St Johnstone goalkeeper Alan Mannus will put his love match before football this summer.
The big Northern Irishman international is getting married to partner Leanne on June 6, which would normally be a safe date smack bang in the middle of the close season.
However, the Scottish Cup final is not being played until May 30 and Saints could be waiting on the outcome of that Hampden decider between Inverness Caley Thistle and Falkirk to discover whether or not they are in Europe.
Victory for the Highlanders would mean, as things stand in the league table, that Saints as the fourth-placed Premiership side would go into the Europa League as early as the first qualifying round on July 2, with the draw taking place on June 22.
That would likely result in a return to pre-season training for Tommy Wright’s players on June 15 and Mannus would still be on his honeymoon to Dubai and the Seychelles at that time.
Also, with Northern Ireland going great guns in the Euro 2016 qualifying campaign he would, in normal circumstances, be looking forward to the crucial clash between the province and Romania at Windsor Park on June 13.
However, he will have to give that one a miss.
It all highlights how the summer is getting shorter for teams like Saints, who are attempting to qualify for continental competition for the fourth successive season.
Mannus said: “I have a honeymoon lined up and it will get in the way of pre-season if we get into Europe.
“I get married on June 6, the first weekend after the cup final.
“Leanne and I are going to Dubai and the Seychelles.
“It was booked up 18 months ago and we thought we would be safe with that.
“However, there is always something that crops up in football.
“I’m not sure how it will all turn out because there are four games left and anything can happen.
“There is also a Northern Ireland game in there as well now.
“A couple of the other Saints lads might have holidays booked up as well so we’ll just have to see what happens.
“In the last couple of years it has been difficult organising things as a footballer.
“For example, I was desperate to get back home for my brother’s wedding and it would have been really disappointing if we had missed out because my situation had been taken into account when they set the original date.
“They held it on a Sunday to help me get there so if there had been a game re-scheduled from the Saturday it would have ruined it for us.
“I guess it is the life we choose, though, so I‘m not complaining.”
St Johnstone welcome Inverness to McDiarmid Park on Saturday and victory would move them to just one point behind their opponents, who are sitting in third spot.
Mannus certainly thinks overtaking ICT is not beyond the Perth side in the last few weeks of the campaign.
“If we finish fourth it would be a great achievement – unbelievable,” he said.
“Even fifth spot would make it a good season for us.
“However, third is still possible and all we can look to do is beat Inverness, close the gap and take it step by step.”