The Best Place In America To Get Married Is In Florida - But Not On The Beach

(Photo by Mario Tama/Getty Images)

Beach weddings in Southwest Florida really took a hit with Hurricane Ian. But they are coming back. However, when it comes to weddings in Florida, the beach isn't the favorite anyway. Although three of the top 10 wedding destinations are in Florida, the best place to get married in the sunshine state, and really nationwide, is much further inland.

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 $28,000 for their big day.

In order to assist with the planning process, Wallet Hub compared more than 180 U.S. cities. The goal, to find the cheapest and most convenient wedding destinations that also promise a memorable day. They examined each city across 26 key indicators of wedding-friendliness. These range from average wedding cost to venues and event spaces per capita to hotel availability.

So you want to get married in Florida. Or maybe a different state. Here's how the rankings were done. The cities were measured in three key dimensions: 1) Costs, 2) Facilities & Services and 3) Activities & Attractions. These are measured across the 150 most populated U.S. cities. That's why you won't see Naples or Estero listed here. I'll go to any wedding at Coconut Point Hyatt. And I'm a great gift giver. Send the invite to the station.

We'll get into the full methodology later. Let's start with another one of those fun charts.

Main Findings

Source: WalletHub

Best Places to Get Married in the U.S.

Overall Rank	City	Total Score	Costs	Facilities & Services	Activities & Attractions
1	Orlando, FL	72.84	56	2	6
2	Las Vegas, NV	68.08	106	4	1
3	Tulsa, OK	66.58	1	85	43
4	Tampa, FL	66.57	39	12	11
5	Atlanta, GA	65.61	86	3	13
6	Miami, FL	65.31	111	1	9
7	Knoxville, TN	63.07	15	56	62
8	El Paso, TX	62.48	11	107	46
9	New Orleans, LA	61.62	67	32	10
10	Boise, ID	61.35	12	86	61
11	Oklahoma City, OK	61.15	19	81	32
12	Tucson, AZ	60.86	42	58	19
13	Columbia, SC	60.80	25	39	57
14	St. Louis, MO	60.75	53	17	31
15	Cincinnati, OH	60.47	48	25	33
16	Chicago, IL	60.13	104	22	5
17	Charleston, WV	60.01	14	127	72
18	Wichita, KS	59.82	2	114	123
19	Richmond, VA	59.51	41	26	56
20	Charlotte, NC	59.11	43	41	42
21	Nashville, TN	58.83	52	42	29
22	Augusta, GA	58.82	6	126	120
23	Albuquerque, NM	58.75	35	97	25
24	Las Cruces, NM	58.73	7	170	97
25	Springfield, MO	58.71	17	89	110
26	Louisville, KY	58.48	27	71	54
27	Shreveport, LA	58.28	5	122	142
28	Charleston, SC	58.26	84	35	17
29	San Antonio, TX	58.11	61	44	27
30	Pittsburgh, PA	58.11	64	31	38
31	Amarillo, TX	57.89	13	147	85
32	St. Petersburg, FL	57.59	33	94	40
33	Fort Lauderdale, FL	57.53	96	10	26
34	Houston, TX	57.42	103	15	21
35	Birmingham, AL	57.41	24	51	107
36	Denver, CO	56.76	110	14	20
37	Phoenix, AZ	56.54	97	24	23
38	Salt Lake City, UT	56.38	100	7	35
39	Kansas City, MO	56.35	45	66	53
40	Rapid City, SD	56.24	18	119	84
41	Huntington, WV	56.23	4	180	161
42	Brownsville, TX	56.17	3	181	164
43	Reno, NV	56.05	71	47	36
44	Grand Rapids, MI	55.95	36	52	80
45	Fort Smith, AR	55.86	8	174	152
46	Chattanooga, TN	55.82	28	75	91
47	Columbus, GA	55.74	29	138	64
48	Fayetteville, NC	55.70	16	131	128
49	Portland, OR	55.52	116	18	15
50	Laredo, TX	55.43	9	179	132
51	Los Angeles, CA	55.31	158	8	2
52	Scottsdale, AZ	55.01	108	28	24
53	Lubbock, TX	55.00	20	112	130
54	Baton Rouge, LA	54.91	46	57	76
55	Memphis, TN	54.78	30	102	94
56	Raleigh, NC	54.76	66	55	50
57	Fort Wayne, IN	54.30	10	137	165
58	Jacksonville, FL	54.08	68	64	49
59	Dallas, TX	53.90	107	23	34
60	San Diego, CA	53.87	157	6	7
61	Columbus, OH	53.56	76	65	45
62	San Francisco, CA	53.54	170	5	3
63	Fresno, CA	53.53	54	68	65
64	Montgomery, AL	53.46	22	129	143
65	Billings, MT	53.01	31	145	95
66	Minneapolis, MN	53.01	88	50	41
67	Bakersfield, CA	52.87	72	73	58
68	Indianapolis, IN	52.40	82	63	55
69	Mobile, AL	52.38	40	104	106
70	Des Moines, IA	52.25	34	125	116
