Q&A from the Bais HaVaad Halacha Hotline

Wedding Day

June 20, 2024

Q May we get married on a Friday?

A The Shulchan Aruch (E.H. 64:3) cites an opinion that a Friday wedding is forbidden—because it may lead to inadvertent chillul Shabbos—but says that the prevailing minhag follows those that permit it. The Mishnah Brurah (339:19) discourages it and warns that if it is to be done, it must be planned well and held early enough in the day to avoid problems. Some communities of old banned Friday weddings (see Aruch Hashulchan ibid. 14 about a 16^th-century enactment in Krakow. Poland).

Friday weddings were the norm in Eastern Europe in the 19^th and 20^th centuries, because poverty was widespread, and it was economical to combine the wedding meal with that of Shabbos. In more affluent circumstances, one should follow the Mishnah Brurah’s advice, especially today, when weddings involve so many devices forbidden to use on Shabbos. If you are compelled to hold the wedding on Friday, plan well.

Usually, it is forbidden on Erev Shabbos to eat a meal that one does not typically eat on weekdays, in order to honor Shabbos by entering it hungry (O.C. 249:2). But a mitzvah meal like a wedding, bris, or pidyon haben is permitted.

By Rabbinic decree, a chupah may not be held on Shabbos, except in certain circumstances (see Mishnah Brurah ibid.).