wedding tips

Best Wedding Dates and Dates To Avoid In 2023 and 2024

Whether you are in current planning mode for a 2023 wedding or you’re planning a bit further ahead into 2024, we’ve compiled a list of the best wedding dates for you and your guests.

As soon as you have found the perfect wedding date for you and your love, the vision you have for your big day can start to become a reality.

This is when the real fun begins, when you begin to start choosing your wedding color scheme or when you will find that fairytale wedding venue where you two will share your first kiss as a married couple, and the dreamy floral arrangements that will enhance your wedding day experience.

From palindrome dates to new moons, you will find an abundance of the best or most common wedding dates to support you in making your dream wedding a reality.

CONTENTS

New Moons
Palindrome Dates
US Holidays
Other Major Holidays
Auspicious Wedding Dates
Most Sought After Wedding Dates
US National Calendar Days
And Religious Holidays To Avoid

New Moon Wedding Dates 2023
The new Moon is commonly known as a time to initiate beginnings. When the new Moon occurs, it not only begins a new cycle, but also ends the phase that came before. It’s truly a time for you and your partner to connect on the future you will share together as one, Creating a new beginning. Your past will either support this NEW beginning or will be left behind as you redefine the next chapters of your life together.

In 2023 there will be 12 new moons. Here is a quick list of the 2023 new moon dates based on the information provided by NASA:

January 21, 2023 3:53 PM ET or 8:53 PM UTC
February 20, 2023 2:06 AM ET or 7:06 AM UTC
March 21, 2023 1:23 PM ET or 6:23 PM UTC
April 20, 2023 12:12 AM ET or 5:12 AM UTC
May 19, 2023 11:53 AM ET or 4:53 PM UTC
June 18, 2023 12:37 AM ET or 5:37 AM UTC
July 17, 2023 2:32 PM ET or 7:32 PM UTC
August 16, 2023 5:38 AM ET or 10:38 AM UTC
September 14, 2023 9:40 PM ET or September 15, 2023 2:40 AM UTC
October 14, 2023 1:55 PM ET or 6:55 PM UTC
November 13, 2023 4:27 ET AM or 9:27 AM UTC
Tuesday December 12, 2023 6:32 PM ET or 11:32 PM UTC

It’s a Numbers Game in Las Vegas…
The years 2023 through 2025 also have palindrome dates, which repeat themselves both backwards and forwards:

If you’re into symbolic meaning and palindromes we’ve got the list for you!

10-01-2022 (Saturday)

10-22-2022 (Saturday)
11-11-2022 (Friday)
3-20-2023 (Monday)
3-23-23 (Thursday)
4-20-2024 (Saturday)
4-24-24 (Wednesday)
5-20-25 (Tuesday)

US HOLIDAYS
As a Las Vegas destination wedding location company, it makes sense for us to share US specific holiday dates.

holidays Christmas illustration

Though it’s not recommended to have your wedding on an actual holiday (due to various reasons like family and friends being unavailable to attend), it’s a good idea for it to fall on the day before or the day after a big holiday. Because most of your guests will have extra days off work to attend.

Three day weekends are some of the best days to get married such as, Labor Day Weekend or Memorial Day Weekend, because your friends and family will most likely have Monday off to recuperate.

Let’s take a look at the most advantageous holidays you can be planning your wedding around during 2023 to 2025.

2023

Martin Luther King Day – Monday, January 16, 2023
President’s Day – Monday, February 20, 2023
Memorial Day – Monday, May 29, 2023
Labor Day – Monday, September 4, 2023
Columbus Day – Monday, October 9, 2023

2024

Martin Luther King Day – Monday, January 15, 2024
President’s Day – Monday, February 19, 2024
Memorial Day – Monday, May 27, 2024
Labor Day – Monday, September 2, 2024
Columbus Day – Monday, October 14, 2024

2025

Martin Luther King Day – Monday, January 20, 2025
President’s Day – Monday, February 17, 2025
Memorial Day – Monday, May 26, 2025
Labor Day – Monday, September 1, 2025
Columbus Day – Monday, October 13, 2025

Other Major Holidays

2023

New Year’s Day – Sunday, January 1, 2023
Valentine’s Day – Tuesday, February 14, 2023
St. Patrick’s Day – Friday, March 17, 2023
Independence Day – Tuesday, July 4, 2023
Halloween– Tuesday, October 31, 2023
Thanksgiving – Thursday, November 23, 2023
Christmas – Monday, December 25, 2023

