Posted by: Adam McCann

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 $35,000 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 $76 billion wedding industry is growing by the year.

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, our analysts 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 23 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.

1. Main Findings
2. Ask the Experts
3. Methodology

 

Main Findings

Embed on your website<iframe src="//d2e70e9yced57e.cloudfront.net/wallethub/embed/18721/geochart-married.html" width="556" height="347" frameBorder="0" scrolling="no"></iframe> <div style="width:556px;font-size:12px;color:#888;">Source: <a href="http://bit.ly/2noXmXk>  

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	75.67	37	2	5
2	Las Vegas, NV	72.44	68	5	3
3	Atlanta, GA	68.38	56	6	11
4	Los Angeles, CA	67.95	147	4	1
5	Miami, FL	64.73	110	3	15
6	San Diego, CA	63.52	128	8	6
7	San Francisco, CA	63.20	171	1	4
8	Chicago, IL	61.05	129	9	7
9	New York, NY	60.73	169	7	2
10	Portland, OR	59.69	99	12	9
11	Austin, TX	59.29	79	11	19
12	Seattle, WA	57.63	134	10	10
13	Tampa, FL	57.59	72	21	17
14	Tucson, AZ	57.50	14	60	12
15	Houston, TX	56.86	81	17	21
16	St. Louis, MO	56.72	65	16	27
17	Denver, CO	55.70	105	13	23
18	New Orleans, LA	55.63	74	29	16
19	Cincinnati, OH	54.43	45	24	31
20	Sacramento, CA	54.20	130	14	20
21	Albuquerque, NM	53.87	8	77	25
22	Dallas, TX	53.81	70	23	29
23	Knoxville, TN	53.74	3	57	56
24	Scottsdale, AZ	53.37	83	28	22
25	Salt Lake City, UT	53.33	85	18	35
26	San Antonio, TX	53.30	60	31	26
27	Phoenix, AZ	51.87	71	53	18
28	Fort Lauderdale, FL	51.62	77	27	32
29	El Paso, TX	51.53	1	126	60
30	Washington, DC	50.91	151	19	13
31	Boise City, ID	50.73	7	84	48
32	Honolulu, HI	50.64	164	15	14
33	Philadelphia, PA	50.43	142	37	8
34	Nashville, TN	50.18	44	40	39
35	Pittsburgh, PA	50.15	94	25	36
36	Oklahoma City, OK	50.09	23	64	40
37	Columbia, SC	49.74	22	50	62
38	Charleston, SC	48.91	117	30	28
39	Minneapolis, MN	48.44	97	38	33
40	Richmond, VA	48.41	89	32	45
41	Columbus, OH	47.95	43	62	41
42	Charlotte, NC	47.93	54	44	50
43	Greensboro, NC	46.93	2	95	103
44	Kansas City, MO	46.90	57	68	37
45	Reno, NV	46.79	103	42	34
46	Tulsa, OK	46.71	20	96	59
47	Birmingham, AL	46.68	26	48	79
48	Louisville, KY	46.23	39	72	54
49	Tempe, AZ	46.17	61	69	42
50	Indianapolis, IN	46.13	63	55	52
51	Memphis, TN	45.65	24	99	65
52	Chattanooga, TN	45.32	9	101	80
53	Cleveland, OH	45.07	87	45	55
54	Spokane, WA	44.84	28	83	73
55	Anaheim, CA	44.82	144	34	30
56	Raleigh, NC	44.51	64	52	68
57	Springfield, MO	44.20	18	100	78
58	Fort Worth, TX	43.98	90	65	49
59	Omaha, NE	43.98	67	71	58
60	Jacksonville, FL	43.90	86	74	44
61	Mobile, AL	43.24	12	128	95
62	Detroit, MI	43.23	69	92	57
63	Mesa, AZ	43.10	41	94	66
64	St. Petersburg, FL	43.05	59	91	61
65	Tallahassee, FL	42.89	29	104	81
66	Milwaukee, WI	42.43	104	73	47
67	Grand Rapids, MI	42.18	52	61	94
68	Colorado Springs, CO	41.91	122	66	46
69	Las Cruces, NM	41.84	10	166	97
70	Billings, MT	41.82	15	107	118
71	Fresno, CA	41.78	50	89	71
72	Long Beach, CA	41.70	152	35	38
73	San Jose, CA	41.61	160	26	43
74	Baton Rouge, LA	41.52	47	85	85
75	Lexington-Fayette, KY	41.22	35	131	76
76	Buffalo, NY	40.79	121	56	67
77	Rapid City, SD	40.61	34	90	121
78	Shreveport, LA	40.51	6	155	128
79	Rochester, NY	40.28	131	43	69
80	Bakersfield, CA	40.18	112	78	63
81	Madison, WI	40.02	92	86	72
82	Oakland, CA	39.92	170	20	53
83	Laredo, TX	39.90	5	181	132
84	Wichita, KS	39.89	29	123	111
