Choosing The Perfect Date For Your UK Wedding In 2022, 2023 and 2024

Imagine it – you’ve just sent out your invitations and you get a call from your friend… your wedding is the same day as the FIFA World Cup Final. Do you try and change the date or do you just accept that half of your guests will have one eye on the live score while you’re saying your vows? This dilemma could’ve been avoided if you’d checked your wedding date didn’t clash with this major sporting evening!

The date you choose can affect the overall cost of your day and may limit your choice of venues so it is helpful to have a good idea of the ideal date when you send venue enquiries. It is helpful to have a few back up dates, as well as knowing which dates you’ll want to avoid from the list below. Whether you’re superstitious, a sports fan or just not sure, we are here to help you choose the perfect date for you.

Make sure you check these lists out first to ensure you have all the information you need to choose your ideal 2022, 2023 or 2024 wedding date.

Jump to:

Superstitious Dates to avoid
Dates of key Sporting Events
Religious Holidays and Holy Dates
Auspicious Hindu Dates
UK Public Holidays

Some questions to ask yourself before selecting a wedding date

Is this date in high demand? If you are choosing a date that is in peak wedding season and on a weekend, you can expect there to be more competition for it and the cost of hire to be more than a date that is off-peak and/or mid-week.
Are your guests going to fully focus on your wedding if you’re sharing it with a day that has a significant meaning such as a sporting event or Mother’s day?
What dates have a special meaning to you that you want to keep separate or share on your wedding day?

Dates That Are In High Demand

Peak wedding season is from May to September. During this time, venues and suppliers are in high demand. So if you’re trying to keep to a budget, try looking for dates that are off-peak (usually November – March).

This is also the same for mid-week weddings. Weekend weddings are often the pricier option, so if you’re working with a smaller budget, a mid-week wedding is a perfect option.

Superstitious? Here are dates to avoid.

If you are superstitious, ‘Friday 13th’ might not be your number one choice for your wedding day. In 2022 the only date to watch out for is Friday 13th May. In 2023, Friday 13th January and Friday 13th October. In 2024, Friday 13th September and Friday 13th December.

Some people are also superstitious about getting married on Valentine’s Day. While February 14th may feel like a romantic option as well as convenient for remembering your anniversary date, studies led by the University of Melbourne found those who marry on February 14th are 37% more likely to split due to the motive of the commitment being swayed by impulse.

Consider Personal Dates

If you have a specific date you want to share your wedding day with such as the anniversary of your first date, then that is such a meaningful option. However, if not, you might want to check through any family milestones that are coming up and avoid those dates so your wedding can be its own day to remember.

For example, marrying on your sister’s 30th birthday may take some of the shine away from your special day or cause some family tension.

Major Sporting Events in 2022, 2023 and 2024

If your guests are fans of sports or you’re a sporting fan yourself, sharing a date with a sporting event might not be the best option. On your wedding day, you may be wanting all of the attention on you, rather than your guests sharing their time between you and the live broadcast on their phones.

On the other hand, you could simply embrace the date and the clash by celebrating your wedding at one of the many sporting venues that are licensed for weddings.

2022

Friday 4th February to Sunday 20th February – Winter Olympic Games
Sunday 6th February – Super Bowl
Friday 4th March to Sunday 13th March – Winter Paralympic Games
Sunday 10th April – Golf Masters Final Day
Sunday 10th July – Wimbledon Final
Wednesday 27th July to Sunday 7th August – Commonwealth Games
Monday 21st November to Sunday 18th December – FIFA World Cup

2023

Sunday 5th February – Super Bowl
Thursday 9th February to Sunday 26th March – Cricket World Cup
Sunday 9th April – Golf Masters Final Day
Friday 9th June to Sunday 25th June – European Games
Sunday 9th July – Wimbledon Final
Friday 8th September to Saturday 21st October – Rugby World Cup
Sunday 22nd October to Sunday 5th November – Pan American Games

2024

Sunday 11th February – Super Bowl
Sunday 14th April – Golf Masters Final Day
Friday 14th June to Sunday 14th July – UEFA Euro 2024
June to July TBC – Wimbledon
Friday 26th July to Sunday 11th August – Summer Olympics
Wednesday 28th August to Sunday 8th September – Paralympic Games

Religious Holidays and Holy Dates

Whether you have faith or are thinking about your guests that do, you may want to be aware of some key religious holidays and holy dates that are observed by many communities in the UK. It’s also important to be aware of certain considerations when choosing a date during a religious holiday or holy date. For example, if you want to be married in a church, some churches will not allow flowers to be present during Lent or choose not to host weddings at all until after Easter Sunday.

Here are the dates of some key religious holidays and holy days to be aware of in 2022, 2023 & 2024.

