The Art Of Choosing A Wedding Date: A Guide For Singapore's Happy Couples

Choosing a wedding date in Singapore can be a tricky affair. With a multi-racial and multi-religious population, there are many holidays and festivals to avoid, such as Deepavali, Chinese New Year, and Christmas. It's also important to be mindful of the two monsoon seasons, which can put a dampener on outdoor weddings.

If you're opting for an auspicious date, it's worth consulting a Feng Shui master to calculate the best date for you and your partner. This will ensure the stars and signs align in a favourable manner, creating the potential for success and a good start to your marriage.

However, if you're not too fussed about an auspicious date, it's still a good idea to give yourself plenty of time to plan. The optimal length for wedding preparation is 12-14 months, giving you the freedom to make any changes and deal with any unexpected issues. This also aligns with most wedding vendors' timetables.

When it comes to finalising your date, it's a good idea to do so 11 months before the wedding. This will allow you to book your vendors and give your guests more time to confirm their attendance.

Avoid religious/cultural holidays, like Deepavali, Chinese New Year, and Christmas

Singapore is a multiracial and multi-religious country, with numerous significant events and holidays celebrated throughout the year. When choosing a wedding date, it is important to be mindful of these cultural and religious occasions to avoid any inconvenience for you and your guests. Here are some reasons why you should avoid religious and cultural holidays like Deepavali, Chinese New Year, and Christmas:

• Family Obligations and Priorities: These holidays may hold special significance for your family and friends, and they might have other commitments or traditions they wish to uphold. Holding your wedding on these days could create a conflict of priorities for your guests, and you may come across as an inconsiderate host.
• Travel Plans: Families often plan trips and vacations during school holidays, such as the March, September, and December breaks. Choosing a wedding date that coincides with these periods may result in a significant number of guests being unable to attend due to prior travel plans.
• Vendor Availability: Popular wedding vendors, such as venues, photographers, and caterers, are likely to be in high demand during these cultural and religious holidays. Booking your preferred vendors may be challenging, and you might have to settle for alternatives or face higher costs.
• Traffic and Logistics: Large-scale events and celebrations during these holidays, such as the National Day Parade, can cause traffic disruptions and make it inconvenient for your guests to reach the wedding venue.
• Competition for Venues: Certain dates, such as December, are popular for weddings in Singapore. Choosing a date during or close to religious and cultural holidays may result in limited venue availability and higher prices.
• Weather Patterns: Singapore experiences two monsoon seasons, the Northeast (December to March) and Southwest (June to September) monsoons. These seasons bring wet weather, which can impact your plans, especially if you are considering an outdoor wedding.

By avoiding religious and cultural holidays, you can ensure a smoother planning process, reduce potential conflicts, and increase the likelihood of your guests' attendance. It also demonstrates respect for the diverse cultures and beliefs present in Singapore.

Avoid peak periods, like March to September, and November and December

When choosing a wedding date in Singapore, it is best to avoid peak periods, such as March to September, and November and December. These months are popular for weddings, so you may struggle to find available vendors and venues.

March to September is the peak season for weddings in Singapore, and for good reason. This period avoids the Northeast monsoon, which takes place from December to March, and the Southwest monsoon, which occurs from June to September. By avoiding these months, you can ensure that your wedding day is less likely to be affected by wet weather.

Additionally, many families plan trips overseas during the March, September, and December holidays, as well as the entire month of June. By avoiding these months, you increase the chances that your guests will be available to attend your wedding.

If you choose to get married during a peak period, be sure to book your vendors and secure your venue well in advance. At least a year ahead of time should be sufficient to secure major vendors such as your venue, coordinators, and photographers.

It is also important to be mindful of religious and cultural holidays when choosing a wedding date in Singapore, as it is a multi-racial and multi-religious country. For example, you may want to avoid holding your wedding during festivals such as Deepavali, Chinese New Year, or Christmas.

Avoid the Hungry Ghost Festival

When choosing a wedding date in Singapore, it's important to consider the country's multi-racial and multi-religious nature, with numerous significant events and holidays celebrated throughout the year. One such event is the Hungry Ghost Festival, which is considered inauspicious for weddings. Here are some reasons why you may want to avoid this festival when planning your special day:

The Significance of the Hungry Ghost Festival

The Hungry Ghost Festival, also known as Yu Lan Pen, is a traditional Chinese festival observed during the seventh lunar month, usually falling between August and September. It is believed that during this month, the gates of hell are opened, and the spirits of the deceased are free to roam the earth. As such, it is considered an inauspicious time for weddings, as it may bring bad luck or negative energy to the couple's new life together.

