How common is your wedding day? Interactive chart reveals the most popular days to tie the knot in Britain
From weather preferences to venue availability, many factors can influence which day we choose to get married.
But if you’re yet to choose a wedding day, a fascinating new chart can help you make your decision.
Based on data from the Office for National Statistics, the graph shows the average number of marriages per day in England and Wales.
The most popular days (with an average of over 1,500 weddings) are shown in dark red, while the least popular days (less than 100) are shown in dark blue.
So, how common is your wedding day?
The graph shows the average number of weddings on each day of the year in England and Wales over a twenty-year period, from 1999 to 2019.
September 1 is the most popular day to tie the knot – with an average of 1,552 weddings on this day over the twenty-year period.
If you had your wedding on this day, you’ll be sharing your anniversary with some famous faces, including Stevie Wonder, Sarah Michelle Gellar, Seth Meyers and Whoopi Goldberg.
The second most popular is August 25 with an average of 1,543 weddings over the 20-year period, followed by July 28 (1,481 weddings), August 18 (1,478) and August 4 (1,477).
British behavioral scientist Patrick Fagan pointed out that late summer is generally the most popular day for weddings.
“I can imagine that it is mainly people who want to celebrate their wedding when the weather is nice, but not too hot,” Fagan told MailOnline.
American comedian Seth Meyers married human rights lawyer Alexi Ashe on September 1, 2013 (photo)
“I’m not sure why August 11 and 18 don’t fit the pattern very well, although I do see that they are still quite popular, so that could just be noise in the data.”
Mr Fagan himself got married on September 4 – a fairly popular day with just under 1,300 weddings – because it had special meaning for him and his wife.
Ivo Vlaev, professor of behavioral sciences at the University of Warwick, agrees that weather and seasonality play a role.
‘August and September are popular due to favorable weather, which makes outdoor ceremonies and receptions more enjoyable,’ Professor Vlaev told MailOnline.
‘Couples prefer dates with less weather uncertainty (summer) to avoid the potential ‘loss’ of a rainy wedding day, which can be a significant emotional and financial setback.
Musician Stevie Wonder married fashion designer Kai Millard on September 1, 2001, but filed for divorce eleven years later
American actress Whoopi Goldberg and Dutch cameraman David Claessen (photo) married on September 1, 1986
‘The end of July and August also coincide with the school holidays, making it easier for families with children to attend.’
Unsurprisingly, the data shows that Christmas Day is the least popular day to get married, with an average of only five couples getting married on December 25.
The second least popular is Boxing Day (23 weddings), followed by New Year’s Day (38 weddings) – presumably because engaged couples know loved ones will be celebrating or still recovering from festive indulgences.
“It is no surprise that Christmas is the least popular, probably due to high travel costs, family commitments and the cold weather,” says Professor Vlaev, who is engaged but has yet to choose his wedding date.
Other unpopular choices are January 13 (134 marriages), January 11 (172), January 18 (182), January 17 (192), and January 14 (208).
February is also generally avoided, although there is one notable outlier that month that won’t come as a shock.
From weather preferences to venue availability, many factors can influence which day we choose to get married (stock image)
“It’s nice to see Valentine’s Day breaking the mold and being popular in the winter, but not really surprising why,” says Fagan.
Aside from practical reasons, choosing personally significant dates – such as the same day a couple first met – can be important.
Memorable numbers (for example, the first of the month) can also help spouses remember their wedding anniversary for years to come.
“Some dates may have cultural or personal significance and contribute to their popularity,” Professor Vlaev added.
Furthermore, couples may even choose dates that are popular within their social circles, as seeing friends or family getting married during these months can influence their decision.