2022

Lent – Wednesday 2nd March – Thursday 14th April
Holi – Friday 18th March
Ramadan – Saturday 2nd April – Sunday 1st May
Passover – Friday 15th April – Saturday 23rd April
Easter – Sunday 17th April
Eid al-Fitr – Monday 2nd May – Tuesday 3rd May
Raksha Bandhan – Thursday 11th August
Navaratri – Monday 26th September – Wednesday 5th October
Yom Kippur – Tuesday 4th October – Wednesday 5th October
Diwali – Monday 24th October
Hanukkah – Sunday 18th December – Monday 26th December
Christmas – Sunday 25th December

2023

Lent – Wednesday 22nd February – Thursday 6th April
Holi – Wednesday 8th March
Ramadan – Wednesday 22nd March – Thursday 20th April
Passover – Wednesday 5th April – Thursday 13th April
Easter – Sunday 9th April
Eid al-Fitr – Friday 21st April – Saturday 22nd April
Raksha Bandhan – Wednesday 30th August
Navaratri – Sunday 15th October – Tuesday 24th October
Yom Kippur – Sunday 24th September – Monday 25th September
Diwali – Sunday 12th November
Hanukkah – Thursday 7th December – Friday 15th December
Christmas – Monday 25th December

2024

Lent – Wednesday 14th February – Thursday 28th March
Ramadan – Sunday 10th March – Monday 8th April
Holi – Monday 25th March
Easter – Sunday 31st March
Eid al-Fitr – Tuesday 9th April – Wednesday 10th April
Passover – Monday 22nd April – Tuesday 30th April
Raksha Bandhan – Monday 19th August
Navaratri – Thursday 3rd October – Saturday 12th October
Yom Kippur – Friday 11th October – Saturday 12th October
Diwali – Friday 1st November
Christmas – Wednesday 25th December
Hanukkah – Wednesday 25th December – Thursday 2nd January

These dates may vary

Auspicious Dates to Keep a Note of

Choosing an auspicious date for your wedding could be a magical choice due to the suggestion that the date is a sign of a successful future. The lucky feeling you get when you get married could be heightened if you were to choose one of these auspicious dates.

Hindu Auspicious Dates in 2022

January – 15th, 20th, 23rd, 27th, 29th
February – 5th, 11th, 18th, 21st, 22st
March – 4th
April – 17th, 19th, 21th, 22th, 23th, 28th
May – 2nd, 3rd, 9th, 10th, 11th, 12th, 13th, 17th, 18th, 20th, 25th, 26th, 31st
June – 6th, 8th, 11th, 12th, 14th, 15th, 16th, 21st, 22nd
July – 3rd, 5th, 6th, 8th
August
September
October
November – 21st, 24th, 25th, 27th
December – 2nd, 7th, 8th, 9th, 14th

2023

January – 15th, 18th, 20th 25th, 26th, 27th, 30th
February – 6th, 7th, 9th, 10th, 12th, 13th, 14th, 16th, 22nd, 23rd, 27th, 28th
March – 6th, 9th, 11th, 13th
April
May – 3rd, 6th, 8th, 9th, 10th, 11th, 15th, 16th, 20th, 21st, 22nd, 29th, 30th
June – 1st, 3rd, 5th, 6th, 7th, 11th, 12th, 23rd, 26th
July
August
September
October
November – 23rd, 27th, 28th, 29th
December – 6th, 7th, 9th, 15th

2024

January – 17th, 21st, 22nd, 27th, 28th, 31st
February – 2nd, 4th, 8th, 12th, 14th, 17th, 18th, 19th, 26th, 29th
March – 1st, 3rd, 4th, 6th, 7th, 11th
April – 18th 21st, 26th, 28th
May
June – 29th, 30th
July – 3rd, 10th, 12th, 13th, 15th, 17th
August
September
October
November – 17th, 23rd, 25th, 28th, 29th
December – 5th, 9th, 11th

There are plenty of dates above to choose from, However from August to October, it is seen to be a dry few months when it comes to auspicious dates for weddings. If you are wanting to marry in those months then you can ask a professional pandit for the dates you should avoid marrying on and go from there!

Public Holidays to be aware of in 2022, 2023 & 2024

Public holidays are usually a popular time for couples to tie the knot, especially where there is an extra-long weekend! So, you can expect it will be more difficult to find an available date due to high demand. Your guests may have also booked time away for these specific dates way in advance. If you’re not wanting to share your wedding day with a public holiday then these are the dates you need to look out for. Remember, the UK Government has announced an extra bank holiday in 2022 to celebrate the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee. Keep in mind that bank holidays can change, so it’s best to keep an eye on the Government website to stay on top of any changes.

