Best Places to Get Married

Adam McCann, Financial WriterFeb 8, 2022

Adam McCann, Financial Writer
Feb 8, 2022

Anyone who’s ever organized a wedding knows all too well how difficult and time-consuming the process can be. It’s the reason many couples hire professional event planners to do the heavy lifting. And the cost only adds more stress, with the average couple shelling out around $22,500 for their big day.

Between sending invitations, securing reservations, planning a menu and obsessing over final touches on the cake, it’s no wonder weddings are arranged months, even years, in advance. Tying the knot is a huge commitment, and the wedding industry is current worth around $56.7 billion, down quite a bit from $78 billion a few years earlier due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

At WalletHub, we understand the logistical and financial stresses of that typically long march to “I do.” In order to assist with the planning process, we compared more than 180 U.S. cities to find the cheapest and most convenient wedding destinations that also promise a memorable day. We examined each city across 28 key indicators of wedding-friendliness, ranging from average wedding cost to venues and event spaces per capita to hotel availability.

Table of Contents

Main Findings

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Best Places to Get Married in the U.S.

Overall Rank	City	Total Score	Costs	Facilities & Services	Activities & Attractions
1	Orlando, FL	76.04	15	1	6
2	Las Vegas, NV	73.65	18	4	4
3	Miami, FL	65.98	75	2	7
4	Knoxville, TN	62.22	5	56	66
5	Tulsa, OK	61.64	2	83	60
6	El Paso, TX	60.98	10	112	36
7	Tampa, FL	60.86	48	9	16
8	Laredo, TX	60.42	1	179	73
9	Atlanta, GA	60.40	68	3	34
10	Charleston, WV	60.28	4	128	134
11	Tucson, AZ	60.09	25	59	17
12	Boise, ID	59.55	9	86	64
13	Albuquerque, NM	59.05	23	66	25
14	Las Cruces, NM	58.52	3	159	76
15	Fort Lauderdale, FL	57.97	64	11	22
16	Rapid City, SD	56.48	21	98	63
17	Fayetteville, NC	56.36	6	132	133
18	Houston, TX	56.15	81	16	21
19	Chattanooga, TN	55.98	17	73	104
20	Oklahoma City, OK	55.79	31	74	46
21	Salt Lake City, UT	55.73	88	8	31
22	Cincinnati, OH	55.60	56	27	41
23	Amarillo, TX	55.23	8	150	131
24	Austin, TX	55.23	101	12	15
25	Columbia, SC	55.03	43	39	58
26	Lubbock, TX	54.81	12	115	165
27	Brownsville, TX	54.50	7	181	145
28	Reno, NV	54.37	50	48	42
29	Chicago, IL	54.32	114	23	5
30	Fresno, CA	54.18	29	72	65
31	Raleigh, NC	53.52	65	43	40
32	Shreveport, LA	53.18	11	140	174
33	New Orleans, LA	53.11	102	37	13
34	Wichita, KS	53.04	13	116	155
