Choosing a wedding date is often one of the first decisions couples getting married decide on. Speaking from personal experience, we nailed our wedding date down approximately five days after getting engaged (perhaps a little keen but we had been dating for nine years by this point and knew exactly where we wanted to get married so it was simply a matter of asking our family and friends if they were free and checking with the venue). While it was relatively pain-free for me, finding a date that both partners like, as well as one that doesn’t clash on anything major going and happens to be available can be quite the task.
Luckily for you, we’re about to help, sharing the wedding dates in 2024, 2025 and 2026 that you may want to avoid, including those that fall on major bank holidays, sporting events and more. If you’re trying to find a nice way to cut back that overflowing invitee list, maybe these dates will come in handy too, you’re bound to have a few drop-outs.
The Wedding Dates to Avoid in 2024, 2025 & 2026
The personal wedding dates
First things first, if you have a wedding date in mind, it’s best to casually mention it to those closest to you, while some guests might have already planned a big trip or already RSVP’d to another wedding on the same day, certain dates might have negative associations with them – such as the anniversary of a death or perhaps it falls on one of your bridesmaids big birthdays. It’s good to bear these things in mind and try not to be too disheartened if you’re getting push backs on every wedding date suggestion. At the end of the day, your wedding day is bound to fall on the day of something or other – whether it’s the wedding anniversary of your parents or friends, or your cousin’s birthday and if that’s the case, you just have to do what is right for you and your partner.
The unlucky wedding dates
For those who fall into the superstitious category, you might already have decided against a certain date you definitely don’t want to get married on. Here are the Friday 13th dates in 2024, 2025 and 2026 and potential wedding dates to avoid (obviously to take with a pinch of salt!).
- Friday 13th September 2024
- Friday 13th December 2024
- Friday 13th June 2025
- Friday 13th February 2026
- Friday 13th March 2026
- Friday 13th November 2026
The major sporting dates
For anyone who has ever been to a wedding on a major sporting day, you’ll remember how rather a lot of guests spent the duration of the wedding speeches with their phones hidden on their laps getting a cheeky score update. No one wants their guests’ attention turned to screens for most of the day and while it’s impossible to plan a wedding that doesn’t fall on a major England match, we’ve pulled together a list of the big sporting days you may want to avoid for your wedding in 2024, 2025 and 2026.
Sporting Wedding Dates in 2024
- Sunday 11th February – Super Bowl
- February 2nd – March 16th – Rugby Six Nations (hosted in the UK, Ireland, France and Italy)
- 25th May – FA Cup Final
- 1st June – UEFA Champions League Final
- Friday 14th June to Sunday 14th July – Euros 2024 (hosted in Germany)
- July 1st – July 14th – Wimbledon
- Friday 26th July to Sunday 11th August – Summer Olympics
- 28th August – 8th September – Paralympic Games
- Wednesday 28th August to Sunday 8th September – Paralympic Games
Sporting Wedding Dates in 2025
- February to March (dates TBC) – Rugby Six Nations (hosted in the UK, Ireland, France and Italy)
- February 9th – Super Bowl
- April (ends on 1st May) – World Snooker Championship (Sheffield)
- May (TBC) – FA Cup Final
- June to July (usually the last week of June and/or first two weeks of July, TBC) – Wimbledon
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
- March 6th – March 15th – Winter Paralympics
- May (TBC) – UEFA Champions League Final
- June 8th – July 3rd – FIFA World Cup
- June to July (usually the last week of June and/or first two weeks of July, TBC) – Wimbledon
Local Wedding Dates to Avoid
Other big events are also worth considering. While 2023 couples had a Royal Coronation to contend with, events such as Pride or Notting Hill Carnival might turn out to be tricky, if your wedding plans are set to be nearby.
Pride Dates in 2024
- Birmingham Pride – 25th May
- Brighton & Hove Pride – 3rd August
- Essex Pride – 22nd June
- London Pride – 29th June
- Bristol Pride – 29th June
- Edinburgh Pride – 29th June
Notting Hill Carnival dates
- August 25 2024
- August 24 2025
- August 20 2026
Bank Holiday & Public Holiday Wedding Dates in 2024
- Monday 1st January (New Year’s Day)
- Friday 29th March (Good Friday)
- Monday 1st April (Easter Monday)
- Monday 6th May (May Bank Holiday)
- Monday 27th May (Spring Bank Holiday Weekend
- Monday 26 August (Summer Bank Holiday)
- Wednesday 25 December (Christmas Day)
- Thursday 26 December (Boxing Day)
Bank Holiday & Public Holiday Wedding Dates in 2025
- Wednesday 1st January (New Year’s Day)
- Friday 18th April (Good Friday)
- Monday 21st April (Easter Monday)
- Monday 5th May (Early May Bank Holiday Weekend)
- Monday 26th May (Spring Bank Holiday Weekend)
- Monday 31th August (Summer Bank Holiday
- Thursday 25th December (Christmas Day)
- Friday 26th December (Boxing Day)
Bank Holiday & Public Holiday Wedding Dates in 2026
- Thursday 1st January (New Year’s Day)
- Friday 3rd April (Good Friday)
- Monday 5th April (Easter Monday)
- Monday 4th May (Early May Bank Holiday Weekend)
- Monday 25th May (Spring Bank Holiday Weekend)
- Monday 25th August (Summer Bank Holiday)
- Friday 25th December (Christmas Day)
- Saturday 26th December (Boxing Day)