Planning Considerations

When planning your wedding date, it is advisable to avoid the entire Hungry Ghost Festival month. This ensures that you do not accidentally clash with any of the festival's important days, such as the opening and closing of the gates of hell. By steering clear of this period, you can also avoid potential inconveniences for your guests, as some may have other obligations or cultural activities during this time.

Alternative Auspicious Dates

If you are looking for an auspicious date for your wedding, there are other options to consider. The Mid-Autumn Festival, which falls in the eighth lunar month and features a full moon, is considered an excellent time for weddings. Additionally, you can consult a Feng Shui master or refer to the Tong Shu for general auspicious dates based on zodiac signs. These dates are believed to bring good luck and a positive start to your married life.

A Memorable Celebration

While choosing an auspicious date is important, remember that your wedding date ultimately depends on what works best for you and your partner. With careful planning and consideration, you can create a memorable celebration that aligns with your cultural beliefs and traditions.

Avoid the birthday of the bride, groom, parents, and unmarried siblings

When choosing a wedding date in Singapore, it is important to avoid the birthday of the bride, groom, parents, and unmarried siblings. This is because, in Chinese culture, an auspicious wedding date refers to a day where the stars and signs align favourably for the couple, creating the potential for a successful and harmonious marriage.

While it may be tempting to choose a date that is personally significant, such as a birthday, doing so could bring about bad luck and conflict with the desired alignment of the stars and zodiac signs. By avoiding the birthdays of close family members, couples can ensure that their wedding date is astrologically favourable and does not clash with the energy of those closest to them.

In addition to birthdays, there are several other dates that are considered inauspicious for a wedding in Singapore. These include religious and cultural holidays, such as Deepavali, Chinese New Year, and Christmas, as well as peak periods like December, when venues are in high demand and vendors are swamped with clients.

To ensure the selection of an auspicious date, many couples in Singapore consult a Feng Shui master or refer to the Tong Shu, a traditional Chinese calendar, to identify dates that align with their unique ba zi, or birth dates and times. This practice stems from the belief that starting a new chapter on a day where the stars are favourably aligned sets the marriage up for success and a smooth journey ahead.

By avoiding the birthdays of those closest to them and consulting astrological guides, couples in Singapore can choose a wedding date that is not only convenient but also deemed lucky and auspicious, setting a positive tone for their married life together.

Choose an auspicious date, one where the stars and signs align in a favourable manner

Choosing an auspicious date for your wedding is a cherished practice in Singapore. It is believed that starting a new chapter on a day where the stars are aligned in your favour blesses your marriage with success and a harmonious future. An auspicious date is when the stars and signs align in a favourable manner for both partners, creating the potential for success and a good start to your married life.

While you can look up the Tong Shu for general auspicious dates, it is not ideal for wedding date selections as everyone has a unique ba zi (birth date and time of birth). To ensure that your auspicious date is true for both you and your partner's ba zi, it is best to consult a professional Feng Shui master for a more in-depth and personalised analysis.

• Zodiac signs: In Chinese zodiac, some animal signs are in conflict with each other. For example, you should avoid Horse dates or months if you were born in the Year of the Rat.
• Birthdays: Avoid the birthdays of the bride, groom, parents, and unmarried siblings. If a parent has passed away, avoid their birthday and death day.
• Leap Months and Double Springs: A year with a Leap Month and 13 months is a symbol of connubial love and harmony. A year with two Beginning of Spring dates at the beginning and end is also good.
• Blind Years: It is generally considered auspicious to get married in a Blind Year, which follows a Double Spring year. 2024 is a Blind Year.
• Festivals: Avoid getting married in January as it may conflict with the Spring Festival. Also avoid lunar March, July, and October, when traditional ghost festivals take place. Lunar August, during which the Mid-Autumn Festival takes place, is considered the best month for a wedding.
• Evil Spirit of Sanniang: Avoid lunar 3rd, 7th, 13th, 18th, 22nd, and 27th in every month.
• Wedding conflict with funeral: Avoid holding a wedding in the same year a direct relative died.
• Bride's birthday: Generally, priority should be given to the bride's birthday when choosing the wedding date.
• Eight Characters of Birth Time: The birth times of the bride and groom should be considered to see if the wedding date is truly auspicious for both.

When choosing an auspicious date, it is also important to consider the availability of your desired venue and vendors, as well as the convenience for your families and guests.

Frequently asked questions