35	Nashville, TN	52.97	70	41	38
36	Fort Smith, AR	52.93	20	172	152
37	Charlotte, NC	52.81	63	46	51
38	St. Louis, MO	52.76	93	17	48
39	Birmingham, AL	52.71	35	50	137
40	Greensboro, NC	52.65	30	76	108
41	Phoenix, AZ	52.54	85	40	32
42	North Las Vegas, NV	52.45	22	44	162
43	Tempe, AZ	52.45	76	36	49
44	Billings, MT	52.42	32	118	88
45	Charleston, SC	52.38	99	31	23
46	San Antonio, TX	52.09	90	49	27
47	Kansas City, MO	52.07	45	64	70
48	Denver, CO	52.01	119	13	14
49	Lexington-Fayette, KY	51.98	33	133	83
50	Springfield, MO	51.96	26	103	147
51	Grand Rapids, MI	51.73	51	52	91
51	Augusta, GA	51.67	14	119	179
53	Port St. Lucie, FL	51.64	19	166	157
54	St. Petersburg, FL	51.64	54	93	45
55	Dallas, TX	51.40	100	24	39
56	Mobile, AL	51.40	28	105	150
57	Baton Rouge, LA	51.36	44	61	95
58	Jacksonville, FL	51.27	61	67	53
59	Henderson, NV	51.22	24	171	94
60	Des Moines, IA	50.88	36	121	96
61	Los Angeles, CA	50.71	149	7	2
62	Hialeah, FL	50.51	46	87	85
63	Memphis, TN	50.47	38	104	114
64	Huntington, WV	50.25	16	180	177
65	Portland, OR	50.18	124	19	12
66	Scottsdale, AZ	50.10	111	29	29
67	Louisville, KY	50.00	67	78	55
68	Richmond, VA	49.89	83	28	100
69	Cleveland, OH	49.31	79	55	68
70	Seattle, WA	49.31	138	15	8
71	Spokane, WA	49.13	59	94	90
72	Omaha, NE	49.09	73	99	52
73	Corpus Christi, TX	49.05	42	145	124
74	Minneapolis, MN	48.97	107	45	30
75	San Francisco, CA	48.84	164	5	1
76	Pittsburgh, PA	48.59	115	32	35
77	Fort Wayne, IN	48.56	27	134	173
78	Columbus, OH	48.38	94	71	50
79	Gilbert, AZ	48.33	41	135	136
80	Fort Worth, TX	48.26	98	60	56
81	Montgomery, AL	48.25	34	144	166
82	Detroit, MI	48.04	58	101	110
83	Fargo, ND	47.76	53	131	127
84	Toledo, OH	47.58	39	153	149
85	Jackson, MS	47.52	40	158	158
86	Missoula, MT	47.42	69	114	98
87	San Diego, CA	47.39	150	6	10
88	Bismarck, ND	47.39	47	174	169
89	Sacramento, CA	47.34	137	10	20
90	Winston-Salem, NC	47.24	52	143	125
91	Little Rock, AR	47.20	49	111	154
92	Bakersfield, CA	47.07	89	70	86
93	Gulfport, MS	46.91	55	160	112
94	Durham, NC	46.64	96	79	79
95	Mesa, AZ	46.54	77	110	84
96	Columbus, GA	46.47	37	148	182
97	Indianapolis, IN	46.46	103	63	61
98	Glendale, AZ	46.33	62	146	106
99	Cape Coral, FL	46.04	57	175	115
100	Overland Park, KS	46.01	91	109	80
101	Milwaukee, WI	45.98	104	97	54
102	Chandler, AZ	45.93	86	123	92
103	Lincoln, NE	45.87	97	124	71
104	Arlington, TX	45.54	82	113	99
105	Casper, WY	45.52	87	154	140
106	Anaheim, CA	45.46	135	22	28
107	Cheyenne, WY	45.41	71	163	159
108	Plano, TX	45.22	105	75	78
109	Colorado Springs, CO	45.08	117	62	47
110	Huntsville, AL	44.99	78	122	128
