Leap Years
Greeks and Romans thought starting any new life event—from getting married to baptizing a child—in a leap year would bring bad luck.
Next Leap Year: 2020
- Saturday, February 29, 2020
- Following Leap Year: 2024
- Thursday, February 29, 2024
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