Wedding Dates To Avoid In 2023 & 2024
Each year I run through the coming year to provide couples with some info on what dates to avoid for different reasons. With a global pandemic still around, but our lifestyles pretty much back to normal, picking a wedding date has just about returned to normal. But it’s always a good plan to work ahead as far ahead as possible with your wedding date so that you can lock in your major vendors that are your “must haves” like venue, celebrant and photographer.
So if you are engaged and plan to marry sometime in the next 24 months, it's time to start looking at wedding dates and if you are, here are some to avoid in 2023 & 2024. This year I’ve added in all the full moons for 2023 and 2024 as these are quite often the occasions that people can go a bit batty, so keep that in mind when choosing your day.
Important Family Days
First thing to think about is important family dates. To avoid any family politics, you may want to check your personal diary for milestone birthdays, upcoming weddings of family members or friends, big anniversaries and any other significant days involving your family or close circle of friends.
Locally Significant Days
It’s also worth noting things that are being planned in your local area, or the area you’re planning on getting married in. Is there an annual festival that might be worth avoiding? If you’re unsure and want to be on the safe side, contact the local council – they should be able to notify you of anything within the local area that is big enough to cause disruption to your wedding plans.
Aussie Public Holiday Dates
Some couples will aim to hold their wedding on a public holiday, for example, the October long weekend is right in the middle of "wedding season" in Australia and keep in mind that the "long weekend" is also on different weekends in different states. Also keep in mind that long weekends can come at a cost, with increased pricing and demand for the top locations. Sometimes airfares even book out and even increase for those periods.
So here’s some dates to watch out for. I’m not saying you shouldn’t choose them, but just be aware of what else is happening on the same day.
January 2023
Saturday Dec 31st - Monday Jan 2nd - New Years Day Long Weekend
Monday 2nd - New Year’s Day
Friday 6th - Full Moon
Sunday 22nd - Lunar New Year (Year Of The Rabbit)
Thursday 26th - Australia Day (long weekend everywhere + Skyworks in Perth)
February 2023
Sunday 5th - Full Moon
Tuesday 14th - Valentines Day
Thursday 23rd - special date 23.02.2023 (easy date to remember)
March 2023
Thursday 2nd - special date 2.3.23 (bookings will be hard to get)
Saturday 4th - Monday 6th - Labor Day Long Weekend (WA only)
Tuesday 7th - Full Moon
Saturday 11th - Monday 13th - Long Weekend (SA, ACT, TAS, VIC)
Wednesday 15th - The Ides Of March is considered unlucky to get married
Friday 17th - St Patrick’s Day
Thursday 23rd - special date 23.3.23
April 2023
Saturday 1st - April Fools Day
Thursday 6th - Full Moon
Friday 7th - Monday 10th - Easter
Tuesday 25th - Anzac Day
May 2023
Saturday Apr 29 - Monday 1st - Long Weekend (QLD & NT)
Friday 5th - Full Moon
Sunday 7th - Mother's Day
June 2023
Saturday 3rd - Monday 5th - WA Day Long Weekend (WA only)
Sunday 4th - Full Moon
Monday 13th - Long Weekend (ACT, NSW, NT, SA, TAS, VIC)
July 2023
Monday 3rd - Full Moon
August 2023
Tuesday 1at - Full Moon
Saturday 5th - Monday 7th - Public Holiday (NSW & NT)
Thursday 31st - Full Moon
September 2023
AFL Finals
Sunday 10th - Father’s Day (Australia)
Saturday 23rd - Monday 25th - Kings Birthday Long Weekend (WA only + Public Holiday in NT)
Friday 29th - Full Moon
Saturday 30th - AFL Grand Final
October 2023
Sunday 1st - ARL Grand Final
