Wedding news
LawPunjab Panel Approves Bill to Reform Christian Marriage LawIndustryEvolved Catering Baltimore Enters Fall Wedding Season With New Five Star Reviews From CouplesMass weddingsHoms Hosts Mass Wedding for Over 100 Children of Martyrs - Syria FocusMass weddingsMore than 100 sons of martyrs join mass wedding in HomsCustomsOCU holds evening of wedding rituals at seized Cherkasy cathedralDowry and giftsAndhra Pradesh High Court Quashes Dowry And Cruelty Case Against NRI In-Laws Over Lack Of Sanction And Specific Allegations – The Legal AffairLawOnline marriage registration on Diia has been expanded: who else will be able to get married via smartphoneIndustryWedding season boosts hotel demand, bookings pour into 2027Mass weddingsSC: Marriage void due to false claims of cohabitationLawOnline marriage registration to curb child marriage, polygamy: law ministerLawPunjab Panel Approves Bill to Reform Christian Marriage LawIndustryEvolved Catering Baltimore Enters Fall Wedding Season With New Five Star Reviews From CouplesMass weddingsHoms Hosts Mass Wedding for Over 100 Children of Martyrs - Syria FocusMass weddingsMore than 100 sons of martyrs join mass wedding in HomsCustomsOCU holds evening of wedding rituals at seized Cherkasy cathedralDowry and giftsAndhra Pradesh High Court Quashes Dowry And Cruelty Case Against NRI In-Laws Over Lack Of Sanction And Specific Allegations – The Legal AffairLawOnline marriage registration on Diia has been expanded: who else will be able to get married via smartphoneIndustryWedding season boosts hotel demand, bookings pour into 2027Mass weddingsSC: Marriage void due to false claims of cohabitationLawOnline marriage registration to curb child marriage, polygamy: law minister
EveryShaadi

The wedding calendar

124 wedding seasons, lucky days, days when weddings are not held, courtship festivals and days of love, with this year's dates. Dates are worked out afresh every day; those marked "about" follow the moon or local calendars and can shift by a day.

October 2026

On now, about 5 Apr to 25 Dec 2026Ghana, from Easter to DecemberGhanaian weddings and engagements cluster between Easter and December, with the knocking ceremony coming first. On now, about 1 May to 31 Oct 2026Israel, the summer wedding seasonFrom May to October: after the Omer ends and before the autumn holidays, the main run of Israeli weddings. On now, about 25 Jul to 20 Nov 2026ChaturmasThe four months from Devshayani Ekadashi to Dev Uthani Ekadashi, when Vishnu is said to sleep and weddings are not held. On now, about 30 Jul to 26 Oct 2026Vassa, the Buddhist rains retreatThree months from July to October, when monks stay in their monasteries and many Buddhist families do not marry. On now, about 1 Sept to 31 Oct 2026September and October wedding peakIn the United States and Canada, the months with the most weddings: mild weather, autumn colour and venues still open. On now, about 1 Sept to 30 Mar 2027South Africa, the spring and summer seasonFrom September to March: warm weather, lobola settled earlier, and a wedding every weekend. On now, about 1 Sept to 30 Nov 2026Harvest-time weddings in Central AsiaSeptember to November: after the harvest, families hold the large toi, the feast for the whole neighbourhood. On now, about 1 Sept to 31 Dec 2026The ber months in the PhilippinesSeptember to December: the "ber" months, the long Philippine Christmas, and the busiest time for weddings. On now, about 11 Sept to 7 Feb 2027Ethiopia, the season after the rainsFrom the new year in September until the Lent fast: the dry months when Ethiopian and Eritrean weddings are held. On now, about 15 Sept to 30 Nov 2026Japan, the autumn wedding seasonFrom mid-September to November: cool weather and autumn colour, the other great Japanese wedding season. On now, about 15 Sept to 30 Nov 2026China, the autumn wedding seasonFrom mid-September to the end of November: the National Day holiday, mild weather, and a long run of lucky dates. On now, about 23 Sept to 22 Oct 2026Mehr, the Persian autumn of weddingsThe Persian month of Mehr, from late September, is said to be the month of friendship and love and a popular time to marry. On now, about 26 Sept to 10 Oct 2026Pitru PakshaThe fortnight of the ancestors, in Bhadrapada, when Hindus make offerings to the dead and no wedding is held. On now, about 26 Sept to 10 Oct 2026Pchum BenFifteen days in September or October when Cambodians feed the spirits of their ancestors, and weddings are put off. On now, about 1 Oct to 30 Apr 2027Australia and New Zealand, the summer wedding seasonFrom October to April: warm weather in the south, with the peak in March and in the spring. about 7 Oct 2026Butsumetsu, the unlucky dayThe "Buddha's death" day of the rokuyo cycle: the one most couples in Japan avoid for a wedding. about 8 Oct 2026Taian, the luckiest dayThe "great peace" day of the six-day rokuyo cycle, chosen for weddings and sold out first. about 9 Oct 2026Son-eomneun-nal, days without evil spiritsThe days when mischievous spirits are said to be away: lunar days ending in 9 or 0, favoured for weddings and moving house. 10 Oct 202610/10, the perfect dateOctober 10: in Taiwan, Double Ten Day, a round number meaning "perfect", and a favourite date to marry. about 10 Oct 2026The Chinese almanac and lucky wedding daysEach lunar month the almanac rates every day, and the family or a fortune teller checks it before fixing the wedding. about 10 Oct 2026Ngày tốt, a good day in VietnamVietnamese families pick a ngay hoang dao, a lucky day, by the lunar calendar and the ages of the couple. 14 Oct 2026Pokrov, the autumn wedding seasonThe feast of the Protecting Veil on 14 October: in Slavic villages the harvest is in, and weddings follow. about 15 Oct to 26 Feb 2027The winter wedding season of South AsiaFrom mid-October to the end of February: the cool months when the many-day Pakistani wedding takes place. about 27 Oct to 10 Nov 2026The dark half of the monthKrishna Paksha, the waning fortnight: many priests prefer the bright half for a wedding, though not all.

