One of the first things you do when planning a wedding is picking out a date—or multiple date options, to avoid pigeon-holing yourself. Use our guide below to make sure you pick the right one (and once that’s done, take our Style Quiz and check out our All-In-One Wedding Planner app to get some extra help with the rest of those wedding planning duties).
Personally Significant Days
Check your own calendar for college reunions, family weddings, anniversaries or other events, like big conventions or festivals in your city (call your local chamber of commerce), and any annual occasions that involve your family or close friends.
Holiday Weekends
Holiday weekend weddings where you have Monday off from work have pros and cons. You’ve got an extra day for the festivities (and recovery!), plus you can have your wedding on a Sunday, which is often less expensive than a Saturday one. But costs of travel and hotels may be higher. And if you’re looking to marry around Valentine’s Day, be wary of your floral bill, especially if you’ve got your heart set on red roses—they’ll likely be more expensive than at any other time of the year. Likewise, reception sites often charge a higher fee for a New Year’s Eve wedding. Also, don’t forget to consider the impact of a holiday weekend on your guest list—some families have standing plans or traditions they’d prefer not to miss.
Martin Luther King Jr. Day (always a Monday)
Weekend of January 13–15, 2018
Weekend of January 19–21, 2019
Weekend of January 18–20, 2020
Presidents’ Day (always a Monday)
Weekend of February 17–19, 2018
Weekend of February 16–18, 2019
Weekend of February 15–17, 2020
Mother’s Day (always a Sunday)
Make sure your moms are okay sharing this weekend with your wedding. And ask yourself: Do you want your anniversary to fall on the same weekend as Mother’s Day if or when you become a mom?
Weekend of May 12–13, 2018
Weekend of May 11–12, 2019
Weekend of May 9–10, 2020
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Memorial Day (always a Monday)
Weekend of May 26–28, 2018
Weekend of May 25–27, 2019
Weekend of May 23–25, 2020
Father’s Day (always a Sunday)
As you would with your moms, check with your dads about doubling up on this day. And grooms, make sure you’re okay with celebrating your anniversary the same weekend as Father’s Day if you decide to have kids.
Weekend of June 16–17, 2018
Weekend of June 15–16, 2019
Weekend of June 20–21, 2020
Independence Day
Wednesday, July 4, 2018
Thursday, July 4, 2019
Saturday, July 4, 2020
Labor Day (always a Monday)
Weekend of September 1–3, 2018
Weekend of August 31–September 2, 2019
Weekend of September 5–7, 2020
Columbus Day (always a Monday)
Weekend of October 6–8, 2018
Weekend of October 12–14, 2019
Weekend of October 10–12, 2020
Halloween
Avoid it if you’re terrified that someone might actually show up in costume (and embrace it if you want them to!).
Wednesday, October 31, 2018
Thursday, October 31, 2019
Saturday, October 31, 2020
Thanksgiving (always a Thursday)
November 22, 2018
November 28, 2019
November 26, 2020
New Year’s Eve
Monday, December 31, 2018
Tuesday, December 31, 2019
Thursday, December 31, 2020
Religious and Cultural Holidays
Be mindful of religious and cultural holidays (your own and those of your guests) when planning your wedding. There may even be restrictions at your house of worship as to whether you’re allowed to marry at these times.
