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.
Main Findings
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.
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
Ph.D. – Professor & Chair, Department of Human Development and Family Sciences, College of Education & Human Development – University of Delaware
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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
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Research affiliate at Stanford University and Columbia Business School
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Assistant Professor of Psychology/Counselor – Southwest Baptist University
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Ph.D. – Assistant Professor, Sociology, Anthropology, and Social Work Texas – Tech University
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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
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.