November 2026

about 1 Nov to 28 Feb 2027The Gulf winter wedding seasonFrom November to March: cool evenings, school holidays and long nights for the women's party and the men's majlis. about 1 Nov to 28 Feb 2027Thailand and Cambodia, the cool-season weddingsFrom November to the end of February: after the rains and the Buddhist Lent, the months when most couples marry. about 1 Nov to 31 Mar 2027The dry season wedding months in Latin AmericaNovember to March: after the rains and the harvest, the months when Mexican and Andean villages marry. about 1 Nov 2026Rahu KalamA daily window of about ninety minutes, different on each weekday, when Hindu priests do not begin a rite. 11 Nov 2026Singles Day (11/11)The date of four ones, begun by Chinese university students for the unattached, and now a mass day of shopping and matchmaking events. 13 Nov 2026Friday the 13thA date many couples in the West avoid for a wedding, though some choose it because it is cheap. about 15 Nov to 24 Dec 2026The Nativity FastForty days from 15 November to Christmas Eve in the Orthodox Church, with no weddings. about 20 Nov 2026Dev Uthani EkadashiThe day Vishnu is said to wake from his four-month sleep, and the day the Hindu wedding season opens. about 20 Nov to 15 Dec 2026Hindu winter shaadi season (Dev Uthani to Kharmas)The first stretch of the shaadi season: from the waking of Vishnu in November until Kharmas begins in mid-December. about 20 Nov 2026Shubh Vivah muhuratThe auspicious time a priest picks from the almanac, by the stars of the bride and groom, for the wedding or the main rite. about 20 Nov 2026Dev Uthani EkadashiThe day Vishnu wakes from his four-month sleep, when the Hindu wedding season reopens after Chaturmas. about 21 Nov 2026Mass Weddings (Pakistan and India)Welfare trusts and local committees hold group nikahs for brides who could not afford a wedding, often with a dowry set of household goods. about 21 Nov 2026Tulsi VivahThe ritual wedding of the tulsi plant to Vishnu or Shaligram, held after Dev Uthani and opening the wedding season. 22 Nov 2026Ii Fufu no Hi (Good Couple Day)Japan's 22 November, a pun on ii fufu, "good couple", when many pairs register their marriage. about 25 Nov to 6 Jan 2027The Coptic Advent fastThe forty-three days before Coptic Christmas on 7 January: Copts do not marry in the fast. about 25 to 28 Nov 2026Hmong New Year Ball Toss (Pov Pob)Young Hmong men and women toss a cloth ball back and forth in two lines at the harvest new year, a gentle form of courtship. about 29 Nov to 23 Dec 2026AdventThe weeks before Christmas, once a closed season for Catholic weddings and still a quiet one in many parishes.

