The Key Wedding Dates to Avoid in 2026, 2027 & 2028
- Confetti & Curves
- Mar 17
- 5 min read
At the beginning of your wedding planning journey? Considering your wedding date? Be sure to check out this list of Key Wedding Dates to Avoid in 2026, 2027 & 2028 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 you may want to avoid in 2026, 2027 and 2028. 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. For instance, hosting a wedding during the World Cup Final could divide your guests' attention between you and the match. Not ideal!
While booking your wedding around a bank holiday can be a smart decision, it's crucial to keep in mind that these holidays can change. Therefore, it's important to monitor the dates and adhere to the official list of bank holidays in the UK.
Researchers at the University of Melbourne have identified a wedding date that you should definitely avoid in 2026, 2027, or any other year! After analysing one million married couples, they discovered that couples who wed on February 14th (Valentine's Day) are most likely to divorce. 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!?
However, there are numerous other dates that couples should steer clear of. We’ve put together a list of UK wedding dates in 2026, 2027 and 2028 that you might want to avoid when planning your big day.
Friday the 13th Days
If you’re superstitious, you might want to avoid all Friday 13th dates. 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 three years!
2026
Friday 13th February
Friday 13th March
Friday 13th November
2027
Friday 13th August
2028
Friday 13th October
The Big Sporting Events
Major sporting events can have a bigger impact on your wedding day than you might expect.
With tournaments like the World Cup, Euros, Wimbledon, and even major finals in football and rugby, guests can easily become distracted, especially if there’s a big match involving England or a team they support.
We’ve seen it happen… phones coming out during the reception, guests slipping away to check the score, or quietly gathering around a bar TV. This may not be the ideal vibe for your wedding day - unless you embrace it and join them!
Key Events to Be Aware Of
Over the next few years, keep an eye on:
UEFA Euro 2028 (UK & Ireland)
FIFA World Cup 2026 (June–July)
Summer sporting calendar (Wimbledon, finals season, international tournaments)
These events often fall right in the middle of peak wedding season, which makes clashes more likely.
Sporting Wedding Dates in 2026
Saturday 16th May – FA Cup Final
Wednesday 27th May – UEFA Conference League Final
Saturday 30th May – UEFA Champions League Final
June – July – FIFA World Cup 2026 (USA, Canada & Mexico)
Late June – Early July (TBC) – Wimbledon
Sporting Wedding Dates in 2027
Friday 5th February – Saturday 13th March – Rugby Six Nations
Sunday 14th February – Super Bowl
April 17th – May 3rd (approx.) – World Snooker Championship
Saturday 15th May – FA Cup Final
Wednesday 26th May – UEFA Europa League Final
Saturday 29th May – UEFA Champions League Final
Monday 28th June – Sunday 11th July – Wimbledon
Sporting Wedding Dates in 2028
February – March (TBC) – Rugby Six Nations
Sunday 13th February – Super Bowl
April 15th – May 1st (approx.) – World Snooker Championship
Saturday 13th May – FA Cup Final
Wednesday 24th May – UEFA Europa League Final
Saturday 27th May – UEFA Champions League Final
Friday 9th June – Sunday 9th July – UEFA Euro 2028 (UK & Ireland)
Semi-finals: 4th–5th July
Final: Sunday 9th July (Wembley)
Monday 26th June – Sunday 9th July – 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, or 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 2026, 2027 and 2028 UK bank holiday dates you might want to avoid when booking your wedding day.
2026 Bank Holidays to Avoid
Thursday 1st January – New Year’s Day
Friday 3rd April – Good Friday
Monday 6th April – Easter Monday
Monday 4th May – Early May Bank Holiday
Monday 25th May – Spring Bank Holiday
Monday 31st August – Summer Bank Holiday
Friday 25th December – Christmas Day
Monday 28th December – Boxing Day (substitute)
2027 Bank Holidays to Avoid
Friday 1st January – New Year’s Day
Friday 26th March – Good Friday
Monday 29th March – Easter Monday
Monday 3rd May – Early May Bank Holiday
Monday 31st May – Spring Bank Holiday
Monday 30th August – Summer Bank Holiday
Monday 27th December – Christmas Day (substitute)
Tuesday 28th December – Boxing Day (substitute)
2028 Bank Holidays to Avoid
Monday 3rd January – New Year’s Day (substitute)
Friday 14th April – Good Friday
Monday 17th April – Easter Monday
Monday 1st May – Early May Bank Holiday
Monday 29th May – Spring Bank Holiday
Monday 28th August – Summer Bank Holiday
Monday 25th December – Christmas Day
Tuesday 26th December – Boxing Day
Peak Wedding Season Dates
Late spring and summer Saturdays are the most in-demand wedding dates every year.
That means:
Higher prices
Less availability
More competition for suppliers
For example, dates like June and August Saturdays consistently rank among the most popular wedding dates in the UK. If you’re set on a Saturday between May and September, just be prepared to book early and potentially pay a premium.
There’s no such thing as a “perfect” wedding date. It’s all about balance.
If your dream venue is available on a bank holiday or peak summer Saturday, it might still be worth it. But if you’re flexible, choosing a slightly less obvious date can offer better availability, more suppliers and sometimes bring down the overall cost.
Now that you have the dates sorted, it’s time to get your wedding dress! Click here and start browsing our beautiful selection of curvy bridal and when you're ready, book your appointment online.
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