Best Cities for Weddings (And Guests to Travel To)

February 3 2010 by Claudia Kunkel

wedding-photo-wr.jpgIt seems like every January ushers in the start of "wedding season" as wedding planners and vendors start gearing up for the busy months ahead for weddings. It's a very wonderful, romantic and stressful time in a couple's life as they start to plan the perfect wedding day. As destination weddings have become more and more popular the last few years, I decided it might be a good time to do some research into the most wedding-friendly cities around the country and for the guests that are lucky enough to be invited to the "Big Day".

I also thought it might be interesting to list a few statistics about the wedding industry first, just to give you an idea of how coveted the wedding market has become and how important it is for cities to court this industry. According to Wedding Industry Statistics:


  • More than 500,000 couples will plan a destination wedding each year

  • 2.3 million couples wed every year in the US. That breaks down to nearly 6,200 weddings a day

  • June is the most popular month for weddings, then August, followed by September and October

  • The average budget for a wedding is now estimated to be $28,000

  • Roughly, $40 BILLION is spent on weddings every year in the U.S.

I know, pretty staggering statistics. Now that you have a few facts, I'll move on to listing a few of the best cities for destination weddings. The first thing couples need to consider is what type of wedding suits them. Do they love to ski, scuba dive, lay on the beach, climb mountains or walk in the woods. Once they have that figured out, they're on their way.

Here are a few of my choices:

Phoenix, Arizona
With 325 days of sunshine, this tops my list (and because I live there). Known as "The Valley of the Sun" you are almost guaranteed of no rain on your wedding day. Early spring and winter tend to be more popular months to be married as the average temperatures will be 83 degrees during the day and high 50's at night - the perfect temperature for outdoor weddings. Phoenix offers venues ranging from elegant to casual southwest in every price range and a wide selection of upscale resorts. Guests from out of town will love the quiet beauty of the desert, the stunning red rocks of Sedona, the Grand Canyon and the endless supply of golf courses.

Napa Valley and Sonoma Valley, California
Even if you're not a wine connoisseur, but simply love the idea of getting married in the middle of a vineyard surrounded by some of the world's finest grapes or possibly in a wine cellar, an estate in wine country or a vintage old barn, this is the place for you. The weather is perfect year-round and getting there is an easy flight into San Francisco and short car trip out to Napa and Sonoma. After the ceremony, guests can take advantage of the beautiful winding roads through the countryside or head back to San Francisco for a day or two of sightseeing.

New York City, New York
What couple wouldn't want to get married in"the city that never sleeps"? Year-round, a city that offers every kind of venue for every kind of whim from the Central Park Boathouse, the Lighthouse at Chelsea Pier to the Café St. Bart's at St. Bartholomew's Church. In any kind of weather, a wedding in New York City would be memorable. You can find a venue to fit any budget and style. Best of all, your guests will have all of New York City's attractions to keep them entertained before and after the wedding.

There are so many more wonderful, beautiful places to have a destination wedding around the country. I've only listed a few that appeal to me, but if you have been married or are going to be married in a destination wedding, I'd love to hear about it.

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