111	Sioux Falls, SD	44.94	84	120	120
112	Norfolk, VA	44.63	72	138	129
113	Portland, ME	44.62	127	81	9
114	Nampa, ID	44.44	66	177	176
115	Irving, TX	44.41	92	91	144
116	Newport News, VA	44.23	60	157	163
117	Akron, OH	44.06	74	108	156
118	Vancouver, WA	43.54	110	58	109
119	Glendale, CA	42.60	129	21	89
120	West Valley City, UT	42.47	95	178	72
121	Washington, DC	42.25	155	18	18
122	Madison, WI	42.18	122	107	37
123	Tallahassee, FL	42.07	108	102	126
124	New York, NY	42.02	170	25	3
125	Chesapeake, VA	41.77	80	147	180
126	Rochester, NY	41.04	132	54	57
127	Santa Ana, CA	40.80	131	47	74
128	Buffalo, NY	40.70	125	80	62
129	Cedar Rapids, IA	40.51	106	130	148
130	Pembroke Pines, FL	40.45	116	117	130
131	Aurora, CO	40.20	120	96	105
132	Philadelphia, PA	39.68	154	51	19
133	Salem, OR	39.41	112	142	143
134	San Jose, CA	39.40	158	26	24
135	Honolulu, HI	39.36	173	14	11
136	Garden Grove, CA	39.16	130	89	67
137	Rancho Cucamonga, CA	39.14	113	95	175
138	Baltimore, MD	39.13	143	57	59
139	Long Beach, CA	38.99	153	34	43
140	St. Paul, MN	38.68	126	100	93
141	Garland, TX	38.60	109	155	164
142	Virginia Beach, VA	38.53	134	85	77
143	Oakland, CA	38.24	157	30	33
144	Modesto, CA	37.47	128	90	118
145	Riverside, CA	37.24	142	53	116
146	Peoria, AZ	36.55	121	164	151
147	San Bernardino, CA	36.54	123	126	153
148	Tacoma, WA	36.00	144	65	123
149	Wilmington, DE	35.87	161	33	44
150	Stockton, CA	35.51	136	141	113
151	Columbia, MD	35.34	148	127	69
152	Chula Vista, CA	35.33	133	88	160
153	Grand Prairie, TX	34.64	118	173	171
154	Huntington Beach, CA	34.27	160	42	81
155	Boston, MA	34.01	177	38	26
156	Lewiston, ME	33.89	141	182	103
157	Irvine, CA	33.74	167	35	75
158	Ontario, CA	33.30	146	82	167
159	Fontana, CA	32.80	139	136	172
160	Aurora, IL	32.60	140	149	170
161	Santa Clarita, CA	32.52	151	84	142
162	Jersey City, NJ	32.20	162	69	87
163	Anchorage, AK	31.55	152	139	111
164	Fremont, CA	31.45	159	77	102
165	Yonkers, NY	30.36	171	20	168
166	Oceanside, CA	30.35	156	92	146
167	Dover, DE	30.33	145	161	181
168	Moreno Valley, CA	29.50	147	156	178
169	Providence, RI	28.87	165	125	97
170	Newark, NJ	28.65	166	106	119
171	Santa Rosa, CA	28.46	175	68	82
172	Manchester, NH	27.34	163	168	135
173	New Haven, CT	26.97	168	165	107
174	Nashua, NH	25.94	169	169	117
175	Warwick, RI	24.77	178	129	101
176	Juneau, AK	24.53	174	170	121
177	Burlington, VT	24.10	176	152	138
178	Worcester, MA	23.47	172	162	161
179	Oxnard, CA	22.82	179	137	139
180	Bridgeport, CT	19.85	180	167	132
181	South Burlington, VT	19.49	181	151	141
182	Pearl City, HI	13.67	182	176	122

