The 45 Best Wedding Planners in the United States

Get recommendations, by region, for the best event designers and coordinators around.

1 of 46

20 Questions That Make Planning a Wedding So. Much. Easier.

A smart way to stay stress-free when planning your wedding? Turn to a professional! By that we mean, hire a great wedding planner. There are so many reasons why it's so worth it to bring one of these pros onto your team, but the main one is that they've done this all before. Sure, you love pouring over the details of your big day, but do you really understand the difference between the types of linens you're considering, know how to set up a day-of timeline, and feel ready to negotiate with each and every vendor? There's so much that goes into bringing your wedding vision to life, and a planner, who has years (and maybe even decades) of experience, will ensure the entire process goes smoothly.

If you're thinking about tapping a wedding planner to help you make your dream wedding a reality, we're here to help. To make your search easy, we've compiled a list our favorite wedding planners by region. Don't fret if you've fallen in love with one who isn't based in your hometown—you'll find that many of these pros will travel.

Here, find out why we love each of them, get some of their best wedding-planning advice (for free!), and see photos of events they have planned.

2 of 46

Alison Events

Elizabeth Messina Photography

Region: In the West

Where: San Francisco, California

The Details: Multiple office locations; provides design services; 30 percent of the jobs are destination weddings

Sweet Stat: Alison Hotchkiss Rinderknecht has planned some 300 events, including her own.

To Book: Visit alisonevents.com

3 of 46

Jenna Lam Events

Meg Smith

Region: In the West

Where: St. Helena, California

The Details: Provides design services; 30 percent of jobs are destination weddings

Top Tip: "Don't get overwhelmed by the big picture," says Lam, who gives couples a month-by-month schedule to make the process more manageable.

To Book: Visit jennalamevents.com

4 of 46

Laurie Arons Special Events

Joel Serrato

Region: In the West

Where: San Francisco, California

The Details: Provides design services

What We Love: Good planners listen to clients. But great ones, like Arons (who's been at it since 1994), know how to guide them if an idea isn't workable.

To Book: Visit lauriearons.com

5 of 46

Rosemary Events

Jose Villa

Region: In the West

Where: Mill Valley, California

The Details: Provides design services

What We Love: Rosemary Hattenbach focuses on every detail of a wedding: not just the setting and the sights but also the smells, sounds, and tastes.

To Book: Visit rosemaryevents.com

6 of 46

Shannon Leahy Events

Weddings by Sasha Gulish

Region: In the West

Where: San Francisco, California

The Details: Provides design services; 30 percent of the jobs are destination weddings

Top Tip: "Using buzzwords like laid-back or formal can help dictate the mood you want to set and answer most planning questions," Leahy says.

To Book: Visit shannonleahy.com

7 of 46

Shelter Co.

Sabine Scherer

Region: In the West

Where: San Francisco, California

The Details: Offers design services; 30 percent of the jobs are destination weddings; has been featured in Martha Stewart Weddings

What We Love: This company specializes in outdoor events at far-flung locales (and provides pop-up lodging via its luxe canvas tents).

To Book: Visit shelter-co.com

8 of 46

Bash, Please

A Fist Full of Bolts

Region: In the West

Where: Los Angeles, California

The Details: Provides design services; 30 percent of jobs are destination weddings

What We Love: Creative directors Paige Appel and Kelly Harris offer full-service planning, designing, and production for anything they dream up, anywhere.

To Book: Visit bashplease.com

9 of 46

Beth Helmstetter Events

Steve Steinhardt

Region: In the West

Where: Los Angeles, California

The Details: Offers design services; 30 percent of the jobs are destination weddings

Bio Bit: Santa Barbara, CA, Aspen, CO, and Maui, HI, are Helmstetter's top booked locales.

To Book: Visit bethhelmstetter.com

10 of 46

Duet Weddings

Elizabeth Messina Photography

Region: In the West

Where: Los Angeles, California

The Details: Provides design services

Their Style: Rebecca Stone and Cathleen Stern love pretty touches and flawless execution but feel the emotions of the couple are what truly make a wedding.