Palm Sunday
March 25, 2018
April 14, 2019
April 5, 2020
Easter Sunday
April 1, 2018
April 21, 2019
April 12, 2020
Passover (begins at sunset)
Friday, March 30, 2018
Friday, April 19, 2019
Wednesday, April 8, 2020
Tisha B’Av (begins at sunset)
Saturday, July 21, 2018
Saturday, August 10, 2019
Wednesday, July 29, 2020
Rosh Hashanah (begins at sunset)
Sunday, September 9, 2018 until nightfall on Tuesday, September 11, 2018
Sunday, September 29, 2019 until nightfall on Tuesday, October 1, 2019
Friday, September 18, 2020 until nightfall on Sunday, September 20, 2020
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Yom Kippur (begins at sunset)
Tuesday, September 18, 2018 until nightfall on Wednesday, September 19, 2018
Tuesday, October 8, 2019 until nightfall on Wednesday, October 9, 2019
Sunday, September 27, 2020 until nightfall on Monday, September 28, 2020
Hanukkah (begins at sunset)
Sunday, December 2, 2018 until nightfall on Monday, December 10, 2018
Sunday, December 22, 2019 until nightfall on Monday, December 30, 2019
Thursday, December 10, 2020 until nightfall on Friday, December 18, 2020
Christmas
Tuesday, December 25, 2018
Wednesday, December 25, 2019
Friday, December 25, 2020
Kwanzaa
Tuesday, December 26, 2017 until Monday, January 1, 2018
Wednesday, December 26, 2018 until Tuesday, January 1, 2019
Thursday, December 26, 2019 until Wednesday, January 1, 2020
Ramadan (dates may vary based on the lunar calendar)
Tuesday, May 15 until Thursday, June 14, 2018
Sunday, May 5 until Tuesday, June 4, 2019
Thursday, April 23 until Saturday, May 23, 2020
Eid al-Fitr (dates may vary based on the lunar calendar)
Thursday, June 14 until Friday, June 15, 2018
Tuesday, June 4 until Friday, June 7, 2019
Saturday, May 23 until Sunday, May 24, 2020
Eid al-Adha (dates may vary based on how each family observes; the holiday lasts for about four days)
Tuesday, August 21, 2018
Sunday, August 11, 2019
Thursday, July 30, 2020
Ram Navami
Monday, March 26, 2018
Sunday, April 14, 2019
Thursday, April 2, 2020
Krishna Janmashtami
Monday, September 3, 2018
Saturday, August 24, 2019
Tuesday, August 11, 2020
Days of Remembrance
We’re talking about historically significant days (like the anniversary of September 11) that may be off-limits if you come from a big military family. Or, that could make them all the more meaningful—it’s up to you to decide.
Patriot Day
Tuesday, September 11, 2018
Wednesday, September 11, 2019
Friday, September 11, 2020
National Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day
Friday, December 7, 2018
Saturday, December 7, 2019
Monday, December 7, 2020
Major Sporting Events
If you’re die-hard sports fans—or if you’re worried your guests might have a hard time choosing between your wedding and the big game—avoid getting married during popular sporting events. And if a lot of your guests come from the same alma mater, watch out for homecoming weekends and bowl games that might conflict.
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Super Bowl Sunday
February 4, 2018, in Minneapolis, MN
February 3, 2019, in Atlanta, GA
February 2, 2020, in Miami, FL
Final Four During March Madness
Saturday, March 31, 2018 and Monday, April 2, 2018, in San Antonio, TX
Saturday, April 6, 2019 and Monday, April 8, 2019, in Minneapolis, MN
Saturday, April 4, 2020 and Monday, April 6, 2020 in Atlanta, GA
Unlucky Dates
If you’re superstitious, you might want to watch out for these historically inauspicious dates from across several cultures.
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, “Beware the Ides of March” has become the mantra of this superstitiously unlucky date.
Thursday, March 15, 2018
Friday, March 15, 2019
Sunday, March 15, 2020
Friday the 13th
The unluckiest date of the year has questionable origins. Some historians say it comes from the 13 diners who were present at the last supper, but the famous Babylon’s Code of Hammurabi doesn’t include a 13th law, which suggests this superstition is as old as 1700 BC. And it wasn’t until a successful novel titled Friday, the Thirteenth was published in the early 1900s that Friday became part of the unlucky equation.
April 13, 2018
July 13, 2018
September 13, 2019
December 13, 2019
March 13, 2020
November 13, 2020
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
Next planning steps? Create a free, personalized wedding website to keep your guests informed (and excited!) about your plans, and a time-saving Guest List Manager to organize your attendees. Even better? You can sync your Guest List Manager and wedding website to update everything at once.