2024

New Year’s Day – Monday, January 1, 2024
Valentine’s Day – Wednesday, February 14, 2024
St. Patrick’s Day – Sunday, March 17, 2024
Independence Day – Thursday, July 4, 2024
Halloween– Thursday, October 31, 2024
Thanksgiving – Thursday November 28, 2024
Christmas – Wednesday, December 25, 2024

2025

New Year’s Day – Wednesday, January 1, 2025
Valentine’s Day – Friday, February 14, 2025
St. Patrick’s Day – Monday, March 17, 2025
Independence Day – Friday, July 4, 2025
Halloween– Friday, October 31, 2025
Thanksgiving – Thursday November 27, 2025
Christmas – Thursday, December 25, 2025

If you’re a sports fan you might want to plan your wedding around the non-official holiday of the Super Bowl!

February 12, 2023
February 4, 2024
February 9, 2025

Lucky Wedding Dates

Lucky dates observed in eastern ancient Chinese and Hindu traditions are dates when nothing is inauspicious, everything is in balance and these are some of the luckiest dates to join as one.

These lucky or “promising” wedding dates are different for every couple throughout every year, and finding your auspicious dates for 2023 through 2025 is simple.

In Chinese culture the number eight symbolizes success and prosperity. The ideal date for a wedding around this philosophy is August 8th, 2023-2025. (08-08-23, 08-08-24, 08-08-25)

The double eight is said to be extremely lucky for a couple’s first day as life-long partners!

I Feel So Lucky

And for our math inspired lovers, we’ve listed a bunch of dates that equal the years 2023, and 2024 (aka ’23, ‘24, ‘25.)

Thursday, 5-18-23 – 5+18 = 23
Saturday, 6-17-23 – 6+17 = 23
Monday, 12-2-24 – 12 x 2 = 24
Thursday, 12-12-24 – 12+12= 24
Monday, 5-5-25 – 5 x 5 = 25
Wednesday, 10-15-25 – 10 + 15 = 25

SOME OF THE MOST SOUGHT AFTER DATES IN 2023:

Friday, March 3, 2023
Thursday, March 23, 2023
Saturday, September 9, 2023
Friday, October 20, 2023

US NATIONAL DAYS 2023-2024

2023

Cuddle Up Day – Friday, January 6, 2023
Hugging Day – Saturday, January 21, 2023
Spouses Day – Thursday, January 26, 2023
Drink Wine Day – Saturday, February 18, 2023
Margarita Day – Wednesday, February 22, 2023
Earth Day – Saturday, April 22, 2023
Renewal Day – Thursday, May 4, 2023
Best Friends Day – Thursday, June 8, 2023
Red Rose Day – Sunday, June 12, 2023
Coming Out Day – Wednesday, October 11, 2023
Sweetest Day – Monday, October 16, 2023

2024

Cuddle Up Day – Saturday, January 6, 2024
Hugging Day – Sunday, January 21, 2024
Spouses Day – Friday, January 26, 2024
Drink Wine Day – Sunday, February 18, 2024
Margarita Day – Thursday, February 22, 2024
Earth Day – Monday, April 22, 2024
Renewal Day – Saturday, May 4, 2024
Best Friends Day – Saturday, June 8, 2024
Red Rose Day – Tuesday, June 12, 2024
Coming Out Day – Friday, October 11, 2024
Sweetest Day – Wednesday, October 16, 2024

RELIGIOUS HOLIDAYS TO AVOID

It’s best to avoid having your ceremony on any religious holiday since they are sacred to people and you don’t want to risk alienating them and having them miss your special day.

Here’s a list of important religious holidays in 2023-2024:

2023

Palm Sunday – Sunday, April 2, 2023
Easter Sunday – Sunday, April 9, 2023
Passover – Wednesday, April 5, 2023
Tisha B’Av – Wednesday, July 26, 2023
Rosh Hashanah – Friday, September 15 – Sunday, September 17, 2023
Yom Kippur – Sunday, September 24 – Monday, September 25, 2023
Hanukkah – Thursday, December 7 – Friday, December 15, 2023
Kwanzaa – Tuesday, December 26, 2023 – Monday, January 1, 2024
Ramadan – Wednesday, March 22 – Friday, April 21, 2023
Eid al-Fitr – Friday, April 21 – Saturday, April 22, 2023
Eid al-Adha – Wednesday, June 28 – Sunday, July 2, 2023
Ram Navami – Thursday, March 30, 2023
Krishna Janmashtami – Wednesday, September 6 – Thursday, September 7, 2023

2024

Palm Sunday – Sunday, March 24, 2024

Easter Sunday – Sunday, March 31, 2024

Passover – Monday, April 22, 2024

Tisha B’Av – Monday, August 12, 2024

Rosh Hashanah – Wednesday, October 2 – Friday, October 4, 2024.

