In a surprising shift from recent tradition, the first Saturday in September has officially become the most sought-after date for couples to say 'I do' in England and Wales.
According to the latest data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS), September 2, 2023, saw 3,227 marriages, making it the single most popular day of the year for weddings. This marks a significant departure from the previous trend where Saturdays in July consistently held the top spot.
The Changing Calendar of 'I Do'
While the specific date has changed, the preference for a weekend celebration remains strong. Saturdays continued to dominate the wedding week, accounting for 41.9% of all marriages, equivalent to 93,916 ceremonies. When it comes to the most popular month, August took the crown with 14.3% of marriages (32,121), while September proved most favoured for civil partnerships, with 9.9% (744) taking place.
At the other end of the spectrum, January was the least popular month for both marriages and civil partnerships. The data also confirmed that Christmas Day and Boxing Day remain deeply unpopular for weddings, with just a single marriage recorded on each day in 2023.
A Post-Pandemic Plunge and Partnership Surge
The overall number of marriages in 2023 tells a story of post-pandemic adjustment. The ONS reported a total of 224,402 marriages, a decrease of 9.1% from the 246,897 recorded in 2022. The statistics body attributed this latest drop to a 'post-pandemic spike' the previous year, which was likely fuelled by weddings postponed during lockdowns.
This recent decline contributes to a much longer-term trend, revealing that the number of marriages in England and Wales has plummeted by 44% between 1973 and 2023. In a contrasting trend, civil partnerships saw a notable surge, increasing by nearly 10% to 7,547 from 6,879 the year before.
The average age for opposite-sex couples entering marriage continued to climb, reaching 34.8 years for men and 33 years for women, among the highest averages ever recorded.
The Lockdown's Long Shadow on Wedding Bells
Experts suggest the raw numbers conceal a deeper story. Separate analysis by the Marriage Foundation think-tank points to as many as 100,000 'missing marriages'—couples who postponed their nuptials during the pandemic but have yet to reschedule.
Harry Benson, the foundation's research director, stated that the year-on-year drop 'conceals the long tail of lockdown.' He explained that compared to 2019, the three years post-lockdown saw a combined surplus of only 18,000 weddings, a figure that 'falls far short of the 130,000 drop in weddings during 2020.'
'That so many couples appear to have abandoned their wedding plans is incredibly sad for them, their friends and families,' Mr. Benson said. He also highlighted a potential knock-on effect, noting the 'important psychological purpose' of a wedding where couples 'receive support and affirmation for the most risky decision of their lives.'
