Rescheduling A Jewish Wedding: When And Why?

A Jewish wedding is a ceremony that follows Jewish laws and traditions. While wedding ceremonies vary, common features include a ketubah (marriage contract), a chuppah or huppah (wedding canopy), a ring owned by the groom that is given to the bride under the canopy, and the breaking of a glass. There are several dates that should be avoided for a Jewish wedding, including religious holidays and their preceding days, such as Purim, Passover, Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur, and Simchat Torah. Additionally, weddings are not held on Fridays or Saturdays, as these days are considered impractical due to religious restrictions. In the case of postponement, while there is a strong custom not to postpone under normal circumstances, there is no prohibition against it in Jewish law.

Mourning and marriage

Jewish law states that if a bride or groom experiences the loss of a close relative within 30 days of their wedding, the ceremony must be postponed until the conclusion of sheloshim (the first 30 days of mourning). If a parent of either the bride or groom dies, the wedding may still take place after sheloshim, during the 12-month mourning period. No restrictions are placed on the joyousness of the celebration.

In addition to this, there are several other dates and periods of mourning when Jewish weddings are not allowed to take place. These include:

• The three weeks leading up to and including Tisha B'av.
• The period of the counting of the omer.
• The three weeks between the Fast of the Seventeenth of Tammuz and Tisha B'av.
• The nine days of the month of Av.
• The day preceding a biblical holiday.
• Major holidays, biblically mandated days of rest.
• Chol HaMoed (the intermediate days of Passover and Sukkot).

Fridays and Saturdays are also not considered good days for a Jewish wedding. Weddings cannot be held on Fridays because of the problems it poses, such as no music, pictures or videography being allowed, and all guests having to walk home. Weddings are not allowed on Saturdays either, as this is the biblically mandated day of rest, and no wedding preparations can take place until after nightfall.

Jewish law and postponement

Jewish law, or halacha, does not prohibit the postponement of a wedding. While there is a strong custom not to postpone under normal circumstances, it is not forbidden. The idea that the preservation of human life takes priority, or pikuach nefesh, is a stronger principle than the tradition of not delaying joyous events. This is especially relevant during the COVID-19 pandemic, where gatherings can be dangerous.

In Jewish culture, there are certain dates that should be avoided for a wedding. For example, weddings are not held on Fridays or Saturdays, as these are days of rest, and weddings are not allowed during certain Jewish holidays or periods of mourning.

In the case of mourning, if a bride or groom suffers the loss of a close relative within 30 days of a scheduled wedding, it is postponed until the conclusion of sheloshim (the first 30 days of mourning). Even if it is the death of a parent, a marriage may still take place after sheloshim, during the 12-month mourning period.

Additionally, there are certain customs and rituals that must be followed during a Jewish wedding ceremony, such as the signing of a ketubah (marriage contract), the exchange of rings, and the breaking of a glass. These rituals are considered part of the process of sanctification and dedication, or kiddushin, which marks the beginning of the couple's life together.

While it is customary to avoid postponing a Jewish wedding, it is not prohibited by Jewish law, and there are valid reasons for doing so, such as ensuring the safety and well-being of those involved.

The ketubah

In addition to the traditional Aramaic text, there are now a variety of formats available for the ketubah, including Conservative, Reform, Egalitarian, Interfaith, and Secular Humanist texts. Some congregations even offer texts for same-sex couples.

Wedding dates to avoid

Jewish weddings are steeped in tradition and ritual, and there are several dates that are considered inauspicious for a wedding. Here is a list of dates to avoid when planning a Jewish wedding:

2024

• Purim: 23rd March (sunset) – 24th March
• Passover: 22nd April (sunset) – 30th April. No Jewish weddings take place between Passover and Shavuot, except on Lag B’ Omer.
• The three weeks leading up to and including Tisha B’av: 23rd July (from sunset) to 13th August. Jewish marriages are not allowed during this period.
• Rosh Hashanah: 2nd October (from sunset) to 4th October
• Yom Kippur: 11th October (from sunset) to 12th October
• Succot: 16th October (from sunset) to 23rd October
• Simchat Torah: 24th October (from sunset) to 25th October

2025

• Purim: 13th March (sunset) – 14th March
• Passover: 12th April (sunset) – 20th April. No Jewish weddings take place between Passover and Shavuot, except on Lag B’ Omer.
• The three weeks leading up to and including Tisha B’av: 13th July (from sunset) to 3rd August. Jewish marriages are not allowed during this period.
• Rosh Hashanah: 22nd September (from sunset) to 24th September
• Yom Kippur: 1st October (from sunset) to 2nd October
• Succot: 6th October (from sunset) to 13th October
• Simchat Torah: 13th October (from sunset) to 15th October

2026

• Purim: March 3rd (sunset) – 4th March
• Passover: 1st April (sunset) – 9th April. No Jewish weddings take place between Passover and Shavuot, except on Lag B’ Omer.
• The three weeks leading up to and including Tisha B’av: 2nd July (from sunset) to 24th July. Jewish marriages are not allowed during this period.
• Rosh Hashanah: 11th September (from sunset) to 13th September
• Yom Kippur: 20th September (from sunset) to 21st September
• Succot: 25th September (from sunset) to 27th September
• Simchat Torah: 2nd October (from sunset) to 4th October

In addition to these dates, there are several other considerations when choosing a date for a Jewish wedding. Fridays, Saturdays, and Jewish holidays are generally avoided, as are the days preceding Jewish holidays. The period of the counting of the omer and the three weeks of mourning in the months of Tammuz and Av are also considered inauspicious for weddings.

The chuppah

The groom enters the chuppah first, followed by the bride, who is escorted by their respective parents. The bride then circles the groom seven times, symbolising the building of a wall of love around their relationship.

Frequently asked questions