Yom Kippur – Friday, October 11 – Saturday, October 12, 2024

Hanukkah – Wednesday, December 25, 2024 – Thursday, January 2, 2025

Kwanzaa – Thursday, December 26, 2024 – Wednesday, January 1, 2025

Ramadan – Sunday, March 10 – Tuesday, April 9, 2024

Eid al-Fitr – Tuesday, April 9 – Wednesday, April 10, 2024

Eid al-Adha – Sunday, June 16 – Monday, June 17, 2024

Ram Navami – Wednesday, April 17, 2024

Krishna Janmashtami – Monday, August 26, 2024

If you’re still trying to pick a wedding date, this gives you a great place to start. No matter the day you choose, it will become your day, so simply go by what feels right to you.

Whatever you choose, make sure you contact us as soon as possible to lock your preferred date in for your all inclusive Las Vegas Wedding, especially if it falls on one of these most popular wedding dates. Couples are planning further ahead these days into 2024 and beyond, so sitting on the decision might mean missing out on your first pick!

We can’t wait to work with you in creating the day of your dreams!

Top 5 Things You Must Know Before Planning A Wedding

Congratulations on your engagement from all of us at Chapel of the Flowers!!!

warrior queen

This is such an exciting time and there are so many things to start thinking about while you plan this once in a lifetime event.

But, before you run off to the races, and begin looking for that perfect venue, or hire that epic wedding photographer…we knew we had to share the top 5 things you must know before planning a wedding.

Having been in the wedding business for 62+ years we know a thing or two about what creates magical moments that you and your guests will cherish for years to come, and what can lead to chaos, and leave you feeling disappointed with what was supposed to be one of the best days of your life.

We have compiled a list of what we believe are the Top 5 Things You Must Know Before Planning Your Wedding, to get instant access to this helpful wedding planning guide click on the link below:

Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck Las Vegas Wedding

Congratulations to Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck, on their intimate Las Vegas Wedding–from all of us at Chapel of the Flowers!

Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck have officially tied the knot in the wedding capital of the world: Las Vegas, Nevada.

Lopez confirmed their intimate Las Vegas wedding in her personal newsletter Sunday, ending the letter with a new name: Mrs. Jennifer Lynn Affleck.

A Quick Snippet From Lopez’s Newsletter:

“We did it. Love is beautiful. Love is kind. And it turns out love is patient. Twenty years patient,” Jennifer shared.

“Last night we flew to Vegas, stood in line for a license with four other couples, all making the same journey to the wedding capital of the world,” Lopez wrote. “We barely made it to the little white wedding chapel by midnight. They graciously stayed open late a few minutes, let us take pictures in a pink Cadillac convertible, evidently once used by the king himself (but if we wanted Elvis himself to show, that cost extra and he was in bed).”

Lopez shared that she wore a dress from an old movie and Affleck wore a jacket from his closet.

“We read our own vows in the little chapel and gave one another the rings we’ll wear for the rest of our lives,” she wrote.

Jennifer and Ben’s Love Story:

The Bennifer love story is one that’s been more than 20 years in the making. The couple originally met on the set of the rom-com “Gigli,” where they played criminals on a job together that led to a real-life friendship.

By November 2002, they had gotten engaged, but postponed their wedding in September 2003 due to “the excessive media attention” surrounding their wedding.

Unfortunately, they never shared their vows, but instead the postponement led to the couple officially calling off their engagement in January 2004.

Never say “never”, because after 17 years, even with other marriages, and children from those marriages, they eventually ended up right where they started all those years ago.

Lopez Speaks About The Proposal:

Affleck proposed to Lopez again in April of 2022 while she was soaking in a bubble bath.

“I was taken totally off guard and just looked in his eyes smiling and crying at the same time trying hard to get my head around the fact that after 20 years this was happening all over again, I was quite literally speechless and he said, ‘is that a yes?’ I said YES of course that’s a YES,” she wrote in her newsletter.

What an incredible moment, that must’ve been for the two of them…to have found true love in such a familiar place.

You know what they say, “timing is everything”, and it proves to ring true for Mr. and Mrs. Affleck too.

Lopez Shares About Their Vegas Wedding Experience:

“In the end it was the best possible wedding we could have imagined.” Lopez wrote, in her recent newsletter.

We at Chapel of the Flowers couldn’t agree more!