February 2027

7 to 9 Feb 2027Shrovetide, the old Irish wedding timeThe days before Lent, when matches were made and rural Irish weddings were crowded in before the fast. about 8 Feb to 9 Mar 2027RamadanThe month of fasting: the wedding feast is put off until after Eid, since days are for the fast and nights for prayer. about 10 Feb to 27 Mar 2027LentThe forty days before Easter, when many Catholic and Anglican families put a wedding off, though the Church does not forbid it. about 11 Feb 2027Vasant Panchami as a wedding dateThe fifth day of spring, one of the few dates families treat as clean for a wedding without checking the panchang. 14 Feb 2027Valentine's DayThe day of cards, roses and proposals, and one of the most chosen dates for engagements and weddings. 14 Feb 2027Valentine's Day Mass Weddings (Philippines)City halls in Manila and other cities marry hundreds of couples at once on 14 February, with the licence cost often waived. about 14 Feb 2027Blessing Ceremonies (Unification Church)Large group "Blessing" ceremonies of the Unification Church, famous for the mass weddings of the 1980s and 1990s in Seoul. 14 Feb 2027World Marriage DayObserved on the second Sunday of February by Catholic and other Christian communities, with renewal of vows. 14 Feb 2027Valentine's Day Registry WeddingsRegistry offices and chapels schedule extra weddings on 14 February, from Las Vegas to Shenzhen. 21 Feb 2027Lantern Festival and Chap Goh MeiThe 15th night of the new year, once a rare evening when young women could walk out and meet suitors under the lanterns. 22 Feb 20272/22 and other repeated datesDates like 2/22/22, 6/6, 7/7 and 8/8 are chosen for their pattern, easy to remember on every anniversary.

May 2027

1 to 31 May 2027May, the month of brides in BrazilIn Brazil May is "the month of brides", the month of Mary, and a traditional time for the church wedding. 1 to 31 May 2027May, the unlucky monthIn Greece, Italy, Spain and Britain, an old belief that a wedding in May is unlucky. 2 to 8 May 2027Bright WeekThe week after Orthodox Easter: a week of feasting in which, by custom, the church does not marry. about 3 May 2027Khau Vai Love MarketThe 27th day of the third lunar month, when Hmong, Tay, Nung and other highlanders in Ha Giang meet old loves. 9 May 2027Krasnaya Gorka, the first wedding SundayThe Sunday after Orthodox Easter: after the Lent and Holy Week, the day when weddings begin again in the Slavic countries. about 9 May 2027Akshaya Tritiya Mass WeddingsThe "never-ending" third day of Vaishakha, so auspicious that no muhurat is needed, and the busiest day for community mass weddings. about 15 May to 1 Oct 2027Turkey, the summer wedding seasonFrom mid-May to September: outdoor halls, garden weddings and the dugun in a village square. about 18 May to 4 Jun 2027After Hajj and Eid al-AdhaThe days after the pilgrimage and the Eid of the Sacrifice, when the Gulf and North Africa hold many weddings. 20 May 2027520, "I love you" dayMay 20: in Mandarin, 5-2-0 sounds like "I love you", so registry offices open early and fill with couples. 20 May 2027520 (I Love You Day)In Mandarin 5-2-0 sounds like "I love you", so 20 May is a day for proposals, red packets and registering marriages. 22 May 2027Marriage Equality, Ireland (22 May 2015)Ireland became the first country to adopt same-sex marriage by popular vote, on 22 May 2015. 24 May 2027Marriage Equality, Taiwan (24 May 2019)The day Taiwan became the first place in Asia to register same-sex marriages, after a Constitutional Court ruling in 2017. 25 May 2027Lag BaOmer, weddings resumeThe 33rd day of the Omer, when the mourning period lifts for many Jewish communities and weddings are held again.

June 2027

1 to 30 Jun 2027June, the Western wedding monthThe classic month for a wedding in Europe and North America, named for Juno, the Roman goddess of marriage. 1 to 30 Jun 2027June, the Wedding MonthJune is the classic month for weddings in the English-speaking world, often linked to the Roman goddess Juno. about 6 Jun to 5 Jul 2027MuharramThe first month of the Islamic year and the days of mourning for Husayn: many Shia and some Sunni families do not marry. about 6 Jun to 5 Jul 2027Suro, the Javanese month of cautionThe Javanese month of Suro, from the Islamic new year: a month of quiet in which many Javanese do not hold weddings. 12 Jun 2027Dia dos Namorados (Brazil)Brazil's lovers' day on 12 June, the eve of St Anthony, the saint who is asked to find a husband. 12 Jun 2027Loving DayThe anniversary of Loving v. Virginia in 1967, when the US Supreme Court struck down bans on interracial marriage. about 15 Jun to 12 Sept 2027Egypt, the summer wedding seasonFrom mid-June to September: schools are closed, families abroad are home, and Cairo has a wedding on every street. 23 to 24 Jun 2027Kupala Night (Ivan Kupala)Midsummer night in Slavic lands, when girls float flower wreaths and couples jump bonfires to see who will marry. 26 Jun 2027Marriage Equality, United States (26 June 2015)The date of Obergefell v. Hodges, when the Supreme Court ruled that same-sex couples have a constitutional right to marry. about 28 Jun to 18 Jul 2027The Apostles' FastFrom the Monday after All Saints until 28 June: a movable fast in which Orthodox weddings are not held.

Photo credits on this page

The small pictures above come from Wikimedia Commons under free licences. Some are cropped to fit.

The weekly EveryShaadi

Every week: one wedding tradition from somewhere new, the wedding days coming up around the world, and one idea explained.