85	Augusta, GA	39.34	27	134	116
86	Henderson, NV	39.32	66	130	70
87	Baltimore, MD	39.32	148	51	51
88	Boston, MA	39.00	180	36	24
89	Chandler, AZ	38.42	82	124	75
90	Virginia Beach, VA	38.32	127	88	64
91	Brownsville, TX	38.18	4	182	159
92	Little Rock, AR	38.07	32	122	130
93	Huntsville, AL	37.87	62	132	91
94	Overland Park, KS	37.86	42	114	109
95	Missoula, MT	37.84	88	79	114
96	Charleston, WV	37.69	11	154	165
97	Modesto, CA	37.44	114	81	77
98	Plano, TX	37.30	107	67	99
99	Amarillo, TX	37.30	48	153	98
100	Columbus, GA	37.18	25	159	137
101	Fort Smith, AR	37.16	16	170	163
102	Garden Grove, CA	37.12	118	70	89
103	Jackson, MS	37.10	17	149	144
104	Lincoln, NE	37.05	95	109	90
105	Huntington Beach, CA	37.05	143	41	82
106	Fayetteville, NC	36.91	33	119	134
107	North Las Vegas, NV	36.87	75	58	127
108	Toledo, OH	36.85	21	158	133
109	Corpus Christi, TX	36.73	46	146	115
110	Durham, NC	36.72	96	103	100
111	St. Paul, MN	36.53	115	80	93
112	Sioux Falls, SD	36.41	58	144	107
113	Glendale, CA	36.32	149	33	102
114	Montgomery, AL	36.25	31	157	142
115	Vancouver, WA	36.10	132	47	113
116	Irvine, CA	35.63	154	39	88
117	Winston-Salem, NC	35.61	51	168	108
118	Arlington, TX	35.34	116	114	84
119	Gulfport, MS	35.25	36	172	158
120	Huntington, WV	35.12	13	177	175
121	Fargo, ND	35.10	55	135	150
122	Bismarck, ND	34.91	76	108	162
123	Lubbock, TX	34.39	91	127	120
124	Akron, OH	34.27	73	133	139
125	Des Moines, IA	34.12	111	120	106
126	Santa Ana, CA	34.12	156	49	87
127	Fort Wayne, IN	33.94	49	116	152
128	Cedar Rapids, IA	33.80	53	145	149
129	Gilbert, AZ	33.65	40	125	138
130	Norfolk, VA	33.49	109	148	96
131	Glendale, AZ	33.48	93	143	104
131	Nampa, ID	33.48	19	175	153
133	Riverside, CA	33.38	145	75	83
134	Hialeah, FL	33.37	100	111	124
135	Tacoma, WA	33.25	139	76	105
136	Salem, OR	32.31	113	141	125
137	Casper, WY	32.23	78	156	154
138	Wilmington, DE	32.07	146	54	135
139	Irving, TX	32.05	120	102	143
140	Cape Coral, FL	31.97	38	179	123
141	Aurora, CO	31.91	108	98	146
142	Portland, ME	31.90	155	82	86
143	Newport News, VA	31.80	80	162	131
144	Stockton, CA	31.67	137	140	92
145	Pembroke Pines, FL	31.03	124	137	129
146	Santa Rosa, CA	30.85	166	46	101
147	Anchorage, AK	30.76	153	136	74
148	Peoria, AZ	30.50	119	165	122
149	Chesapeake, VA	30.49	106	161	126
150	Chula Vista, CA	29.69	136	97	147
151	San Bernardino, CA	29.61	138	147	117
152	Garland, TX	29.55	101	142	157
153	Oceanside, CA	29.54	150	106	112
154	Dover, DE	29.05	98	139	177
155	Port St. Lucie, FL	28.88	84	178	169
156	Jersey City, NJ	28.30	167	63	119
157	Rancho Cucamonga, CA	28.05	135	113	160
158	Ontario, CA	27.95	140	121	141
159	Cheyenne, WY	27.66	126	174	164
160	Fremont, CA	27.43	162	59	145
161	West Valley City, UT	26.97	102	176	155
162	Aurora, IL	26.82	125	110	178
163	Santa Clarita, CA	26.31	159	87	156
164	Fontana, CA	26.21	141	152	151
165	Grand Prairie, TX	26.08	123	160	161
166	Providence, RI	26.00	165	129	110
167	Columbia, MD	25.88	158	112	148
168	Lewiston, ME	25.71	133	180	174
169	Newark, NJ	23.98	174	93	136
170	Yonkers, NY	23.95	181	22	182
171	Burlington, VT	22.64	163	118	166
172	Oxnard, CA	21.19	173	151	140
173	Moreno Valley, CA	21.01	157	169	167
174	Manchester, NH	20.93	161	167	168
175	Nashua, NH	18.97	168	173	172
176	Pearl City, HI	18.48	179	117	173
177	New Haven, CT	18.30	175	163	171
178	Juneau and, AK	18.22	176	171	170
179	Worcester, MA	18.18	172	150	176
180	South Burlington, VT	17.55	178	105	181
181	Warwick, RI	16.44	177	138	179
182	Bridgeport, CT	13.58	182	164	180