An elopement to Vegas is the perfect remedy for the stress and anxiety that comes with the excessive media attention that actually got in the way of their first engagement/hopeful wedding.

With our all inclusive Las Vegas wedding packages, you won’t need to worry about a thing! Let us help you to create the perfect Vegas Wedding for you and the one you can’t wait to spend the rest of your life with.

Cheers to Jennifer and Ben on their unique love story, we wish you both everlasting happiness.

And thank you for sharing why Las Vegas is the wedding capital of the world, and what makes Las Vegas the BEST PLACE to celebrate your love.

Because in Las Vegas you can create whatever you want for your special day from the BIG GRAND WEDDING to the INTIMATE MICRO WEDDING–the possibilities are endless, and the best part is you are able to get a complete honeymoon experience + you don’t have to worry about entertaining your guests after you walk down the aisle–they have so much they can do too!

Come to celebrate your love in Las Vegas, you like JLO, won’t regret it!

Seven Military Traditions and Wedding Ideas to Honor our Fallen Heroes

Military Traditions for a Military Wedding | Las Vegas Weddings at Chapel of the Flowers With Memorial Day being around the corner, Chapel of the Flowers wants to give reverence to all that paid the ultimate price to keep our country safe. See our top picks for military traditions brides and grooms can incorporate in their military wedding to honor their love for America and the fallen heroes in their lives.

Star Wars Wedding Ideas for Your May Fourth Wedding Day

A Long Time Ago in a Galaxy Far, Far Away (well, not really)… one couple sought to have the ultimate Star Wars wedding. If you are a Star Wars fanatic, you know May 4th is an unofficial holiday, also known as “May the fourth be with you.” This pun based on the iconic Star Wars catchphrase “May the force be with you” has Star Wars fans saying “I do” from around the world on this popular wedding date.

UK Couples Wedding Guide for a Las Vegas Elopement

Curious what a Las Vegas elopement might be like? Why not swap the wind and the rain of an average UK wedding, for the elopement of a lifetime in Las Vegas! If you’re reading this, you’re probably already debating whether you should get married abroad, or maybe you’re already considering Las Vegas for your elopement, and why wouldn’t you?

Best Astrology Wedding Dates 2022

What is in the stars for your wedding date? Many couples want meaning behind their date that they say “I do” on and it can be a big decision. In this blog, we will be shedding some light on the best astrology wedding dates for 2022.

Can You Get Married without a Marriage License?

So you’re going to seal the deal in Vegas – congratulations! – but for whatever may be the reason, you don’t have a marriage license just yet and are looking to get one in Las Vegas. I’m sure you have quite a few questions:

What comes next?
What do I do without one?
How do I get one?
Do I really even need one for getting married in Vegas?
Is it expensive?
How long does it take?
Can you take care of it the day of the wedding?

Rest assured – this article will answer most of those questions. (Most of these answers as well, keep in mind, are in reference to the state of Nevada in general, but if you’re in another state, chances are the answer might be very similar but call your local courthouse to find out)! Additionally, if you’ve already got your marriage license from another state and it is still valid, you’re ready to begin planning your wedding ceremony! Take a look at our best dates to avoid and to plan for during 2022, in our blog here: The Best Wedding Dates and Dates to Avoid in 2021 & 2022.

The main question is – Can you get married without a marriage license? The short answer is technically no, (at least not legitimately or legally) but not all hope is lost if you don’t have one just yet. Keep reading for further answers.

Marriage GIFs - Get the best GIF on GIPHY

But do I have to?

The next question people typically ask, as I did when I was about to get married, is do I really need one before the ceremony? This answer is yes because, as I mentioned above slightly, to legitimately or LEGALLY be married, your minister or officiant conducting your ceremony will need this document in order to facilitate marrying you and said beloved. Failure to give the officiant this document would result in them committing a potential misdemeanor depending on what state you’re in. If you have any well-informed officiant, they will also ask you this beforehand too. So don’t plan on getting it “after the ceremony” since that is not technically legally possible.

Where in Las Vegas should I get one?

So how does one obtain this mysterious, seemingly intangible piece of paper in the fabulous city of Las Vegas? Well, in Nevada, our Clark County website will allow you to apply for one ahead of time, as long as it’s within 60 days of the ceremony.

Now, what’s the difference between applying ahead of time for a marriage license online and walking down day-of to get a license at the Clark County Courthouse? If you’ve applied online, you can simply pick up the license with both parties present, showing valid ID and paying the fee there once you arrive – about a half hour process. Without applying first online and instead accomplishing all steps in person, the whole process probably takes an additional half hour for the paperwork BUT don’t forget to take in account for other couples ahead of you that day.

