The Most Popular Wedding Dates in 2026 and Over Time

Knowing the most popular wedding dates is an essential early step in the process of how to plan your wedding. This way, you can make an active choice to either lean into prime wedding time or to select a less-competitive date. Whichever method you choose for how to pick your wedding date, knowledge is power. Below, find out the most popular dates for weddings then and now, so you can make the best decision for your celebration.

In this article:

• What's the most popular wedding date?
• What are the most popular wedding dates in 2026?
• The Most Popular Wedding Dates in Previous Years
• What to Consider Before Choosing a Popular Wedding Date

Other helpful wedding date articles: Lucky Wedding Dates | Wedding Date Numerology | Wedding Dates to Avoid

What's the most popular wedding date?

According to The Knot Real Weddings Study, the most popular wedding date is usually a Saturday in October, September or June. The Knot data also shows that 17% of couples said that their wedding date was the most important consideration while planning. Here are the factors that influence which wedding dates are most popular:

• Saturdays rule: Saturday is the most popular day to wed, as it's typically convenient for both couples and guests.
• Weather is considered: The most popular wedding dates usually occur during months with temperate weather that's comfortable for outdoor ceremonies.
• Numerical patterns are preferred: Oftentimes, popular wedding dates follow a numerical pattern, like 10/10 or 6/6.
• Long weekends are favorable: Some couples prefer to select wedding dates that happen over long weekends, since it can mitigate time-off needs for guests.

What are the most popular wedding dates in 2026?

Not surprisingly, the top dates of 2026 occur during peak wedding season. And as you'll see below, the most popular day to get married is Saturday. Here are the top five most popular wedding dates of 2026 based on The Knot data.

Top wedding dates of 2026:

• June 6, 2026
• June 20, 2026
• September 19, 2026
• September 26, 2026
• October 10, 2026

The Most Popular Wedding Dates in Previous Years

We can't nail down the most popular wedding date in history (though we assume it was an October Saturday), but we did run the numbers on which days reigned supreme in the last few years.

FEATURED VIDEO FROM THE KNOT

What were the most popular wedding dates in 2025?

The most popular wedding date in 2025 was likely one of the October Saturdays on our list below. While fall has been the most popular season to marry since 2015, according to The Knot data, 2025 was an especially fall-wedding-heavy year. Whether it be because outdoor weddings are more comfortable in the fall or because some venues and vendors may offer lower pricing later in October, autumn nuptials were the thing in 2025.

Top wedding dates of 2025:

• Saturday, September 20, 2025
• Saturday, October 4, 2025
• Saturday, October 11, 2025
• Saturday, October 18, 2025
• Saturday, October 25, 2025

What were the most popular wedding dates in 2024?

The most popular wedding dates in 2024 were scattered across spring, summer and autumn. Did you wed on one of these candidates for the most popular wedding date in 2024?

Top wedding dates of 2024:

• Saturday, May 18, 2024
• Saturday, June 22, 2024
• Saturday, September 14, 2024
• Saturday, September 21, 2024
• Saturday, October 12, 2024

What were the most popular wedding dates in 2023?

As indicated by The Knot data, over 67% of couples married in 2023 during the summer or fall, particularly in October. The most popular wedding date of 2023 likely took place during the Halloween month.

Top wedding dates of 2023:

• Saturday, May 20, 2023
• Saturday, September 23, 2023
• Saturday, October 7, 2023
• Saturday, October 14, 2023
• Saturday, October 20, 2023

What were the most popular wedding dates in 2022?

According to The Knot data, fall was the most popular time to tie the knot in 2022 at 43%. Curious about what the 2022 marriage dates were? Keep reading.

Top wedding dates of 2022:

• Saturday, May 21, 2022
• Saturday, June 18, 2022
• Saturday, October 01, 2022
• Saturday, October 08, 2022
• Saturday, October 22, 2022

What were the most popular wedding dates in 2021?

Similarly, in 2021, fall was the most popular time to get married, according to The Knot Real Weddings Study. The most popular wedding days that year landed in October four out of five times.

Top wedding dates of 2021:

• September 25, 2021
• October 2, 2021
• October 9, 2021
• October 16, 2021
• October 23, 2021

What to Consider Before Choosing a Popular Wedding Date

Now that you know the contenders for the most popular wedding anniversary date of 2026 (and those in past years), it's time to answer whether one of these favored days is a fit for you. In short, it depends—that's why you need to discuss your wedding must-haves with your partner and wedding VIPs before selecting a wedding date. Here's what to think through:

You'll Need to Book Vendors ASAP

Lots of people love September and October weddings, but with so many nuptials taking place at that time, vendor availability can be limited. According to The Knot Real Weddings Study, couples book an average of 13 vendors—that's quite a few calendars to coordinate. With that said, you and your partner need to send those vendor inquiry emails as soon as you find pros you trust to help bring your wedding to life. Trust us, the earlier you're able to do outreach, the better chance you have of booking the vendors you want.

You'll Likely Face Higher Vendor Prices

In addition to needing to book some vendors well in advance to ensure they're available for your wedding, you should also be prepared to pay peak pricing if you choose to marry on a popular wedding date. Reason being: Popular wedding dates fall in the broader prime wedding season, which is a relatively small window for wedding pros to earn their income for the year. Higher demand for a certain wedding date yields higher prices—it's simple math.

You'll Need to Get Ahead of Guests' Schedules

Since the above are the most popular wedding dates, there's a possibility you'll be in "competition" with other to-be-weds. That's why ensuring you ask your loved ones to come to your affair early helps guarantee they say "yes" to you first. So, after confirming your vendors and venue, create your wedding guest list so you can immediately alert your loved ones about your wedding date. (FYI: You can find on-theme save-the-dates and more from The Knot Invitations.) Another way you can urgently tell your guests your date is by posting a reminder on your wedding website.

You'll Likely See a Lower Guest Turnout

Since people will be excited about your union, you'll start to see your online RSVPs rolling in after sending your wedding invitations, but might notice you're getting fewer than you expected. Don't worry: A lower RSVP percentage is a normal side effect of getting married on one of the most common wedding dates. Just be patient and understanding, because even if some people can't attend the main celebration, there are still plenty of prewedding events they can go to to celebrate you and your partner.

Additional reporting by Cathryn Haight.

The Knot Real Weddings Study captured responses from 10,474 US couples married between January 1 and December 31, 2025; respondents were recruited via email invitation from The Knot and/or WeddingWire membership throughout the year 2025. Respondents represent adult couples from all over the country within various ethnicities, income levels, races, ages (18+), sexual orientations and gender identities. To provide the most comprehensive view of 2025 wedding industry trends, this report also includes statistics on weddings from ad hoc studies conducted throughout the year, among both engaged and newlywed couples. In a typical year, The Knot Worldwide conducts research with more than 100,000 couples, guests and wedding professionals globally.