© 2012, Terry Mercer
Know ahead of time if your wedding date falls on the same day as a trade conference, charity walk, national holiday, or some local event that could affect traffic and hotel room availability. This is particularly important for 'prime times' - and weekend dates.
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. It's also probably pretty important to try to avoid getting married on the anniversary of an important family members death. (Food for thought).
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 would be. And, if not in a church, more likely to get an open venue. However, costs of travel and hotels may be higher, especially on Friday & Saturday nights. 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; and some holidays have incredibly busy highways and airports.
NEW YEAR's - Reception sites often charge a higher fee for a New Year's Eve wedding. And some venues have pre-scheduled parties & events. Double check before you commit to a particular date.
Martin Luther King Jr. Day (always a Monday)
Weekend of January 18-20, 2014
Weekend of January 17-19, 2015
February 14th - 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. Also, restaurants are likely to be busier...
Presidents' Day (always a Monday)
Weekend of February 15-17, 2014
Weekend of February 14-16, 2015
February 29th - Leap Years - (any year the sum of the digits is evenly divided by 4, 2016 & 2020 are the next ones). The 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. Some people only want to celebrate their anniversary really big every 4 years. It's all perspective.
APRIL 1st - (aka 'April Fools Day') seriously, unless you are both jokers... and want your guests joking, this is usually a date to avoid.
Mother's Day (always a Sunday) - Make sure your moms are okay sharing this weekend with your wedding. And ask yourself, do you really want your anniversary to fall the same weekend as Mother's Day when you become a mom?
Weekend of May 11-12, 2013
Weekend of May 10-11, 2014
Weekend of May 9-10, 2015
Memorial Day (always a Monday) - rural & tourist areas are more likely to be slammed busy. Be aware, and plan accordingly.
Weekend of May 25-27, 2013
Weekend of May 24-26, 2014
Weekend of May 23-25, 2015
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 15-16, 2013
Weekend of June 14-15, 2014
Weekend of June 20-21, 2015
Independence Day - LET THERE BE FIREWORKS... and consider all that happens on that day where you are planning to get married. Will any of your guests care?
Thursday, July 4, 2013
Friday, July 4, 2014
Saturday, July 4, 2015
Labor Day (always a Monday) - rural & tourist areas are more likely to be slammed busy. Be aware, and plan accordingly.
Weekend of August 31-September 2, 2013
Weekend of August 30-September 1, 2014
Weekend of September 5-7, 2015
Numerically Quirky Dates (can be 'cool' and fun... and more easy to remember)
11/12/13 falls on a Tuesday
4/10/2014 (a palindrome) falls on a Thursday
12/13/14 falls on a Saturday
5/5/15 falls on a Tuesday
5/10/15 falls on a Sunday
5/15/15 falls on a Friday
Columbus Day (always a Monday)
Weekend of October 12-14, 2013
Weekend of October 11-13, 2014
Weekend of October 10-12, 2015
Halloween - Avoid it if you're terrified that someone might actually show up in costume (and embrace it if you want them to!).
Thursday, October 31, 2013
Friday, October 31, 2014
Saturday, October 31, 2015
Thanksgiving (always a Thursday) - HOW will this effect your future romance? Future family get together's? And the busier roads, airports, and such?? Don't forget, weather could be a problem.
November 28, 2013
November 27, 2014
November 26, 2015
New Year's Eve
Tuesday, December 31, 2013
Wednesday, December 31, 2014
Thursday, December 31, 2015
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 24, 2013
April 13, 2014
March 29, 2015
Easter Sunday
March 31, 2013
April 20, 2014
April 5, 2015
Passover (begins at sunset the night before)
Tuesday, March 26, 2013
Tuesday, April 15, 2014
Saturday, April 4, 2015
Tisha B'Av (begins at sunset the night before)
Tuesday, July 16, 2013
Tuesday, August 5, 2014
Sunday, July 26, 2015
Rosh Hashanah (begins at sunset the night before)
Thursday, September 5, 2013, until nightfall on Friday, September 6, 2013
Thursday, September 25, 2014, until nightfall on Friday, September 26, 2014
Monday, September 14, 2015, until nightfall on Tuesday, September 15, 2015
Yom Kippur (begins at sunset the night before)
Saturday, September 14, 2013
Saturday, October 4, 2014
Wednesday, September 23, 2015
Hanukkah (begins at sunset)
Thursday, November 28, 2013, until nightfall on Thursday, December 5, 2013
Wednesday, December 17, 2014, until nightfall on Wednesday, December 24, 2014
Monday, December 7, 2015, until nightfall on Monday, December 14, 2015
Christmas
Wednesday, December 25, 2013
Thursday, December 25, 2014
Friday, December 25, 2015
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
Wednesday, September 11, 2013
Thursday, September 11, 2014
Friday, September 11, 2015
National Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day
Saturday, December 7, 2013
Sunday, December 7, 2014
Monday, December 7, 2015
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 2, 2014, in East Rutherford, NJ
February 1, 2015, in Glendale, AZ
Final Four and March Madness
Saturday, April 6, 2013, and Monday, April 8, 2013, in Atlanta
Saturday, April 5, 2014, and Monday, April 7, 2014, in Arlington, TX
Saturday, April 4, 2015, and Monday, April 6, 2015, in Indianapolis
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.
Friday, March 15, 2013
Saturday, March 15, 2014
Sunday, March 15, 2015
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 Code of Hammurabi doesn't include a 13th law, which suggests this superstition is as many as 3 millennia old. 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.
September 13, 2013
December 13, 2013
June 13, 2014
February 13, 2015
March 13, 2015
November 13, 2015
If there are any vital or important dates that I've missed or forgotten for the United States of America... PLEASE LET ME KNOW.
Thanks,
Terry Mercer
PS. The preceding information is edited and amended from - but the dates & layout are from Justine Lorelle Blanchard, in her article written for for "The KNOT" - http://wedding.theknot.com/wedding-planning/wedding-budget/articles/wedding-dates-to-avoid.aspx