Anyone getting married this year should brace themselves and hope it’s not one of 57 dates that could spell disaster...
When it comes to planning a wedding, it’s hard to nail the perfect day – not least because so much of it hinges on the date.
If you’re dreaming of a sunny summer wedding, it will always come loaded with the knowledge that it may well pour with rain, while if you’re opting for midweek nuptials to save a bit of cash, it’s hardly surprising when some people say they can’t make it.
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Let’s just hope that the date you’ve chosen isn’t one of 57 you’d probably be best off avoiding – if anyone attending is a football fan, that is.
That’s right, with football season back in full swing, the key fixtures for the Premier League’s 2023/24 calendar have been announced.
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The folk at Live Football Tickets have pulled them all together to create ‘The Football Widow’s Wedding Planner’, a guide to the dates that may cause a problem for anyone marrying a footy fan or welcoming guests who may be guilty of peering down at their phones all day.
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“August is considered to be the most popular month for UK weddings, with a staggering 15% of all 2023 ceremonies taking place throughout the month,” Live Football Tickets said.
“However, with the Premier League season running from August through to May, many brides and grooms may find themselves sharing the spotlight on their big day.
Full list of dates below
“Eager to help football widows avoid the minefield of football fixtures this season, Live Football Tickets have discovered the most key dates in the 23/24 Premier league calendar that you could potentially be sharing with your big day.
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“According to the findings, there are a total of 57 dates that currently pose a potential clash for avid football fans and their other halves celebrating their wedding day over the next nine months.
"The data reveals over 53 percent of priority fixtures have a three-o'clock kick-off time, while winter weddings prove the best bet when it comes to dates for football lovers."
The main priority fixtures you could be sharing your big day with this season will be the major tournament finals, which take place on 25 February 2024, 25 May 2024, 29 May 2024 and again on 1 June 2024.
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October 2023 has just one football-free weekend, but for those with a winter wedding in the works, things look a little better, with the date showing how after 16 December 2023 there are no priority fixtures until 25 February 2024 - leaving a period of ten weeks in between where you are free of key fixtures.
"With all this in mind, Live Football Tickets has calculated the best time for a wedding to take place would ideally be in between 16/12/2023 and 25/02/2024 as this allows you two weekends free between key fixtures," the site said.
The disaster dates are:
Chelsea v Liverpool – 13 August 2023, 4.30pm
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Tottenham v Manchester United – 19 August 2023, 5.30pm
Manchester City v Newcastle – 19 August 2023, 8pm
West Ham v Chelsea – 20 August 2023, 3pm
Newcastle v Liverpool – 27 August 2023, 4.30pm
Arsenal v Manchester United – 3 September 2023, 4.30pm
Arsenal v Tottenham Hotspur – 24 September 2023, 2pm
Tottenham v Liverpool – 30 September 2023, 5.30pm
Arsenal v Manchester City – 7 October 2023, 3pm
Liverpool v Everton – 21 October 2023, 3pm
Chelsea v Arsenal – 21 October 2023, 3pm
Manchester United v Manchester City – 28 October 2023, 3pm
Newcastle v Arsenal – 4 November 2023, 3pm
Tottenham Hotspur v Chelsea – 4 November 2023, 3pm
Chelsea v Manchester City – 11 November 2023, 3pm
Manchester City v Liverpool – 25 November 2023, 3pm
Newcastle v Chelsea – 25 November 2023, 3pm
Manchester City v Tottenham Hotspur – 2 December 2023, 3pm
Newcastle v Manchester United – 2 December 2023, 3pm
Tottenham Hotspur v West Ham United – 5 December 2023, 7.45pm
Manchester United v Chelsea – 6 December 2023, 8pm
Tottenham v Newcastle – 9 December 2023, 3pm
Liverpool v Manchester United – 16 December 2023, 3pm
Crystal Palace v Brighton – 23 December 2023, 3pm
Liverpool v Arsenal – 23 December 2023, 3pm
Arsenal v West Ham United – 26 December 2023, 3pm
Liverpool v Newcastle – 30 December 2023, 3pm
Manchester United v Tottenham Hotspur – 13 January 2024, 3pm
Newcastle v Manchester City – 31 January 2023, 3pm
Liverpool v Chelsea – 31 January 2024, 8pm
Arsenal v Liverpool – 3 February 2023, 3pm
Brighton v Crystal Palace – 3 February 2023, 3pm
West Ham United v Arsenal – 10 February 2023, 3pm
Manchester City v Chelsea – 17 February 2024, 3pm
Arsenal v Newcastle – 24 February 2023, 3pm
Chelsea v Tottenham Hotspur – 24 February 2024, 3pm
Carabao Cup final – 25 February, TBD
Manchester City v Manchester United – 2 March 2024, 3pm
Chelsea v Newcastle – 9 March 2024, 3pm
Liverpool v Manchester City – 9 March 2024, 3pm
Everton v Liverpool – 16 March 2024, 3pm
Arsenal v Chelsea – 16 March 2024, 3pm
Manchester City v Arsenal – 30 March 2024, 3pm
West Ham United v Tottenham Hotspur – 2 April 2024, 7.45pm
Chelsea v Manchester United – 3 April 2024, 7.45pm
Manchester United v Liverpool – 6 April 2024, 3pm
Newcastle v Tottenham Hotspur – 13 April 2024, 3pm
Manchester United v Newcastle – 20 April 2024, 3pm
Tottenham v Manchester City – 20 April 2024, 3pm
Tottenham Hotspur v Arsenal – 27 April 2024, 3pm
Chelsea v West Ham United – 4 May 2024, 3pm
Liverpool v Tottenham Hotspur – 4 May 2024, 3pm
Manchester United v Arsenal – 11 May 2024, 3pm
Europa League final – 22 May 2024, 8pm
Conference League final – 29 May 2024, TBD
Champions League final – 1 June 2024, 8pm
Jess Hardiman