Could the Euros threaten your wedding day?
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It comes around every four years but I’ve been assured by my husband UEFA Euro 2024 is a “once in a lifetime” occasion for Scotland’s national team and their fans.
So much so that he’s travelling to Germany without a game ticket to be in the same country as his beloved team when they may or may not make it out of the group stages.
But what happens if Scotland’s “once in a lifetime” fixtures clash with your own “once in a lifetime” occasion – AKA your wedding day?
Motherwell FC happened to play some crucial game or other on my wedding day and I know my brother-in-law and a close friend were avidly watching the scoreline during the wedding breakfast.
Similarly, I’ve sat beside my husband stealing furtive glances at his phone at a friend’s wedding which clashed with a cup final.
So I know passions run high when a major sporting event happens to fall on the same day as a wedding.
And this summer promises more of the same passion.
This year, data collected by football betting and news experts Footy Accumulators has revealed that if Scotland manage to make it to the final, it’s the game fans will most likely miss due to a wedding!
The research analysed ONS wedding data for the UK from 1999 to 2019 to determine which days typically hold the most weddings.
The dates were then compared to the dates of the Euro 2024 games to find out which games are most likely to be played on the day of a wedding and, crucially, which games may clash with your wedding day.
A spokesperson from Footy Accumulators commented, “Many football fans might say the best day of their life would be seeing their club or country winning major silverware, while others may say their wedding day.
“However, what happens when both of those worlds collide?
“This may be the case for many football fans in 2024 as plans coincide and many end up ‘double-booked’, it’s safe to say you don’t want to be sent off on your wedding day.”
It all kicks off for Scotland on Friday 14th June when they take on the hosts Germany.
With Friday weddings becoming increasingly popular in recent years we reckon there could be some upset couples and footy fans alike.
In fact, between 1999 and 2019 according to the ONS records there have been 18,640 weddings held on 14th June.
Scotland’s next game against Switzerland falls on Wednesday 19th June, a date which has seen 18,758 weddings over the same time period.
And it’s Scotland v Hungary on Sunday 23rd June, a more popular date than the other two with 22,238 weddings held then in the 21 years studied.
If Scotland makes it out of the group stages the next date threatening to overshadow your wedding is 30th June and if they make it to the quarter finals pray your wedding isn’t booked for 5th or 6th July.
The semi-final for Scotland would fall on 9th or 10th July and If Scotland make it all the way to the final of the Euros on 14th July it’s likely to clash with weddings up and down the UK with 24,350 weddings held on that date over the 21 years analysed.
Whether you’re avid members of the tartan army and don’t want to have to miss seeing your team play for victory because of the small matter of your wedding, or you don’t want the beautiful game interfering with your beautiful day there could be some compromises to be made!
Do Scotland play on your wedding day?
Get in touch and let us know if you’ve had to make any provisions to screen the match
