There's no universally "bad" month, but superstition points to May, linked to ancient Roman festivals for the dead, making it seem unlucky, while some traditions also discourage August. Culturally, some Hindu traditions avoid Chaturmas and Adhik Maas, and practical reasons might suggest avoiding busy holiday seasons or months prone to bad weather like winter. Ultimately, the best month depends on personal preference and avoiding dates conflicting with other important events, notes dine.co.uk and Quora users.
Chaturmas (Four-Month Period) – A time of religious observance when marriages are discouraged. Shraadha (Pitru Paksha) – A period for honoring ancestors, which is considered inauspicious for new beginnings. Adhik Maas (Extra Lunar Month) – This additional month occurs every 2-3 years and is not ideal for weddings.
Months Bad for Weddings
There is not a single month believed to be bad to get married. Rather, there are two – May and July. The 'not in May' wedding superstition goes back to Roman times when it was considered the unluckiest month for a wedding.
The 777 rule for a marriage? The seven seven seven rule involves going on a date with your partner once a week, going away for a night together once every seven weeks and going on holiday alone together once every 7 months. Try it out. You may rekindle your marriage, your relationship and you may fall in love again.
Inauspicious dates
In some traditions, there are certain unlucky dates and superstitions that people try to stay away from. Dates like Friday the 13th or, in Irish cultures, the leap year day which falls on February 29, are believed to bring bad luck to couples.
The 2-2-2 rule for marriage is a guideline to keep a relationship strong and connected: have a date night every two weeks, a weekend getaway every two months, and a week-long vacation every two years. This system encourages regular, intentional quality time, breaks from routine, and deeper connection by ensuring couples prioritize each other amidst daily life, work, and family, preventing stagnation and fostering fun.
In medieval Europe, the Church discouraged wedding ceremonies in May, linking them to bad omens. Later, the Victorians took it further, calling May “the unluckiest month” for marriage in their old wives' tales and wedding rhymes. Even in Irish weddings, the unlucky month was avoided.
While many factors contribute, many experts point to poor communication (especially criticism, contempt, defensiveness, and stonewalling) and a breakdown in emotional connection/trust, often stemming from dishonesty or disrespect, as the #1 things that destroy marriages, eroding intimacy and making partners feel unheard and unloved over time. Infidelity, financial stress, and shifting priorities (like putting family/in-laws above spouse) are also major contributors that feed these core issues.
The "3x3 rule" in marriage is a guideline for balancing individual and couple time, suggesting each partner gets three hours of alone time per week and the couple spends three hours of quality time together, often recommended for busy parents to reduce resentment and reconnect by scheduling protected "me time" and dedicated "us time". It's a strategy to ensure both personal well-being and relationship connection are prioritized, preventing burnout and rekindling sparks through intentional, scheduled breaks and shared experiences.
Follow the four golden rules – don't lie, keep your promises, argue productively and always play nice – and your relationship will never go anywhere but forward.
Red flags in a relationship are warning signs that something might be wrong. Certain behaviors, actions, or attitudes might indicate a relationship is unhealthy — or even harmful. They can be obvious, like physical abuse, or subtle, like constant criticism.
Lack of commitment is the most common reason given by divorcing couples according to a recent national survey. Here are the reasons given and their percentages: Lack of commitment 73% Argue too much 56%
When you've just graduated, are not self-sufficient, have never been on your own as an independent single person, have no stable career or means of support, are afraid to be alone, or your partner is leaving soon for a long time: Finish your education and advanced training for your field.
In some traditions, June is considered the luckiest month to tie the knot, stemming from Roman times when the month was named after Juno, the goddess of marriage and the well-being of women. In Irish culture, it's considered lucky to marry during the harvest season, as this period symbolizes abundance and prosperity.
January and February are generally considered the least popular months, followed by December and March. Only 2% of couples choose to marry in January and February, making these peak months ideal for those seeking a more intimate and cost-effective celebration.
Historically, January tends to be the least popular month to get married.
A strong and healthy relationship is built on the three C's: Communication, Compromise and Commitment.
Five Common Marriage Problems and How to Solve Them
The 2-2-2 rule for marriage is a guideline to keep a relationship strong and connected: have a date night every two weeks, a weekend getaway every two months, and a week-long vacation every two years. This system encourages regular, intentional quality time, breaks from routine, and deeper connection by ensuring couples prioritize each other amidst daily life, work, and family, preventing stagnation and fostering fun.
Gottman studied more than 2,000 married couples over two decades and found four attitudes that most predict the dissolution of a relationship, especially in combination. They are criticism, defensiveness, contempt and stonewalling — the four horsemen of the apocalypse.
Emotional distance
As communication deteriorates, spouses may start to feel more like roommates than romantic partners. This emotional disconnection can lead to a lack of empathy and understanding, making each partner feel isolated and alone, which is a major factor in things that kill a marriage.
Among those who have ever married, Black Americans are the most likely to have gotten divorced (41%). Asian Americans are the least likely (16%). Americans who were born in the U.S. are more likely than those born outside the U.S. to have ever divorced (36% vs. 22%).
While these old sayings are certainly ominous, July actually isn't the worst month to wed. According to folklore as well as ancient Roman tradition, the title of unluckiest month to get married goes to May. While July weddings promise some troubles in the future, May weddings are sure to end in regret!
It's during the colder months, between January to March, that we see the least demand for weddings compared with the rest of the year. But we're not saying never – couples do still choose to get married during the off-peak season and what a wonderful way to kick off the new year!
Bad luck. Marrying in a church near an uncovered, open grave leads to bad luck. Marrying in green is bad luck. It is bad luck for the bride to look at herself in the mirror after she's dressed in her bridal wear, but can be counteracted by the addition of another accessory after this.