The Most Popular Dates To Get Married
Many married couples consider their wedding day to be one of the most important days in their life, celebrating their love for each other and commitment to spending the rest of their lives together with their families and friends.
One of the key decisions made by couples planning their nuptials is deciding on the date, be it one that has significance to them or simply avoiding other dates that may complicate the celebrations on their big day, but which days are the most common?
We looked at marriage records from 1996 to 2018, splitting by month, date and day of the week to find out the most popular days couples are choosing to get married.
So, which days are most people choosing to get hitched?
The most popular dates to get married
- 30th of August: 35,008 Marriages
Topping our list of the most popular dates is the 30th of August. This date is popular if your dream wedding is outdoors as it is at the height of summer. The date also sits at the end of the school holidays, so is ideal for inviting families. To top it off, the 30th of August usually coincides with the summer bank holiday weekend, so you can have three full days of celebration without worrying about anybody taking time off work.
- 26th of July: 34,231 Marriages
The second summer day on our list is the 26th of July. Couples tie the knot on this date due to the high likelihood of sunny weather which can put your guests in a good mood and brighten up wedding photos. It also gives you more choice when choosing flowers for the bride’s bouquet. The longer days of July also mean more time to celebrate on the day.
- 6th of September: 33,842 Marriages
Though not as popular as dates in the summer months, the 6th of September is still a popular wedding day. Couples choose this date as the hotter weather still lingers from the summer months. Added to this couples choosing to get hitched on this date enjoy a better choice of venues and avoid the possibility of guests being double-booked, both downsides of summer weddings.
The least popular dates to get married
- 29th of February: 3,417 Marriages
Due to the fact it only occurs every four years, this date has the lowest total marriages. Couples may also be put off tying the knot on this date as their true wedding anniversary would also only occur every four years. Couples may also be put off as the colder weather and shorter days may dampen their celebrations.
- 13th of January: 3,594 Marriages
This date proves to be one of the least popular for marriages, which could be a result of superstitious couples wishing to avoid Friday the 13th as a wedding day. Added to this, the colder and more unpredictable weather, as well as shorter days at this time of year, may cut celebrations short.
- 11th of January: 4,476 Marriages
This date, the second on our list in January, ranks third in our list of the most unpopular marriage dates. The 11th of January may be unpopular with couples and guests alike due to Christmas leaving a dent in their wallets.
The most popular months to get married
August is the most popular month to get married, with 37,579 marriages taking place in total. As August is toward the end of summer, the days are still long, leaving plenty of daylight to celebrate for as long as possible. Also, families with children will find it easy to attend due to the school holidays.
September is the second most popular month for tying the knot with 29,482 marriages in total. This month at the height of autumn is popular as the days are still long and pleasant without being too hot. Guests may also be more inclined to attend as they will have more free time than busier summer months. September may also be popular as it sits just after the peak wedding season in summer, making it cheaper and easier to plan your dream wedding.
The least popular month for wedding days is January with just 6,153 total weddings taking place. With this month being colder, having more unpredictable weather, and shorter days,
couples may be put off a January wedding. It may also be unpopular as a result of Christmas spending making couples reconsider their budgets.
The most popular day of the week to get married
Saturday proves the most popular day of the week to tie the knot, with a total of 116,023 marriages taking place on this day from 1996 to 2018. One advantage of a Saturday wedding is that more of your guests will be available to attend and have fewer time constraints. This means your wedding ceremony can start earlier and reception run late into the evening without worrying about guests having to leave early.
Friday is the second most popular wedding day and the most popular weekday for getting hitched, with 42,652 taking place on this day over the last 22 years. One perk of a Friday wedding is the cost, with Saturdays being the most popular day, shifting the celebrations a day forward can save couples heaps of money. Friday weddings also give everyone attending an extra day to relax and recover.
The least popular wedding day is Tuesday, with just 12,645 marriages taking place on this day. This day is unpopular with couples as the majority of guests will find it difficult to attend unless they have plenty of time to arrange their busy schedules. Also if guests are able to attend, they might not be able to celebrate into the small hours due to work commitments.
Methodology
We began with ONS data on the number of marriages from 1996 to 2018. From this data, we were able to take the total number of marriages split according to day of the week, months, and individual dates. From this, we were able to find the most and least popular dates and days for marriages.