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:

1. What factors should couples consider when setting a budget for their wedding?
2. How should a couple decide where to get married?
3. What tips do you have for a couple planning a wedding and hoping to stay on budget?
4. Weddings can often be an economic boost to local businesses. What can local authorities do to encourage weddings in their communities?

< >

• Kendal Holtrop Ph.D., LMFT – Associate Professor, Department of Human Development & Family Studies, Michigan State University
• Keith Mask Ph.D., CFLE – Professor of Child & Family Studies and Behavioral Sciences, Freed-Hardeman University
• Miriam Muslow Ph.D. – Associate Professor, Human Development and Family Studies, Texas Tech University
• John Robbins Lecturer, Utah Valley University
• Sonya Britt-Lutter Ph.D., CFP® - Interim Director, School of Family Studies and Human Services, Associate Professor, Personal Financial Planning, College of Human Ecology, Kansas State University

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 23 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: 40

• Average Wedding Cost: Triple Weight (~20.00 Points)
• Price of a Three-Star Hotel Room: Full Weight (~6.67 Points)
• Restaurant-Meal Costs: Full Weight (~6.67 Points)Note: “Restaurant Meal” refers to a three-course meal for two.
• Prevalence of Affordable Wedding Logistics: Full Weight (~6.67 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: 30

• Wedding Chapels & Churches per Capita*: Full Weight (~2.22 Points)
• Venues & Event Spaces per Capita*: Full Weight (~2.22 Points)
• Party-Equipment Rentals per Capita*: Full Weight (~2.22 Points)
• Photo Booth Rentals per Capita*: Half Weight (~1.11 Points)
• Event Planners per Capita: Full Weight (~2.22 Points)
• Videographers & Photographers per Capita: Full Weight (~2.22 Points)
• Musicians & DJs per Capita: Full Weight (~2.22 Points)
• Makeup Artists & Hair Salons per Capita*: Full Weight (~2.22 Points)
• Bridal Shops per Capita*: Full Weight (~2.22 Points)
• Flower Shops per Capita*: Full Weight (~2.22 Points)
• Limousine Rentals per Capita*: Full Weight (~2.22 Points)
• Hotels per Capita*: Full Weight (~2.22 Points)
• Restaurants & Bars per Capita*: Full Weight (~2.22 Points)
• Catering Companies per Capita*: Full Weight (~2.22 Points)

Activities & Attractions – Total Points: 30

• Number of Attractions: Double Weight (~10.00 Points)
• Popularity as a Travel Destination: Full Weight (~5.00 Points)
• Foodie-Friendliness: Full Weight (~5.00 Points)Note: This metric is based on WalletHub’s Best & Worst Foodie Cities ranking.
• Weather: Full Weight (~5.00 Points)Note: This metric is based on WalletHub’s Cities with the Best & Worst Weather ranking.
• Amusement & Entertainment: Full Weight (~5.00 Points)Note: This metric is based on WalletHub’s Most Fun Cities in America ranking.

Videos for News Use:

• YouTube (for web embedding National)
• Raw files (for editing into clips)

 

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 and WalletHub research.

Image: KirylV / Shutterstock.com

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