Monday 2nd - Public Holiday (ACT, NSW, SA & QLD)
Friday 13th - unlucky for some (the only Fri 13th this year)
Saturday 28th - Full Moon
November 2023
Monday 6th - Public holiday (TAS)
Tuesday 7th - Melbourne Cup Day (holiday in VIC ONLY)
Saturday 11th - Remembrance Day (11am)
Monday 27th - Full Moon
December 2023
Thursday 7th - Hanukkah (begins at sunset until nightfall on Friday, December 15)
Saturday 23rd - Long Weekend
Sunday 24th - Long Weekend
Monday 25th - Christmas Day
Tuesday 26th - Boxing Day & Full Moon
Sunday 31st - New Year’s Eve / Long Weekend
January 2024
Saturday Dec 30th - Monday Jan 1 - New Years Day Long Weekend
Monday 1st - New Year’s Day / Long Weekend
Friday 26th - Australia Day (long weekend everywhere + Skyworks in Perth) + Full Moon
February 2024
Sunday 4th - special date 4.2.24 (bookings might be hard to get)
Saturday 10th - Lunar New Year (Year Of The Wood Dragon)
Wednesday 14th - Valentines Day
Saturday 24th - Full Moon
March 2024
Saturday 2nd - Monday 4th - Long Weekend - Labor Day (WA only)
Saturday 9th - Monday 11th - Long Weekend (SA, ACT, TAS, VIC)
Wednesday 15th - The Ides Of March is considered unlucky to get married
Friday 17th - St Patrick’s Day
Monday 25th - Full Moon
Friday 29th - Good Friday
Friday 29th - Monday April 1 - Easter Long Weekend
April 2024
Monday 1st - April Fools Day + last day of long weekend
Tuesday 2nd - special date 2.4.24 (bookings might be hard to get)
Tuesday 2nd - continued long weekend (TAS).
Wednesday 24th - special date 24.4.24 + Full Moon
Thursday 25th - Anzac Day
May 2024
Saturday 4th - Monday 6th - Long Weekend (QLD & NT)
Sunday 5th - Mother's Day
Thursday 23rd - Full Moon
Saturday 25 - Monday 27th - Long weekend (ACT)
June 2024
Saturday 1st - Monday 3rd - Long Weekend (WA only)
Saturday 8th - Monday 10th - King’s Birthday Long Weekend (ACT, NSW, NT, SA, TAS, VIC)
Saturday 22nd - Full Moon
July 2024
Sunday 21st - Full Moon
August 2024
Saturday 3rd - Monday 5th - Public Holiday (NSW & NT)
Tuesday 20th - Full Moon
September 2024
AFL Finals
Sunday 8th - Father’s Day
Friday 13th - unlucky for some (1 of 2 this year)
Wednesday 18th - Full Moon
Saturday 21st - Monday 23rd - King’s Birthday Long Weekend (WA only + Public Holiday in NT)
Saturday 28th - AFL Grand Final (tbc)
October 2024
Sunday 6th - ARL Grand Final (tbc)
Saturday 5th - Monday 7th - King’s B/day / Labor Day Long Weekend (ACT, NSW, SA & QLD)
Thursday 17th - Full Moon
November 2024
Saturday 2nd - Monday 4th - Recreation Day Long Weekend (TAS)
Tuesday 5th - Melbourne Cup Day (public holiday in VIC ONLY)
Monday 11th - Remembrance Day (11am)
Saturday 16th - Full Moon
December 2024
Thursday 12th - special date - 12.12.24
Friday 13th - unlucky for some (1 of 2 this year)
Sunday 15th - Full Moon
Wednesday 25th - Hanukkah (begins at sunset until nightfall on Thursday January 2, 2025)
Wednesday 25th - Christmas Day
Thursday 26th - Boxing Day (Proclamation Day in SA)
Tuesday 31st - New Year’s Eve / Long Weekend
So there you have it. A bunch of dates that you may wish to avoid, although with the moving feast of Covid, be prepared to compromise on what you can get. Good luck and book the celebrant, venue and photographer you want early to make sure you can lock them in.
If you see any that I have missed, let me know.
Steve Mummery is a celebrant based in Perth
You can find him online at smcelebrant.com.au or facebook at smcelebrant, Instagram @smcelebrant or you can find lots of wedding inspiration on his Pinterest page @smcelebrant including wedding & engagement rings, dresses, shoes, groom's attire, flowers, arbours, the lot.
Call Steve to chat about your wedding ceremony today on 0418 897 215 or email steve@smcelebrant.com.au