Is it rude to throw a vow renewal on a major holiday?

Q. Is it rude to throw a vow renewal on a major holiday?

A. Some holidays are trickier than others, depending on who is on your guest list.  While you have the right to have your vow renewal any day and time you’d like, if having all of your friends and family in attendance is important to you, taking their needs into consideration is important too.  In general, holidays are a time most people reserve to be with their families. Also, just because you originally got married on a holiday, doesn’t mean your vow renewal has to be the same day.  In fact, it might be more fun to have it at a different time of year.  For instance, if you were married at Christmas, have a summer vow renewal! On the other hand, if you are trying to keep a limit on your guest list,  you’re more likely to get less positive RSVPs because of scheduling conflicts if you have your vow renewal on a major holiday like the 4th of July, Easter weekend, Thanksgiving, etc.

If a holiday weekend is still what you have in mind, hosting the event on a secondary holiday weekend, such as Memorial Day or Labor Day, can be a great option. It gives everyone three days to travel without having to take extra time off from work.

You might also want to take the day of the week is important to consider as well. Monday through Thursday is difficult for most people, Sundays aren’t optimal for Christians, and Saturdays are not good for Jewish guests. If your family and friends are sports fans, you might also want to check the schedule for their favorite team(s).

The best advice is to select the most accommodating month, day, and time possible if you want the highest percentage of your guests to be able to attend.