71	Omaha, NE	52.24	73	92	60
72	Tallahassee, FL	51.95	47	101	103
73	Fort Worth, TX	51.92	90	61	44
74	Toledo, OH	51.71	21	154	147
75	Missoula, MT	51.70	37	118	105
76	Sacramento, CA	51.62	137	9	22
77	Milwaukee, WI	51.41	85	80	51
78	Lincoln, NE	51.32	60	111	78
79	Gulfport, MS	51.25	23	173	139
80	Tempe, AZ	51.21	114	40	37
81	Colorado Springs, CO	50.99	99	62	39
82	Austin, TX	50.94	145	11	14
83	Corpus Christi, TX	50.90	49	140	101
84	Spokane, WA	50.88	69	95	79
85	Port St. Lucie, FL	50.83	26	158	163
86	Overland Park, KS	50.71	51	121	102
87	Seattle, WA	50.53	149	16	12
88	Detroit, MI	50.41	78	91	74
89	Durham, NC	50.37	70	88	99
90	Cape Coral, FL	50.11	38	172	114
91	Glendale, AZ	49.84	58	143	75
92	Cedar Rapids, IA	49.75	32	133	160
93	Washington, DC	49.52	147	20	16
94	Chandler, AZ	49.39	77	115	68
95	Casper, WY	49.22	57	167	127
96	Huntsville, AL	49.07	65	117	112
97	Greensboro, NC	48.95	79	90	83
98	Jackson, MS	48.90	50	149	141
99	Little Rock, AR	48.71	59	113	136
100	Virginia Beach, VA	48.48	94	74	66
101	Bismarck, ND	48.28	44	168	170
102	Lexington-Fayette, KY	48.24	81	116	89
103	Gilbert, AZ	48.03	62	124	122
104	Philadelphia, PA	47.94	138	49	18
105	Plano, TX	47.92	93	72	81
106	Fargo, ND	47.80	74	141	126
107	Sioux Falls, SD	47.24	75	150	125
108	Akron, OH	47.23	55	128	155
109	Rochester, NY	47.02	115	54	69
110	Cleveland, OH	46.85	119	53	67
111	Anaheim, CA	46.79	146	27	30
112	Vancouver, WA	46.22	102	59	117
113	Mesa, AZ	45.94	98	108	77
114	Modesto, CA	45.86	105	99	87
115	Portland, ME	45.64	126	87	48
116	Norfolk, VA	45.57	91	130	100
117	Hialeah, FL	45.48	92	82	138
118	Buffalo, NY	45.41	118	78	71
119	New York, NY	45.41	175	29	4
120	Salem, OR	45.00	80	135	145
121	Chesapeake, VA	44.97	83	153	148
122	Newport News, VA	44.18	63	160	137
123	Arlington, TX	44.07	117	105	90
124	Irving, TX	44.00	109	84	134
125	Cheyenne, WY	43.63	87	166	172
126	Baltimore, MD	42.64	141	60	59
127	Honolulu, HI	42.54	180	13	8
128	Pembroke Pines, FL	42.30	112	110	146
129	Winston-Salem, NC	42.16	113	142	124
130	North Las Vegas, NV	42.10	120	45	153
131	Glendale, CA	41.93	159	19	73
132	St. Paul, MN	41.89	124	106	113
133	Madison, WI	41.81	129	109	70
134	Aurora, CO	41.68	123	100	121
135	Nampa, ID	41.48	95	175	159
136	Long Beach, CA	41.23	163	33	52
137	Stockton, CA	41.18	122	136	108
138	Garden Grove, CA	40.73	132	93	82
139	Santa Ana, CA	40.48	148	48	93
140	Garland, TX	40.13	101	161	171
141	West Valley City, UT	40.06	89	177	169
142	Henderson, NV	39.62	127	169	88
143	Riverside, CA	39.11	152	46	109
144	San Jose, CA	38.95	173	30	47
145	Oceanside, CA	38.95	139	77	119
146	Anchorage, AK	38.75	135	134	96
147	Boston, MA	38.06	177	37	28
148	Rancho Cucamonga, CA	38.06	128	96	167
149	Aurora, IL	38.01	130	151	133
150	Peoria, AZ	36.98	131	159	140
151	Ontario, CA	36.35	144	98	150
152	Columbia, MD	36.25	150	152	86
153	Grand Prairie, TX	35.97	121	171	162
154	San Bernardino, CA	35.88	143	120	131
155	Huntington Beach, CA	35.76	167	43	98
156	Providence, RI	35.53	153	123	111
157	Burlington, VT	35.43	136	162	158
158	Irvine, CA	35.23	174	36	92
159	Jersey City, NJ	35.16	164	67	118
160	Wilmington, DE	35.15	172	38	104
161	Nashua, NH	34.91	133	163	166
162	Fontana, CA	34.79	142	132	168
163	Oakland, CA	34.52	179	34	63
164	Lewiston, ME	34.24	134	182	173
165	Tacoma, WA	34.15	165	69	129
166	Juneau, AK	34.14	140	176	174
167	Santa Clarita, CA	34.05	155	83	157
168	Dover, DE	33.97	125	144	180
169	Chula Vista, CA	33.89	161	79	149
170	Manchester, NH	33.61	151	157	135
171	Santa Rosa, CA	33.02	171	70	115
172	Fremont, CA	31.09	168	76	151
173	Newark, NJ	30.79	169	103	144
174	Moreno Valley, CA	30.69	154	139	175
175	Worcester, MA	29.79	160	155	176
176	New Haven, CT	29.78	166	164	156
177	Warwick, RI	29.32	156	146	179
178	Yonkers, NY	29.18	176	21	182
179	South Burlington, VT	27.13	162	156	181
180	Oxnard, CA	25.64	178	148	154
181	Bridgeport, CT	18.61	181	165	177
182	Pearl City, HI	8.83	182	178	178