2022

Saturday 1st January – New Year’s Day
Monday 3rd January – Bank Holiday (Substitute for New Year’s Day)
Tuesday 4th January – Public Holiday (Scotland)
Tuesday 1st March – St David’s Day (Wales)
Thursday 17th March – St Patrick’s Day
Sunday 27th March – Mother’s Day
Friday 15th April – Monday 18th April – Good Friday, Easter Weekend, Easter Sunday, and Easter Monday
Monday 2nd May – Early May Bank Holiday
Friday 1st April – April Fools’ Day
Thursday 2nd June – Spring Bank Holiday (moved from 30th May for Queen’s Platinum Jubilee)
Friday 3rd June – Extra Bank Holiday (for Queen’s Platinum Jubilee)
Saturday 11th June – The Queen’s Birthday
Sunday 19th June – Father’s Day
Tuesday 12th July – Battle of the Boyne (Northern Ireland)
Saturday 1st – Monday 3rd August – Summer Bank Holiday (Scotland)
Saturday 27th – Monday 29th August – August Bank Holiday Weekend
Sunday 28th – Monday 29th August – Notting Hill Carnival
Saturday 29th October – Monday 31st October – Weekend Nearest to Halloween
Saturday 5th November – Guy Fawkes Night
Friday 11th November – Remembrance Day
Wednesday 30th November – St Andrew’s Day (Scotland)
Saturday 24th – Monday 26th December – Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and Boxing Day
Tuesday 27th December – Bank Holiday (Substitute for Christmas Day)
Saturday 31st December – New Year’s Eve

2023

Sunday 1^st January – New Year’s Day
Monday 2^nd January – Bank Holiday (Substitute for New Year’s Day)
Tuesday 3^rd January – Public Holiday (Scotland)
Tuesday 1^st March – St David’s Day (Wales)
Friday 17^th March – St Patrick’s Day
Sunday 19^th March – Mother’s Day
Friday 7^th April – Monday 10^th April – Good Friday, Easter Weekend, Easter Sunday and Easter Monday
Saturday 29^th April – Monday 1^st May – Early May Bank Holiday Weekend
Saturday 1^st April – April Fools’ Day
Saturday 27^th – Monday 29^th May – Spring Bank Holiday Weekend
Saturday 10^th June – The Queen’s Birthday
Saturday 18^th June – Father’s Day
Wednesday 12^th July – Battle of the Boyne (Northern Ireland)
Saturday 5^th – Monday 7^th August – Summer Bank Holiday (Scotland)
Saturday 26^th – Monday 28^th August – August Bank Holiday Weekend
Sunday 27^th – Monday 28^th August – Notting Hill Carnival
Saturday 28^th October – Monday 30^th October – Weekend Nearest to Halloween
Sunday 5^th November – Guy Fawkes Night
Saturday 11^th November – Remembrance Day
Thursday 30^th November – St Andrew’s Day (Scotland)
Sunday 24^th – Tuesday 26^th December – Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and Boxing Day
Sunday 31st December – New Year’s Eve

2024

Monday 1^st January 2024 – New Year’s Day
Tuesday 2^ndJanuary – Public Holiday (Scotland)
Friday 1^st March – St David’s Day (Wales)
Sunday 10^th March – Mother’s Day
Sunday 17^th March – St Patrick’s Day
Friday 29^thMarch – Monday 1^st April – Good Friday, Easter Weekend, Easter Sunday and Easter Monday
Monday 1^st April – April Fools Day
Saturday 4^th – Monday 6^th May – Early May Bank Holiday Weekend
Saturday 25^th – Monday 27^th May – Spring Bank Holiday Weekend
Saturday 8^th June – The Queen’s Birthday
Sunday 16^th June – Father’s Day
Friday 12^th July – Battle of the Boyne (Northern Ireland)
Saturday 3^rd – Monday 5^th August – Bank Holiday Weekend (Scotland)
Saturday 24^th – Monday 26^th August – Bank Holiday Weekend
Thursday 31^st October – Halloween
Tuesday 5^th November – Guy Fawkes Night
Sunday 10^th November – Remembrance Sunday
Monday 2^nd December – St Andrew’s Day Observed (Scotland)
Tuesday 24^th, Friday 25^th, Saturday 26^th December – Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, Boxing Day
Tuesday 31^st December – New Year’s Eve

Now you are fully prepared to select the perfect date for your wedding, make sure you are first in line for choosing your wedding venue and head over to the Guides for Brides Wedding Planner to start planning your perfect day.

About the author

Written by: Shivani Dawett

Shivani is Guides for Brides' Digital Marketing Apprentice. A lover of all things wedding, she has a particular eye for fashion and beauty trends. Also a highly skilled dancer and choreographer, Shivani is the best person to speak to if you are wanting first dance advice whether your style is Classic, Bollywood or even Street Dance!