18 Feb Wedding Dates to Avoid in 2016, 2017 and 2018
Trying to find the perfect date to get married? Or maybe taking the opposite approach – what dates should you avoid altogether? An article published recently on the knot and written by Justine Lorelle Blanchardheck takes all the effort out of this second question and provides a list of dates you might want to steer clear (2016, 2017 and 2018) of when booking your wedding.
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 have pros and cons. You’ve got an extra day for the festivities (and recovery!); plus, a Sunday wedding 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 consider the impact of a holiday weekend on your guest list: Some families have standing plans or traditions that they’d prefer not to miss.
Martin Luther King Jr. Day (always a Monday)
Weekend of January 16-18, 2016
Weekend of January 14-16, 2017
Weekend of January 13-15, 2018
Presidents’ Day (always a Monday)
Weekend of February 13-15, 2016
Weekend of February 18-20, 2017
Weekend of February 17-19, 2018
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 when (or if) you become a mom?
Weekend of May 7-8, 2016
Weekend of May 13-14, 2017
Weekend of May 12-13, 2018
Memorial Day (always a Monday)
Weekend of May 28-30, 2016
Weekend of May 27-29, 2017
Weekend of May 26-28, 2018
Father’s Day (always a Sunday)
Like 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 18-19, 2016
Weekend of June 17-18, 2017
Weekend of June 16-17, 2018
Independence Day
Monday, July 4, 2016
Tuesday, July 4, 2017
Wednesday, July 4, 2018
Labor Day (always a Monday)
Weekend of September 3-5, 2016
Weekend of September 2-4, 2017
Weekend of September 1-3, 2018
Columbus Day (always a Monday)
Weekend of October 8-10, 2016
Weekend of October 7-9, 2017
Weekend of October 6-8, 2018
Halloween
Avoid it if you’re terrified that someone might actually show up in costume (and embrace it if you want them to!).
Monday, October 31, 2016
Tuesday, October 31, 2017
Wednesday, October 31, 2018
Thanksgiving (always a Thursday)
November 24, 2016
November 23, 2017
November 22, 2018
New Year’s Eve
Saturday, December 31, 2016
Sunday, December 31, 2017
Monday, December 31, 2018
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 20, 2016
April 9, 2017
March 25, 2018
Easter Sunday
March 27, 2016
April 16, 2017
April 1, 2018
Passover (begins at sunset)
Friday, April 22, 2016
Monday, April 10, 2017
Friday, March 30, 2018
Tisha B’Av (begins at sunset)
Saturday, August 13, 2016
Monday, July 31, 2017
Saturday, July 21, 2018
Rosh Hashanah (begins at sunset)
Sunday, October 2, 2016, until nightfall on Tuesday, October 4, 2016
Wednesday, September 20, 2017 until nightfall on Friday September 22, 2017
Sunday, September 9, 2018 until nightfall on Tuesday September 11, 2018
Yom Kippur (begins at sunset)
Tuesday, October 11, 2016 until nightfall on Wednesday, October 12, 2016
Friday, September 29, 2017 until nightfall on Saturday, September 30, 2017
Tuesday, September 18, 2018 until nightfall on Wednesday, September 19, 2018
Hanukkah (begins at sunset)
Saturday, December 24, 2016 until nightfall on Sunday, January 1, 2017
Tuesday, December 12, 2017 until nightfall on Wednesday, December 20, 2017
Sunday December 2, 2018 until nightfall on Monday, December 10, 2018
Christmas
Sunday, December 25, 2016
Monday, December 25, 2017
Tuesday, December 25, 2018
Kwanzaa
Monday, December 26, 2016 until Sunday, January 1, 2017
Tuesday, December 26, 2017, until Monday, January 1, 2018
Wednesday, December 26, 2018, until Tuesday, January 1, 2019
Eid al-Fitr (dates may vary based on the lunar calendar)
Tuesday, July 5, until Wednesday, July 6, 2016
Saturday, June 24, until Sunday, June 25, 2017
Thursday, June 14, until Friday June 15, 2018
Eid al-Adha (dates may vary based on how each family observes; the holiday lasts for about four days)
Monday, September 12 , 2016
Friday, September 1, 2017
Tuesday, August 21, 2018
Ram Navami
Friday, April 15, 2016
Wednesday, April 5, 2017
Monday, March 26, 2018
Krishna Janmashtami
Thursday, August 25, 2016
Tuesday, August 15, 2017
Monday, September 3, 2018
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
Sunday, September 11, 2016
Monday, September 11, 2017
Tuesday, September 11, 2018
National Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day
Wednesday, December 7, 2016
Thursday, December 7, 2017
Friday, December 7, 2018
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.
Super Bowl Sunday
February 7, 2016, in Santa Clara, CA
February 5, 2017, in Houston, TX
February 4, 2018, in Minneapolis, MN
Final Four During March Madness
Saturday, April 2, 2016, and Monday, April 4, 2016, in Houston, TX
Saturday, April 1, 2017 and Monday, April 3, 2017, in Glendale, AZ
Saturday, March 31, 2018 and Monday, April 2, 2018, in San Antonio, TX
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 B.C. Since then, “Beware the Ides of March” has become the mantra of this superstitiously unlucky date.
Tuesday, March 15, 2016
Wednesday, March 15, 2017
Thursday, March 15, 2018
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.
May 13, 2016
January 13, 2017
October 13, 2017
April 13, 2018
July 13, 2018
Leap Years Greeks and Romans thought that starting any new life event— from getting married to baptizing a child— in a leap year would bring bad luck.
Next Leap Year: 2016
Monday, February 29, 2016
Following Leap Year: 2020
Saturday, February 29, 2020