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 16–18, 2021
- Weekend of January 15-17, 2022
- Weekend of January 14-16, 2023
Presidents’ Day (always a Monday)
- Weekend of February 13–15, 2021
- Weekend of February 19-21, 2022
- Weekend of February 18-20, 2023
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 8–9, 2021
- Weekend of May 7-8, 2022
- Weekend of May 12-14, 2023
Memorial Day (always a Monday)
- Weekend of May 29–31, 2021
- Weekend of May 28-30, 2022
- Weekend of May 27-29, 2023
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 19–20, 2021
- Weekend of June 18-19, 2022
- Weekend of June 17-18, 2023
Independence Day
- Sunday, July 4, 2021
- Monday, July 4, 2022
- Tuesday, July 4, 2023
Labor Day (always a Monday)
- Weekend of September 4–6, 2021
- Weekend of September 3-5, 2022
- Weekend of September 2-4, 2023

Columbus Day (always a Monday)
- Weekend of October 10–12, 2020
- Weekend of October 9–11, 2021
- Weekend of October 8-10, 2022
- Weekend of October 7-9, 2023
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.
- Saturday, October 31, 2020
- Sunday, October 31, 2021
- Monday, October 31, 2022
- Tuesday, October 31, 2022
Thanksgiving (always a Thursday)
- November 26, 2020
- November 25, 2021
- November 24, 2022
- November 23, 2023
New Year’s Eve
- Thursday, December 31, 2020
- Friday, December 31, 2021
- Saturday, December 31, 2022
- Sunday, December 31, 2023

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
- March 28, 2021
- April 10, 2022
- April 2, 2022
Easter Sunday
- April 4, 2021
- April 17, 2022
- April 9, 2023
Passover (begins at sunset)
- Saturday, March 27, 2021
- Friday, April 15, 2022
- Wednesday, April 9, 2023
Tisha B’Av (begins at sunset)
- Saturday, July 17, 2021
- Friday, August 5, 2022
- Wednesday, July 26, 2023
Rosh Hashanah (begins at sunset)
- Friday, September 18, 2020 until nightfall on Sunday, September 20, 2020
- Monday, September 6, 2021 until nightfall on Wednesday, September 8, 2021
- Sunday, September 25, 2022 until nightfall on Tuesday, September 27, 2022
- Friday, September 15, 2023 until nightfall on Sunday, September 17, 2023
Yom Kippur (begins at sunset)
- Sunday, September 27, 2020 until nightfall on Monday, September 28, 2020
- Wednesday, September 15, 2021 until nightfall on Thursday, September 16, 2021
- Tuesday, October 4, 2022 until nightfall on Wednesday, October 5, 2022
- Sunday, September 24, 2023 until nightfall on Monday, September 25, 2023
Hanukkah (begins at sunset)
- Thursday, December 10, 2020 until nightfall on Friday, December 18, 2020
- November 28, 2021 until nightfall on Friday, December 6, 2021
- Tuesday, October 4, 2022 until nightfall on Wednesday, October 5, 2022
- Sunday, September 24, 2023 until nightfall on Monday, September 25, 2023
Christmas
- Friday, December 25, 2020
- Saturday, December 25, 2021
- Sunday, December 25, 2022
- Monday, December 25, 2023
Kwanzaa
- Thursday, December 26, 2019 until Wednesday, January 1, 2020
- Saturday, December 26, 2020 until Friday, January 1, 2021
- Sunday, December 26, 2022 until Saturday, January 1, 2022
- Monday, December 26, 2023 until Sunday, January 1, 2023
Ramadan (dates may vary based on the lunar calendar)
- Monday, April 12 until Tuesday, May 11, 2021
- Saturday, April 22 until Sunday, May 1, 2022
- Wednesday, March 22 until Thursday, April 20, 2023
Eid al-Fitr (dates may vary based on the lunar calendar)
- Wednesday, May 12 until Thursday, May 13, 2021
- Monday, May 2 until Tuesday, May 3, 2022
- Friday, April 21 until Saturday, April 22, 2023
Eid al-Adha (dates may vary based on how each family observes; the holiday lasts for about four days)
- Monday, July 19, 2021
- Saturday, July 9, 2022
- Wednesday, June 28, 2023
Ram Navami
- Wednesday, April 21, 2021
- Sunday, April 10, 2022
- Thursday, March 30, 2023
Krishna Janmashtami
- Monday, August 30, 2021
- Thursday, August 18, 2022
- Wednesday, September 6, 2023

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
- Friday, September 11, 2020
- Saturday, September 11, 2021
- Sunday, September 11, 2022
- Monday, September 11, 2023
National Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day
- Monday, December 7, 2020
- Tuesday, December 7, 2021
- Wednesday, December 7, 2022
- Thursday, December 7, 2023
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 7, 2021, in Tampa, Florida
- February 6, 2022, in Inglewood, CA
- February 5, 2023, in Glendale, AZ
Final Four During March Madness
- Saturday, April 3, 2021 and Monday, April 5, 2021 in Indianapolis, IN
- Saturday, April 2, 2022 and Monday, April 4, 2022 in New Orleans, LA
- Saturday, April 1, 20023 and Monday, April 3, 2023 in Houston, TX
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.”
- Monday, March 15, 2021
- Tuesday, March 15, 2022
- Wednesday, March 15, 2023
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.
- November 13, 2020
- August 13, 2021
- May 13, 2022
- January 13, 2023
- October 13, 2023
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: 2024
- Thursday, February 29, 2024