Unsplash / Jakob Owens
When it comes to finding the best date to book your wedding, there are a few wedding dates to avoid. It could be a public holiday, which can mean a spike in costs, or it could be a personally significant day that you need to keep free. If you’re hosting your wedding during a big sporting event, you might find guests' attention split between you and the match.
If you do decide to book your wedding around a bank holiday [and it can be a seriously smart idea!], you need to be aware that they can be moved. The UK Government have just announced an extra bank holiday in 2023 to celebrate King Charles' Coronation; we'll now all be able to enjoy a third long weekend in May!
If you're in the process of booking your wedding venue, make sure you check out the wedding dates to avoid to ensure you don't have any unfortunate clashes. We’ve put together a list of UK wedding dates in 2023, 2024 and 2025 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 dates 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 four years.
Friday 13th Dates in 2023
Friday 13th January
Friday 13th October
Friday 13th Dates in 2024
Friday 13th September
Friday 13th December
Friday 13th Dates in 2025
Friday 13th June
Big Sporting Events
Unsplash / Jakob Owens
We don’t need to remind you what couples who married on the day of the England’s FIFA World Cup semi-final had to contend with. Guests were watching the match secretly on their phones as the couple walked down the aisle, sneaking out the reception to get a score update, and even pulling a last-minute sickie!
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 prime summer Saturdays, after all], but it’s worth bearing in mind you might need to arrange some screening opportunities for sporting fans.
READ MORE: The Most Affordable Wedding Dates and Months to Marry
Sporting Dates to Avoid in 2023
Sunday 5th February – Super Bowl
Thursday 9th February to Sunday 26th March – Cricket World Cup
Friday 9th June to Sunday 25th June – European Games
Friday 8th September to Saturday 21st October – Rugby World Cup
Sunday 22nd October to Sunday 5th November – Pan American Games
Sporting Dates to Avoid in 2024
Sunday 11th February - Super Bowl
Friday 14th June to Sunday 14th July - UEFA Euro 2024
July 1st - July 14th - Wimbledon
Friday 26th July to Sunday 11th August - Summer Olympics
Wednesday 28th August to Sunday 8th September - Paralympic Games
Sporting Dates to Avoid in 2025
February to March [dates TBC] - Rugby Six Nations [hosted in the UK, Ireland, France and Italy]
February [TBC] - Super Bowl
April [ends on 1st May] - World Snooker Championship [Sheffield]
May [TBC] - FA Cup Final
June to July [TBC] - Wimbledon
Important Personal Days
To avoid any family politics, you may want to check your personal diary for milestone birthdays, upcoming weddings of family members 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’re planning on getting 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.
READ MORE: Could a Micro Wedding Be Right For You?
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 far in advance.
If you’re planning to steer clear of public holidays, here’s a list of all the 2023, 2024 and 2025 UK wedding dates you might want to avoid when booking your special day.
For events such as the King and Queen Consort's coronation, you might want to lean into the theme - we're thinking crowns and thrones for you both, a wedding reception game where you drink anytime someone mentions the King and perhaps a screen area for people who want to view the historic moment.
UK Wedding Dates to Avoid in 2023
Sunday 1st January
New Year’s Day
Monday 2nd January
Bank Holiday [Substitute for New Year’s Day]
Tuesday 3rd January
Public Holiday [Scotland]
Tuesday 1st March
St David’s Day [Wales]
Friday 17th March
St Patrick’s Day
Sunday 19th March
Mother’s Day
Saturday 1st April
April Fools’ Day
Friday 7th April – Monday 10th April
Good Friday, Easter Weekend, Easter Sunday and Easter Monday
Saturday 29th April – Monday 1st May
Early May Bank Holiday Weekend
Saturday 6th May
The King and Queen Consort's Coronation
Monday 8th May
King's Coronation Bank Holiday
Saturday 27th – Monday 29th May
Spring Bank Holiday Weekend
Saturday 18th June
Father’s Day
Wednesday 12th July
Battle of the Boyne [Northern Ireland]
Saturday 5th – Monday 7th August
Summer Bank Holiday [Scotland]
Saturday 26th – Monday 28th August
August Bank Holiday Weekend
Sunday 27th – Monday 28th August
Notting Hill Carnival
Saturday 28th October – Monday 30th October
Weekend Nearest to Halloween
Sunday 5th November
Guy Fawkes Night
Saturday 11th November
Remembrance Day
Tuesday 14th November
King Charles' Birthday
Thursday 30th November
St Andrew’s Day [Scotland]
Sunday 24th – Tuesday 26th December
Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and Boxing Day
UK Wedding Dates to Avoid in 2024
Monday 1st January
New Year’s Day
Tuesday 2nd January
Public Holiday [Scotland]
Friday 1st March
St David’s Day [Wales]
Sunday 10th March
Mother’s Day
Sunday 17th March
St Patrick’s Day
Friday 29th March – Monday 1st April
Good Friday, Easter Weekend, Easter Sunday and Easter Monday
Monday 1st April
April Fools Day
Saturday 4th – Monday 6th May
Early May Bank Holiday Weekend
Saturday 25th – Monday 27th May
Spring Bank Holiday Weekend
Sunday 16th June
Father’s Day
Friday 12th July
Battle of the Boyne [Northern Ireland]
Saturday 3rd – Monday 5th August
Bank Holiday Weekend [Scotland]
Saturday 24th – Monday 26th August
Bank Holiday Weekend
Thursday 31st October
Halloween
Tuesday 5th November
Guy Fawkes Night
Sunday 10th November
Remembrance Sunday
Thursday 14th November
King Charles' Birthday
Monday 2nd December
St Andrew’s Day Observed [Scotland]
Tuesday 24th, Friday 25th, Saturday 26th December
Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, Boxing Day
Tuesday 31st December
New Year’s Eve
UK Wedding Dates to Avoid in 2025
Unsplash / Leonardo Miranda
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
Friday 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
Now you have the dates sorted, it’s time to get your wedding budget in order. Here’s our guide of how to plan a wedding for just £3,000 – and not a penny more!