At the beginning of your Wedding Planning? Considering your wedding date? Be sure to check out this list of Key Wedding Dates to Avoid in 2025 and 2026 before you book anything.
Photo by Irina Iriser
If you're looking to tie the knot this year or next, there are a few key wedding dates to avoid in 2025 and 2026. These public holidays, sporting events and national celebrations will either cause difficulties for your wedding guests or raise your costs if you decide to plan your wedding for that date. Hosting a wedding during the Women's Euro's cup final, for example, might mean your guests' attention is split between you and the match. Not ideal!
If you do decide to book your wedding around a bank holiday, it can be a seriously smart idea, but you need to be aware that they can be moved. So do keep an eye on the dates, and be sure to follow the official list of bank holidays in the UK.
According to researchers at the University of Melbourne, there is one wedding date you should certainly avoid in 2025, 2026 or any year for that matter! After analysing one million married couples, they found that those who got married on February 14th (Valentine’s Day), were most likely to get divorced. Within five years, 11% of couples had split, and that rose to 21% after nine years. Apparently it’s all down to couples wanting to have the perfect wedding, rather than a happy marriage. Who knew!
But there are plenty of other dates that are best to avoid too. We’ve put together a list of UK wedding dates in 2025 and 2026 that you might want to avoid when planning your big day.
Friday the 13th Days
If you’re superstitious, you might want to avoid any Friday the 13th date's too. There’s nothing to say that getting married on Friday the 13th is actually unlucky, but if you’re someone who’s particularly superstitious, here are all the Friday the 13th dates within the next two years. 2024 has two!
Friday 13th Dates in 2025
Friday 13th June
Friday 13th Dates in 2026
Friday 13th February
Friday 13th March
Friday 13th November
The Big Sporting Events
Couples who got married on the day of the England's unfortunate World Cup semi-final bow out a couple of years ago had a lot to contend with that day. Guests were watching the match secretly on their phones during the ceremony, sneaking out of the reception to get a score update, even pulling a last-minute sickie just so they could watch the game! Not nice, and the last thing you want on your big day.
It’s important to know if your potential wedding date could clash with any big sporting events. Of course, this doesn’t mean you can’t hold your wedding during these dates (many are sunny summer Saturdays!), but it’s worth bearing in mind.
Sporting Wedding Dates in 2025
January 31st - March 15th - Rugby Six Nations (hosted in the UK, Ireland, France, and Italy)
February 9th - Super Bowl
April 19th - May 5th - World Snooker Championship (Sheffield)
May 17th - FA Cup Final
May 31st - UEFAChampions League Final
June 15th to July 13th - Fifa Club World Cup, United States
June 30th - July 13th - Wimbledon
July 2-27th - Women's Euro 2025, Switzerland
Sporting Wedding Dates in 2026
February to March (TBC) - Rugby Six Nations (hosted in the UK, Ireland, France, and Italy)
February 6th - February 22nd - Winter Olympics
February 8th - Super Bowl
March 6th - March 15th - Winter Paralympics
May 30th - UEFA Champions League Final
June 11th - July 19th - FIFA World Cup
June 29th - 12th - Wimbledon
Important Personal Days
To avoid any nasty family politics, you may want to check your personal diary for milestone birthdays, upcoming weddings of family or friends, big anniversaries and any other significant days involving your family or close circle of friends.
Locally Significant Days
It’s also worth noting things that are being planned in your local area, or the area you intend to get married in.
Does the town have an annual festival or carnival that might be worth avoiding? If you’re unsure and want to be on the safe side, contact the local council – they should be able to notify you of anything within the local area that is big enough to cause disruption to your wedding plans.
UK Public Holiday Dates
Some couples will aim to hold their wedding on a public holiday, for example, the August bank holiday is annually one of the most popular weekends for couples to get married. These public dates, however, can come at a cost, and it’s possible your guests may have already booked to go away on holiday quite far in advance. Especially those with kids.
If you’re planning to steer clear of public holidays, here’s a list of all the 2024 and 2025 UK wedding dates you might want to avoid when booking your special day.
UK Wedding Dates to Avoid in 2025
Wednesday 1st January
New Year’s Day
Thursday 2nd January
Public Holiday (Scotland)
Saturday 1st March
St David’s Day (Wales)
Monday 17th March
St Patrick’s Day
Sunday 30th March
Mother's Day
Monday 1st April
April Fools' Day
Friday 18th April – Monday 21st April
Good Friday, Easter Weekend, Easter Sunday and Easter Monday
Saturday 3rd – Monday 5th May
Early May Bank Holiday Weekend
Saturday 24th – Monday 26th May
Spring Bank Holiday Weekend
Sunday 15th June
Father’s Day
Saturday 12th July
Battle of the Boyne (Northern Ireland)
Monday 14th July
Bank Holiday (Northern Ireland)
Saturday 2nd – Monday 4th August
Bank Holiday Weekend (Scotland)
Saturday 23rd – Monday 25th August
Bank Holiday Weekend
Friday 31st October
Halloween
Wednesday 5th November
Guy Fawkes Night
Tuesday 11th November
Remembrance Day
Sunday 9th November
Remembrance Sunday
Friday 14th November
King Charles' Birthday
Monday 1st December
St Andrew’s Day Observed (Scotland)
Wednesday 24th, Thursday 25th, Friday 26th December
Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, Boxing Day
Wednesday 31st December
New Year’s Eve
UK Wedding Dates to Avoid in 2026
Thursday 1st January
New Year’s Day
Friday 2nd January
Public Holiday (Scotland)
Sunday 1st March
St David’s Day (Wales)
Tuesday 17th March
St Patrick’s Day
Sunday 15th March
Mother's Day
Wednesday 1st April
April Fools' Day
Friday 3rd April – Monday 5th April
Good Friday, Easter Weekend, Easter Sunday and Easter Monday
Saturday 2nd – Monday 4th May
Early May Bank Holiday Weekend
Saturday 23rd – Monday 25th May
Spring Bank Holiday Weekend
Sunday 21st June
Father’s Day
Sunday 12th July
Battle of the Boyne (Northern Ireland)
Monday 13th July
Bank Holiday (Northern Ireland)
Saturday 1st – Monday 5th August
Bank Holiday Weekend (Scotland)
Saturday 29th – Monday 31st August
Bank Holiday Weekend
Saturday 31st October
Halloween
Thursday 5th November
Guy Fawkes Night
Wednesday 11th November
Remembrance Day
Sunday 8th November
Remembrance Sunday
Saturday 14th November
King Charles' Birthday
Monday 30th November
St Andrew’s Day Observed (Scotland)
Thursday 24th, Friday 25th, Saturday 26th December
Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, Boxing Day
Thursday 31st December
New Year’s Eve
Now you have the dates sorted, it’s time to get your wedding dress! Click here and start browsing our beautiful selection of curvy bridal, when you're ready, book your appointment.
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