The Best U.S. Cities to Be a Wedding Planner

Are you an expert in all things tulle and tiaras? Do you dream in shades of blush and bashful?

Being a wedding planner isn’t for the faint of heart. But if you’re a highly organized and creative problem solver with an incredible eye for detail and a passion for helping others celebrate their love, you might have what it takes to succeed.

We wanted to know which U.S. cities have the most potential for the unsung heroes of matrimony. So, we analyzed relevant data points to determine which cities make being a wedding planner a (relative) piece of cake. Read on to see where your wedding planning career can really bloom!

Key Findings

• Minneapolis, Minnesota, is the best U.S. city to be a wedding planner. High-rated wedding venues, low wedding planner competition, and reasonable cost of living in relation to wedding planner salaries make it the ideal location for planners to set up shop.
• Washington, DC, is the third-best city to be a wedding planner. With its stately venues and numerous job opportunities, DC is an exciting home base for wedding planners.
• Looking for the best of the best? Skip the west. Midwestern and Northeastern cities dominate our top 10 list.
• Despite the surf, sun, and scenic beauty, cities in California dominate our list of worst cities to be a wedding planner (with four out of the bottom 10 cities). The high cost of living relative to wedding planner salaries and lower wedding venue star ratings make the Golden State a less-than-ideal location for wedding planners.

The Best (and Worst) U.S. Cities to Be a Wedding Planner

Minneapolis, Minnesota, is our number one city for wedding planners. The city has first-class wedding venues in spades, including the famous Van Dusen Mansion. With its castle-like architecture and stunning interiors, the Van Dusen is the perfect canvas for creative wedding planners. What’s more, Minneapolis has 60.8 wedding venues per 100K residents — the second most in our study.

If you’re looking for a top-notch venue in our number two city, St. Louis, Missouri, the Missouri Botanical Garden won’t disappoint. Whether it’s the elegant charm of the Spink Pavilion or the captivating allure of the Japanese Garden, each unique area is a breathtaking backdrop for wedding planners to work their magic. Additionally, St. Louis wedding venues have an above-average star rating on The Knot’s database of wedding venues (4.83).

In our number three city, just a stone’s throw from the White House, the iconic Hay-Adams Hotel offers couples the chance to say “I do” with a spectacular view of the Washington, DC skyline. In addition to stately wedding venues, DC has the most job opportunities for wedding planners on LinkedIn, with 2.55 job listings per 1,000 job ads — 89% more than the study’s national average.

Every rose has its thorn, and in the world of wedding planning, certain cities are a bit prickly. Despite their unique charms, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma; Los Angeles, California; and San Jose, California, are the three most challenging cities for wedding planners.

Known for its cowboy culture and capitol complex, Oklahoma City may seem like the perfect spot to plan nuptials. But a lack of wedding venues and a lower demand for elaborate events makes for a less-than-vibrant wedding planning scene.

Despite its Hollywood glamour and nearly endless summer, the fierce wedding planner competition in Los Angeles means wedding planners often find themselves fighting for the spotlight. In addition, the ratio between LA’s high cost of living and wedding planner salaries presents a serious hurdle, making it a tough city for those looking to make it in the wedding industry.

In the heart of Silicon Valley, San Jose is more synonymous with start-ups than with “I do”s. High venue costs, fierce competition, and a high cost of living in relation to wedding planner salaries make this sunny city a less-than-ideal spot for wedding planning professionals.

The Best U.S. Cities to Be a Wedding Planner by Category

Some U.S. cities shine brighter than others in specific categories that matter to wedding planners. Here are some highlights:

Highest-Rated Wedding Venues — New York, New York: With a stellar rating of 4.9 out of 5, New York City takes the cake for its numerous top-rated wedding venues. From classic ballrooms to chic urban lofts brimming with charm and sophistication, the city that never sleeps definitely knows how to throw a party.

Largest Single Population — New Orleans, Louisiana: With 46.3% of its population unattached, the potential for new brides and grooms looms large. The Big Easy’s blend of vibrant culture, unique music, and irresistible cuisine make it a great place to tie the knot.

Most Wedding Venues per 100K Residents — Hartford, Connecticut: The historic city of Hartford tops all U.S. cities with 95.2 venues per 100K residents. This wealth of unique venues, from historic estates to trendy downtown spaces, ensure plenty of options for wedding planners.

Full Data

Interested in a deeper dive into the numbers for the top cities, or want to see how your city stacks up if it’s not listed on the above charts? 

We’ve compiled the full data study for all 50 U.S. cities we analyzed into this interactive data table. Search for the city you call home or click on the heading of each column to sort by that category!

Closing Thoughts

Whether you’re a seasoned wedding planner looking for your next move or a newbie just breaking into the industry, there’s a perfect city for you. And no matter where you live and work, the beautiful moments you help create will keep you falling in love with planning weddings again and again.

Looking for more one-of-a-kind Shane Co. studies like this one? Check out our blog for endless insights on love, weddings, marriage (and more) you won’t find anywhere else!

Methodology

To identify the best cities in the U.S. to be a wedding planner, we started with a list of the 50 largest cities and identified 10 factors relevant to wedding planners. A complete list of factors and sources can be found below.

We assigned cities with a score of 0 to 5 for each factor, with a score of 5 representing the most favorable conditions for wedding planners. Next, we determined each city’s total score from the total of its individual factor scores (weighted according to their impact on a wedding planner). Finally, we combined the individual factor scores to give each city a final score from 0 to 50. Higher scores indicate better cities for wedding planners.