Weddings are a beautiful event, always filled with happiness and love. Weddings dates can sometimes have significance, like the anniversary of a first date, or they can be chosen for convenience because the venue is available.
Some people, however, choose to get married on holidays. I mean, there's nothing saying you can't get married on a day already dedicated to something else, but it puts people in an awkward position: do we celebrate the wedding or the holiday?
USA Today polled their audience and asked their opinions on what holidays are okay to host a wedding and which ones are a taboo. These were the results.
10. DON'T: Any religious or cultural holiday
It's always important to be aware of religious and cultural holidays, especially if they're ones that your family and friends might observe. Easter, Ramadan, Passover, or any other holiday that is considered important in certain cultures should be avoided out of respect for your guests, and for the day in general.
9. DO: Columbus Day
The weekend of Columbus Day is fair game, because some people won't even have the Monday off anyways, so it's not like you're intruding on a long weekend. The weather should still be nice, but not blistering hot, so your guests will thank you for not throwing your wedding in the middle of July.
8. MIXED: New Year's Eve
You really have to read the room on this one. Some people love a New Year's Eve wedding because it means they've got a built-in party already planned. Free food and drinks? Most people are always down for that. But, others might find it a little intrusive. A lot of people have traditions they do every year on New Year's Eve, so just know that if you choose to have your wedding that day, you might get a decent number of "can't attend responses.
7. DO: President's Day
Most people are looking for an excuse to do something in February, anyway. The cold weather can make people pretty down in the dumps, so what better way to get out of that funk than getting dressed up and celebrating the love between two people? If you're somewhere that often sees bad weather in February, you should take that into account. Though the date of the wedding is fair game, it's a little unfair to ask people to drive to your wedding in the freezing rain or snow.
6. AVOID IT: Martin Luther King Jr. Day
The weekend of MLK Day is fine, but getting married on that holiday Monday isn't your best move. This is a very important day to most people, and you should allow them to attend any ceremonies honoring Dr. King without having to work around your wedding. It's important to show a little respect on days like this.
5. DO: Valentine's Day
Celebrating love is what Valentine's Day is all about! Couples watching you and your partner commit to each other will remind them of why they love one another. That being said, make sure you've got an open bar in case any of your single friends find themselves wanting to wallow.
4. DON'T: Memorial Day
A day honoring those who served and fought for our country shouldn't be the same day you exchange vows, unless you've got a really good reason, like you or your partner (or both) have served and want that to be a part of your ceremony. If that's not the case, then you're making a fairly disrespectful decision and taking away the option for your guests to attend a ceremony to pay their respects.
3. DON'T: July 4th Weekend
Let people have their long weekend. Even though it may seem like a great idea to add your wedding to a day already dedicated to partying, it's really not. If you wanted to throw a big party and somehow relate it to your wedding, like maybe a late reception of sorts, that's different. But making people get dressed up to go to a wedding in July when it's hot and humid is downright cruel.
2. DON'T: Thanksgiving
Thanksgiving is the second biggest holiday in the country, and people want to spend it with their family...not yours. Maybe if you want to have a smaller ceremony, with just your family who you'd be with anyway, then it's an okay date. But still, people are stressed enough planning dinner and all their Black Friday shopping, they don't want the stress of a wedding added on to it.
1. SERIOUSLY, DON'T DO IT: Christmas
According to USA Today's poll, not to mention Martha Stewart, Christmas is the rudest holiday to get married on. Eloping? Fine. You do you. But throwing a full wedding on the most coveted holiday in the world is just plain rude.
"Most guests would rather spend the holiday surrounded by loved ones," Stewart points out. "Brides and grooms should respect these religious and familial traditions, even if they don't celebrate Christmas themselves."
So there you have it: some holidays are fair game for your wedding, while others should just be left alone.
[H/T: USA Today, Martha Stewart]