9 Things to Know About Getting Married on Valentine’s Day

Whether you think Valentine’s Day is the most romantic day of the year or the corniest day of the year—it’s a super popular day for weddings.

Here are nine things to keep in mind if you’re thinking about getting married on Valentine’s Day.

First, the pros…

1. It makes the holiday more personal

Even though we’re a bunch of romantics around here, we can understand how people get a little fed up with Valentine’s Day commercialism.

But when Valentine’s Day is your anniversary, it’s like the whole world is celebrating with you!

From the supermarket to the gas station, chances are you’ll encounter hearts and candy and roses everywhere you go on February 14.

So even on those inevitable years when your anniversary is just another busy Wednesday with errands to run and chores to do, the world will have dressed up a little bit to celebrate your special day.

2. You’ll never forget your anniversary

This one’s a kicker.

When you’re sending save the date cards and counting down the hours until you walk down the aisle, it’s hard to believe that you might ever forget the date of your wedding—but it happens!

The Knot talked to several couples about why they chose Valentine’s Day wedding.

Here’s what Xiu and Michael said: “It’s because we’re both very lazy and very forgetful, and we don’t want to blame anyone for forgetting our anniversary date.”

Cheers to them! Knowing your strengths and weaknesses is a good sign of a happy relationship.

3. A Valentine’s Day anniversary is a great excuse for a winter getaway

By mid-February, many of us are already pining for warmer weather—or at least a few days of sunshine. Or maybe you live to hit the slopes, and a ski vacation is your idea of true romance?

A Valentine’s Day anniversary gives you and your sweetheart a perfect excuse for a winter getaway.

Whether you snuggle up in front of a fire or stroll on a beach at sunset, Valentine’s Day is a great time to take a break and reconnect with your partner.

In fact, this might be the perfect excuse for a destination wedding. Your guests surely wouldn’t mind a gorgeous beach backdrop versus the gray and chilly setting typical of this time of year!

4. It can make a practical choice a little more personal

A lot of couples choose a city hall wedding followed by a big event later on when the timing is better, or they’ve saved enough for their dream wedding.

This is especially true for military couples, couples who have small kids or are expecting a baby, long-distance couples, people planning a destination wedding…

Why not choose Valentine’s Day for your city hall wedding and make “making it official” a little more romantic?

5. You can get your marriage license on Valentine’s Day instead

Want to make the holiday a part of your love story, but a February 14 wedding just won’t work?

Get your marriage license on Valentine’s Day instead.
A marriage license is probably the most romantic piece of paperwork you’ll ever deal with, so why not go the extra mile by making the task extra special?

For many couples, their actual wedding day is super busy and goes by in a blur. It can be nice to make this step toward the altar a quiet and special day just for the two of you without all the hustle and bustle.

6. You can get married with a side of bacon

OK, this isn’t unique to getting married on Valentine’s Day, but it is certainly unique.

Did you know that you can get married at Denny’s chapel on Fremont in Las Vegas?

They offer a Valentine’s Day special that brings the package deal down to a mere $199. For the couple with a sense of humor and a tight budget, this is a Grand Slam.

You might even be able to win enough at the slot machines to pay for the whole event!

And now, the cons...

7. Statistically, it doesn’t bode well for relationship longevity

Correlation is not causation, but according to a 2018 study by the University of Melbourne, couples who got married on Valentine’s Day were 45 percent less likely to be married after three years than couples who got married on any other day.

One theory is that people who choose a Valentine’s Day wedding ceremony are more impulsive and may be jumping into commitment too quickly.

8. There might be two feet of snow on the ground

Maybe you live somewhere that’s blissfully immune to blizzards and black ice (lucky…), but what about your wedding guests?

You could indeed have awful wedding day weather any time of year, but planning a wedding in the middle of February might be tempting fate a little too much.

You don’t want travel delays to keep your best man stuck at the airport.

9. It’s a little bit cringe?

Let us start by saying: Your wedding day is your wedding day, and if you want to get married covered head to toe in pink glitter, in a room full of rose and heart-shaped balloons, with a cake covered in conversation hearts—you do you!

(And please send us photos.)

But chances are you’ll encounter some haters who think the idea of getting married on Valentine’s Day is totally basic.

But… do we care? No! Whatever you decide, make it your dream day.

10. Consider Your Guests

Now, to be fair, this could very well be considered a pro or a con, respectively.

Some couples may really enjoy the idea of going to a wedding on Valentine’s Day, while others will probably dread it (and may hold a tiny grudge against you for taking the day away from them).

Just something to keep in mind!

If you have your heart set on a Valentine’s Day wedding, just do everyone a favor, and be sure the after-party is bangin’!