Best Places to Get Married

Adam McCann , Financial WriterJan 29, 2020

Adam McCann , Financial Writer
Jan 29, 2020

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 over $38,000 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 $78 billion wedding industry is growing.

At WalletHub, we understand the logistical and financial stresses of that typically long march to “I do.” So 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 27 key indicators of wedding-friendliness, ranging from average wedding cost to venues and event spaces per capita to hotel availability. Read on for the results, insight from a panel of experts, and a full description of our methodology.

1Main Findings 2Ask the Experts

3Methodology

Main Findings

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Best Places to Get Married in the U.S.

Overall Rank (1=Best)	City	Total Score	‘Costs’ Rank	‘Facilities & Services’ Rank	‘Activities & Attractions’ Rank
1	Orlando, FL	72.15	24	2	7
2	Las Vegas, NV	67.22	77	5	2
3	El Paso, TX	65.15	1	118	55
4	Atlanta, GA	64.32	54	7	13
5	Miami, FL	60.53	98	3	9
6	Tampa, FL	59.76	53	16	12
7	Tulsa, OK	59.76	3	96	49
8	Boise, ID	57.77	6	91	50
9	Las Cruces, NM	57.65	2	163	92
10	Austin, TX	57.38	69	10	20
11	Mobile, AL	56.31	4	107	97
12	Tucson, AZ	56.29	37	64	16
13	Birmingham, AL	56.20	8	57	86
14	Albuquerque, NM	55.98	27	66	28
15	New Orleans, LA	55.89	64	36	11
16	Cincinnati, OH	55.73	42	29	33
17	Los Angeles, CA	55.46	156	4	1
18	Chattanooga, TN	55.37	7	82	95
19	Scottsdale, AZ	55.31	66	31	17
20	Oklahoma City, OK	55.19	25	72	37
21	Knoxville, TN	54.95	17	67	67
22	Portland, OR	54.92	94	12	14
23	Chicago, IL	54.69	124	9	5
24	San Diego, CA	54.63	132	8	6
25	Dallas, TX	53.99	70	23	29
26	Columbia, SC	53.74	33	46	62
27	St. Louis, MO	53.59	72	21	30
28	Houston, TX	53.55	100	11	21
29	Salt Lake City, UT	53.41	75	18	40
30	Springfield, MO	53.28	12	108	88
31	San Antonio, TX	53.25	71	33	25
32	Fort Lauderdale, FL	53.13	88	22	26
33	San Francisco, CA	53.00	159	1	4
34	Columbus, OH	52.83	47	53	34
35	Tempe, AZ	52.52	59	42	36
36	Denver, CO	52.50	104	15	23
37	Laredo, TX	52.40	5	179	120
38	Greensboro, NC	52.35	11	104	102
39	Charlotte, NC	52.24	56	39	48
40	Memphis, TN	51.85	20	97	81
41	Phoenix, AZ	51.80	73	55	24
42	Grand Rapids, MI	51.70	29	62	82
43	Charleston, SC	51.61	102	27	19
44	Nashville, TN	51.41	74	35	31
45	Rapid City, SD	51.34	15	126	96
46	Mesa, AZ	50.88	35	99	64
47	Omaha, NE	50.73	43	88	60
48	Wichita, KS	50.59	18	112	113
49	Shreveport, LA	50.39	9	158	140
50	New York, NY	50.28	165	6	3
51	Gilbert, AZ	50.13	16	128	107
52	Brownsville, TX	50.04	10	180	167
53	Seattle, WA	49.97	129	13	10
54	Lubbock, TX	49.90	28	109	110
55	Colorado Springs, CO	49.87	67	58	43
56	Spokane, WA	49.64	48	87	74
57	Pittsburgh, PA	49.60	96	26	42
58	Louisville, KY	49.25	62	79	56
59	Billings, MT	49.17	30	111	93
60	Gulfport, MS	49.15	14	177	122
61	Kansas City, MO	48.96	63	80	59
62	Baton Rouge, LA	48.94	49	70	84
63	Raleigh, NC	48.93	81	45	54
64	Fort Worth, TX	48.92	80	63	35
65	Chandler, AZ	48.86	39	114	72
66	Fort Smith, AR	48.84	19	175	138
67	St. Petersburg, FL	48.71	61	95	51
68	Amarillo, TX	48.66	36	160	69
69	Fayetteville, NC	48.62	22	125	126
70	Charleston, WV	48.58	13	148	165
71	Lexington-Fayette, KY	48.54	41	133	78
72	Augusta, GA	48.15	26	145	125
73	Cleveland, OH	48.14	79	50	61
74	Corpus Christi, TX	48.10	40	132	99
75	Indianapolis, IN	48.05	84	56	47
76	Jacksonville, FL	47.27	83	78	45
77	Fort Wayne, IN	47.14	23	124	149
78	Little Rock, AR	47.02	38	115	123
79	Montgomery, AL	46.74	31	154	142
80	Jackson, MS	46.67	32	155	150
81	Richmond, VA	46.57	108	34	53
82	Lincoln, NE	46.54	65	130	75
83	Glendale, AZ	46.21	46	146	94
84	Huntington, WV	46.15	21	178	159
85	Madison, WI	46.03	68	102	79
86	Minneapolis, MN	45.96	114	44	39
87	Plano, TX	45.86	78	75	85
88	Reno, NV	45.84	113	48	41
89	Toledo, OH	45.42	34	159	145
90	Fresno, CA	45.39	90	68	66
91	Fargo, ND	45.29	50	139	139
92	Detroit, MI	45.28	86	101	68
93	Overland Park, KS	45.23	51	121	119
94	Columbus, GA	44.85	44	167	151
95	Cedar Rapids, IA	44.75	45	137	147
96	Sacramento, CA	44.62	152	14	22
97	Akron, OH	44.25	55	119	148
98	Bismarck, ND	44.10	52	150	155