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.

Avg. Wedding Cost

Lowest

1. Fort Smith, AR
2. Charleston, WV
3. Brownsville, TX
4. Huntington, WV
5. Lubbock, TX

Highest

T-178. San Francisco, CA
T-178. Oakland, CA
T-178. Fremont, CA
T-181. Honolulu, HI
T-181. Pearl City, HI

Wedding Chapels & Churches per Capita

Most

T-1. Wilmington, DE
T-1. Columbia, SC
3. Charleston, WV
4. Knoxville, TN
5. Salt Lake City, UT

Fewest

178. Henderson, NV
179. Pembroke Pines, FL
180. Pearl City, HI
181. South Burlington, VT
182. West Valley City, UT

Event Planners per Capita

Most

T-1. Washington, DC
T-1. Denver, CO
T-1. Aurora, CO
T-1. Salt Lake City, UT
T-1. West Valley City, UT

Fewest

171. Anchorage, AK
172. Stockton, CA
173. Huntington, WV
174. Baton Rouge, LA
175. Fayetteville, NC

Bridal Shops per Capita

Most

T-1. Los Angeles, CA
T-1. Miami, FL
T-1. New York, NY
4. Chicago, IL
5. Houston, TX

Fewest

177. Pearl City, HI
178. Nampa, ID
179. Las Cruces, NM
180. Bridgeport, CT
181. Grand Prairie, TX

Flower Shops per Capita

Most

T-1. Orlando, FL
T-1. Honolulu, HI
3. St. Louis, MO
4. Miami, FL
5. Pittsburgh, PA

Fewest

178. South Burlington, VT
179. Grand Prairie, TX
180. Peoria, AZ
181. Pearl City, HI
182. West Valley City, UT

Attractions

Most

T-1. New York, NY
T-1. Los Angeles, CA
T-1. Las Vegas, NV
T-1. Chicago, IL
5. San Francisco, CA

Fewest

T-178. Fontana, CA
T-178. Garden Grove, CA
T-178. Pearl City, HI
181. West Valley City, UT
182. Moreno Valley, CA

Weather

Best

1. Glendale, CA
2. Riverside, CA
3. Bakersfield, CA
4. Scottsdale, AZ
5. Henderson, NV

Worst

T-178. Providence, RI
T-178. Warwick, RI
180. Rochester, NY
181. Buffalo, NY
182. Juneau, AK

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 26 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 (~1.21 Points)
Venues & Event Spaces per Capita*: Full Weight (~1.21 Points)
Party-Equipment Rentals per Capita*: Full Weight (~1.21 Points)
Photo Booth Rentals per Capita*: Half Weight (~0.61 Points)
Event Planners per Capita: Full Weight (~1.21 Points)
Videographers & Photographers per Capita: Full Weight (~1.21 Points)
Musicians & DJs per Capita: Full Weight (~1.21 Points)
Makeup Artists & Hair Salons per Capita*: Full Weight (~1.21 Points)
Bridal Shops per Capita*: Full Weight (~1.21 Points)
Flower & Gift Shops per Capita*: Full Weight (~1.21 Points)
Limousine Rentals per Capita*: Full Weight (~1.21 Points)
Hotels per Capita*: Full Weight (~1.21 Points)
Restaurants & Bars per Capita*: Full Weight (~1.21 Points)
Catering Companies per Capita*: Full Weight (~1.21 Points)
Bartenders per Capita*: Full Weight (~1.21 Points)
Floral Designers per Capita*: Full Weight (~1.21 Points)
Cake Shops per Capita*: Full Weight (~1.21 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.

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