Another important question – what is the price of a marriage certificate in Nevada? The current and updated price as of 2022 is $102, including fees. They do accept credit as well.

Can I get one right before the ceremony, or is that cutting it too close?

Rest assured, all of this can be taken care of the very same day before your ceremony that you have booked. Just make sure to give yourself plenty of time before your booked ceremony whether it’s at The Office of Civil Marriages or at a chapel. But if you’re planning on walking into a chapel after receiving your license, that can be done too! Which obviously gets around the time constraints but make sure to call ahead with your chapel to make sure they accept walk-ins because not all do in Las Vegas. (That’s right – funny enough, not all chapels in Vegas are willing to perform your classic “what-happens-in-Vegas-stays-in-Vegas” drive-by wedding).

Lastly, what do you need present to officially get married? Well, obviously the license plus an officiant with at least one witness present.

What happens if I really can’t get one in time?

But even so, after all this information, you may ask still, “do I REALLY absolutely need one for my Vegas wedding?” What if you forget it back in your home state? What if you had planned to get it before the ceremony but ran out of time and now you’ve got all these people invited to a ceremony at a certain time? Well, at last resort if that’s your situation, you may opt to convert your marriage ceremony into a commitment ceremony by letting your officiant know. Be sure to ask if anything in pricing changes because of this – as that might be affected. (On a different note, if you have family that can’t make your Vegas wedding, read our blog on having family attend virtually here: Virtual Wedding Guide: Everything You Need to Know

may | GIF | PrimoGIF

And yes, you’d still additionally have to perform some sort of marriage ceremony, whether it’s in Las Vegas or back home, after you’ve got your license to be recognized as legally married – but at least that’s a way to still have some sort of ceremony where all your guests don’t have to be rescheduled, especially if they came from out of state to Vegas just for your wedding. In that case I’d suggest booking a quick marriage ceremony a few days later at The Office of Civil Marriages that was previously mentioned above.

What if I just want a “courthouse wedding?”

This seg-ways into one more question you might have: Since I’m getting my marriage license at the Clark County courthouse, can they perform a simple marriage ceremony immediately after if I’d like to get my ceremony taken care of straight away? Well – not if you don’t set it up separately through their third-party through The Office of Civil Marriages. Also, it’s at a building down the street from the courthouse (the Las Vegas courthouse itself that you pick up the license from doesn’t hold weddings at all). This is the closest thing to a true “Courthouse Wedding,” that people would refer to, at least for Las Vegas. Keep in mind it is a very quick ceremony, in which you may invite a few guests, and it probably takes about thirty minutes from start to finish. Some might consider this a “shot gun wedding” and for others this is perfect! The room used is bare minimum and nothing fancy, I must warn. But again, maybe this is what you’re looking for.

If you do have a courthouse wedding, make sure to utilize the Las Vegas Strip for photos of your special day together! Read our Must-Have Wedding Photos for Your Las Vegas Wedding here: Must-Have Wedding Photos for Your Las Vegas Wedding. There are so many beautiful spots on the Strip that you and your beloved can adventure off to for a photo-op!

Let’s plan it!

Finally, if you’re looking to book a Las Vegas wedding OR (if you want to get married without a marriage license) commitment ceremony that’s maybe slightly short notice and are not looking to spend an arm and a leg on a ceremony BUT are also not wanting to sacrifice the beautiful and glamorous aspects of a wedding ceremony – check out our wedding venues page and our wedding packages page and contact Chapel of The Flowers and speak with a wedding planner for more details.

Beautiful LGBTQIA+ Wedding Ideas

Post By: Blue Nile

Chapel of the Flowers loves seeing couples celebrate their way in a way that feels special to them. For LGBTQIA+ couples, this could mean adapting existing wedding traditions or creating their own. We believe that every couple should make their own traditions that speak to them. We spoke to Blue Nile, the world’s leading online retailer of diamond engagement rings, to share our best ideas for beautiful LGBTQIA+ weddings.

All-Star Sports-Themed Wedding Ideas Perfect for Any Sports Fanatic

Photo Credit: Wes Roberts Photography
We’ve got spirit, yes we do, we’ve got spirit how ‘bout you? Sports fans fall in love every day; whether they are both in love with the same sports team or fell in love with a rival team’s #1 fan, couples have the opportunity to show off their love for each other and their favorite sport during their wedding day. In honor of the March Wedding Madness Bracket Challenge contest, Chapel of the Flowers has put together a list of our favorite sports-themed wedding ideas.