99	Missoula, MT	44.06	82	92	104
100	Winston-Salem, NC	44.03	58	136	124
101	Henderson, NV	43.93	95	110	58
102	Bakersfield, CA	43.79	112	71	52
103	Huntsville, AL	43.62	76	134	98
104	Durham, NC	42.53	92	93	105
105	Arlington, TX	42.45	101	113	73
106	Sioux Falls, SD	42.19	89	141	112
107	Cape Coral, FL	41.94	60	176	101
108	Rochester, NY	41.77	119	51	76
109	Tallahassee, FL	41.70	106	85	90
110	Des Moines, IA	41.52	93	123	114
111	Vancouver, WA	41.39	109	61	109
112	Long Beach, CA	41.39	141	32	38
113	North Las Vegas, NV	41.17	105	41	117
114	Buffalo, NY	41.10	118	73	80
115	Washington, DC	40.84	160	20	18
116	Modesto, CA	40.81	116	81	83
117	Anaheim, CA	40.77	147	30	32
118	Honolulu, HI	40.61	172	17	8
119	Casper, WY	40.19	97	144	136
120	Salem, OR	40.06	91	142	134
121	Nampa, ID	40.01	57	181	169
122	San Jose, CA	39.98	154	24	44
123	Garland, TX	39.92	85	151	146
124	Irving, TX	39.91	99	106	127
125	Virginia Beach, VA	38.93	130	76	71
126	Hialeah, FL	38.79	111	94	132
127	Irvine, CA	38.56	136	43	77
128	Port St. Lucie, FL	38.48	87	172	171
129	Philadelphia, PA	38.28	161	40	15
130	Portland, ME	38.23	133	83	65
131	Milwaukee, WI	38.22	140	69	46
132	Aurora, CO	38.21	115	98	129
133	Norfolk, VA	38.08	110	147	111
134	Huntington Beach, CA	37.77	146	38	70
135	Glendale, CA	37.56	144	28	100
136	Cheyenne, WY	37.30	103	171	164
137	St. Paul, MN	36.65	128	90	103
138	Riverside, CA	36.55	143	49	87
139	Santa Ana, CA	36.00	145	47	91
140	Newport News, VA	35.61	117	165	143
141	Garden Grove, CA	35.52	139	77	89
142	Chesapeake, VA	35.39	125	153	118
143	Ontario, CA	35.13	126	103	137
144	Pembroke Pines, FL	34.81	122	127	160
145	West Valley City, UT	34.78	107	173	157
146	Rancho Cucamonga, CA	34.74	127	86	163
147	Peoria, AZ	34.74	123	166	135
148	Baltimore, MD	34.35	157	54	57
149	Anchorage, AK	34.32	131	135	106
150	Oakland, CA	34.19	167	25	63
151	San Bernardino, CA	33.14	138	120	116
152	Grand Prairie, TX	32.41	121	170	156
153	Fontana, CA	32.06	134	129	158
154	Boston, MA	31.67	177	37	27
155	Tacoma, WA	31.55	150	84	144
156	Oceanside, CA	31.55	153	100	121
157	Stockton, CA	31.33	142	140	128
158	Dover, DE	31.33	120	169	179
159	Chula Vista, CA	30.18	151	89	161
160	Aurora, IL	30.06	135	138	176
161	Columbia, MD	29.46	155	117	130
162	Lewiston, ME	29.23	137	182	174
163	Wilmington, DE	28.43	164	52	131
164	New Haven, CT	28.00	149	161	172
165	Santa Rosa, CA	27.88	171	59	115
166	Moreno Valley, CA	27.62	148	157	168
167	Burlington, VT	26.27	158	143	162
168	Santa Clarita, CA	26.05	168	74	152
169	Fremont, CA	25.64	169	65	166
170	Providence, RI	25.33	166	131	141
171	Jersey City, NJ	25.25	176	60	108
172	Newark, NJ	24.68	173	105	133
173	Manchester, NH	23.76	170	152	153
174	Nashua, NH	23.41	163	156	170
175	Oxnard, CA	21.88	175	149	154
176	South Burlington, VT	21.41	162	122	181
177	Yonkers, NY	20.47	181	19	182
178	Worcester, MA	19.04	174	162	178
179	Juneau, AK	18.47	179	168	173
180	Warwick, RI	17.86	178	116	180
181	Bridgeport, CT	16.53	180	174	177
182	Pearl City, HI	7.89	182	164	175

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?
Weddings can often be an economic boost to local businesses. What can local authorities do to encourage weddings in their communities?

Ask the Experts

: Donna A. Tonrey
Psy.D. – Licensed Psychologist, Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, Licensed Professional Counselor, LaSalle University
Read More

: Kate Mielitz
Ph.D., AFC® – Assistant Professor, 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 27 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)
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 (~6.67 Points)
Popularity as a Travel Destination: Full Weight (~3.33 Points)
Foodie-Friendliness: Full Weight (~3.33 Points)
Note: This metric is based on WalletHub’s Best & Worst Foodie Cities ranking.
Weather: Full Weight (~3.33 Points)
Note: This metric is based on WalletHub’s Cities with the Best & Worst Weather ranking.
Amusement & Entertainment: Full Weight (~3.33 Points)
Note: This metric is based on WalletHub’s Most Fun Cities in America ranking.

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

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