Note: With the exception of “Total Score,” all of the columns in the table above depict the relative rank of that city, where a rank of 1 represents the best conditions for that metric category.

artwork 2022s best and worst cities to get married

Ask the Experts

Marriage is not only a big life decision, but it also can be a hefty financial commitment, because how much money you have usually determines the extravagance and location of the wedding. But some couples have far fewer resources to spend on their special day. For advice on such matters and how to boost the local economy through the wedding business, we turned to a panel of experts in family studies, personal finance and local administration. Click on the experts’ profiles to read their bios and thoughts on the following key questions:

What factors should couples consider when setting a budget for their wedding?
How should a couple decide where to get married?
What tips do you have for a couple planning a wedding and hoping to stay on budget?
Has the pandemic changed the wedding services industry?
Weddings can often be an economic boost to local businesses. What measures can local authorities undertake in order to stimulate weddings in their respective communities?

Ask the Experts

Bahira Sherif Trask
Ph.D. – Professor & Chair, Department of Human Development and Family Sciences, College of Education & Human Development – University of Delaware
Read More

Naomi R. Cahn
Justice Anthony M. Kennedy Distinguished Professor of Law, Nancy L. Buc ’69 Research Professor in Democracy and Equity; Director, Family Law Center, School of Law – University of Virginia
Read More

Christos A. Makridis
Research affiliate at Stanford University and Columbia Business School
Read More

Bill Walkup
Assistant Professor of Psychology/Counselor – Southwest Baptist University
Read More

Brandon Wagner
Ph.D. – Assistant Professor, Sociology, Anthropology, and Social Work Texas – Tech University
Read More

Paula Tripp and Sissy R. Osteen
Ph.D, Teaching Professor, Human Development & Family Science – Oklahoma State University in collaboration with Sissy R. Osteen – Ph.D, CFP®, Associate Professor and Department Head Emeritus, Human Development and Family Science – Oklahoma State University
Read More

More Experts

Methodology

In order to identify the best and worst cities in which to tie the knot, WalletHub compared 182 cities — including the 150 most populated U.S. cities, plus at least two of the most populated cities in each state — across three key dimensions: 1) Costs, 2) Facilities & Services and 3) Activities & Attractions.

We examined those dimensions using 28 relevant metrics, which are listed below with their corresponding weights. Each metric was graded on a 100-point scale, with a score of 100 representing the most favorable conditions for weddings. For metrics marked with an asterisk (*), we used the square root of the population to calculate the population size in order to avoid overcompensating for minor differences across cities.

We then determined each city’s weighted average across all metrics to calculate its overall score and used the resulting scores to rank-order our sample.

Costs – Total Points: 60

Average Wedding Cost: Triple Weight (~30.00 Points)
Price of a Three-Star Hotel Room: Full Weight (~10.00 Points)
Note: “Restaurant Meal” refers to a three-course meal for two.
Restaurant-Meal Costs: Full Weight (~10.00 Points)
Note: “Restaurant Meal” refers to a three-course meal for two.
Prevalence of Affordable Wedding Logistics: Full Weight (~10.00 Points)
Note: This metric measures the prevalence of affordable restaurants and wedding venues with ratings of at least 4.5 stars.

Facilities & Services – Total Points: 20

Wedding Chapels & Churches per Capita*: Full Weight (~1.14 Points)
Venues & Event Spaces per Capita*: Full Weight (~1.14 Points)
Party-Equipment Rentals per Capita*: Full Weight (~1.14 Points)
Photo Booth Rentals per Capita*: Half Weight (~0.57 Points)
Event Planners per Capita: Full Weight (~1.14 Points)
Videographers & Photographers per Capita: Full Weight (~1.14 Points)
Musicians & DJs per Capita: Full Weight (~1.14 Points)
Makeup Artists & Hair Salons per Capita*: Full Weight (~1.14 Points)
Bridal Shops per Capita*: Full Weight (~1.14 Points)
Flower & Gift Shops per Capita*: Full Weight (~1.14 Points)
Limousine Rentals per Capita*: Full Weight (~1.14 Points)
Hotels per Capita*: Full Weight (~1.14 Points)
Restaurants & Bars per Capita*: Full Weight (~1.14 Points)
Catering Companies per Capita*: Full Weight (~1.14 Points)
Bartenders per Capita*: Full Weight (~1.14 Points)
Floral Designers per Capita*: Full Weight (~1.14 Points)
Cake Shops per Capita*: Full Weight (~1.14 Points)
Wedding/Bridal Fairs*: Full Weight (~1.14 Points)

Activities & Attractions – Total Points: 20

Number of Attractions: Double Weight (~5.00 Points)
Popularity as a Travel Destination: Full Weight (~2.50 Points)
Percentage of Residents Who Are Fully Vaccinated: Double Weight (~5.00 Points)
Foodie-Friendliness: Full Weight (~2.50 Points)
Note: This metric is based on WalletHub’s “Best & Worst Foodie Cities” ranking.
Weather: Full Weight (~2.50 Points)
Note: This metric is based on WalletHub’s “Cities with the Best & Worst Weather” ranking.
Amusement & Entertainment: Full Weight (~2.50 Points)
Note: This metric is based on WalletHub’s “Most Fun Cities in America” ranking.

Sources: Data used to create this ranking were collected from the U.S. Census Bureau, Bureau of Labor Statistics, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Wedding Report, Kayak.com, Numbeo, TripAdvisor, Travbuddy.com, Yelp, Eventbrite and WalletHub research.

Supporting Video Files:

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