Getting Married Between Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur

Restiction of marriage between Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur

Shalom!

Thank you for your question.

There is indeed a custom not to get married between Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur, the days known as “aseret yemei Teshuva” – the Ten Days of Repentance.

There are a number of reasons for this custom. The most commonly given reason is because the Aseret Yemei Teshuva are days that are meant to be spent in prayer and repentance. The rejoicing, dancing, and even drinking that are features of a wedding are not consistent with the theme of that time of year.

Nevertheless, although there are days in the Jewish calendar where getting married is truly forbidden, the Aseres Yemei Teshuva are not included in such days. There is no true halacha against getting married during the Aseres Yemei Teshuva and there were even great rabbis who were married during this time. In fact, there are even those who say that getting married close to Yom Kippur will serve as a merit for oneself to achieve atonement and forgiveness on Yom Kippur for one’s sins. Indeed, all mitzvot that one performs before Yom Kippur is added to one’s merits and are said to help up gain atonement, and the mitzva of marriage, and by extension, making an effort to have children, are such mitzvot.

But, as mentioned, common custom is not to hold a wedding during this time if it can be scheduled at a different time. 

Mateh Ephraim (602:5), Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 130:4; Melamed L’hoil, EH 1; Maaseh Ish vol. 2 page 211