To Book: Visit duet-weddings.com

11 of 46

Geller Events

Heather Kincaid Photographer

Region: In the West

Where: Los Angeles, California

The Details: Provides design services

Sweet Stat: Debbie Geller's boutique firm has spent more than two years planning some weddings but taken others from beginning to end in less than two months.

To Book: Visit gellerevents.com

12 of 46

Lisa Vorce Co.

When He Found Her

Region: In the West

Where: Santa Ana, California

The Details: Provides design services; 30 percent or more of jobs are destination weddings

Her Style: Vorce teases her clients that she's interviewing them as much as they are her to make sure they are able to place full trust in her team.

To Book: Visit lisavorce.com

13 of 46

Mindy Weiss Party Consultants

Elizabeth Messina Photography

Region: In the West

Where: Beverly Hills, California

The Details: Provides design services

Bio Bit: Best known for working with high-profile brides like Jessica Simpson, Weiss and her team plan up to 60 weddings each year.

To Book: Visit mindyweiss.com

14 of 46

Bluebird Productions

Leila Brewster Photography

Region: In the West

Where: Aspen, Colorado

The Details: Provides design services

Their Style: "We emphasize that planning is about the bride and groom, not what we want," says founder Virginia Edelson. "Our role is to be their best advocate."

To Book: Visit bluebirdaspen.com

15 of 46

Sinclair & Moore

Michèle M. Waite Photography

Region: In the West

Where: Seattle, Washington

The Details: Provides design services; offers partial planning, month-of help, or consulting

What We Love: This husband-and-wife team is passionate about producing beautiful events; we featured their own wedding three years ago.

To Book: Visit sinclairandmoore.com

16 of 46

The Nouveau Romantics

The Nichols

Region: In the Southwest

Where: Austin, Texas [and New York City, New York]

The Details: Provides design services; multiple office locations

What We Love: Along with planning, they offer event, stationery, and floral design to create a consistent aesthetic.

To Book: Visit thenouveauromantics.com

17 of 46

A Day in May Events

Studio 6.23

Region: In the Midwest

Where: Traverse City, Michigan

The Details: Provides design services; offers partial planning, month-of help, or consulting

Sweet Stat: Ninety percent of Alicia Caldecott's events are tented, and most are at family homes or summer residences.

To Book: Visit adayinmayevents.com

18 of 46

Ginny Au

Region: In the South

Where: Birmingham, Alabama

The Details: Provides design services; offers partial planning, month-of help, or consulting; 30 percent or more of jobs are destination weddings

Sweet Stat: Sixty percent of Au's business is international; she travels an average of 2,500 miles to work a wedding.

To Book: Visit ginnyau.com

19 of 46

Anna Lucia Events

KT Merry

Region: In the South

Where: Tampa, Florida

The Details: Provides design services; offers partial planning, month-of help, or consulting; 30 percent or more of jobs are destination weddings

Bio Bit: Unlike companies in other parts of the country, this team plans most of its events in November, April, and May.

To Book: Visit annaluciaevents.com

20 of 46

Jacin Fitzgerald Events

Tanja Lippert Photography

Region: In the South

Where: Johns Creek, Georgia [and Napa Valley, California]

The Details: Multiple office locations; provides design services

Bio Bit: After an earthquake hit Napa, Jacin Fitzgerald had four days to move 110 guests to another location.

To Book: Visit jacinfitzgerald.com

21 of 46

Toast Events

Harwell Photography

Region: In the South

Where: Atlanta, Georgia

The Details: Provides design services; 30 percent or more of jobs are destination weddings

Top Tip: "The guest list is the hardest part, between deciding whom to invite and dealing with several people's input. It's a necessary evil, but after that, everything gets much easier," says owner Lindsay Pitt.

To Book: Visit toast-events.com

22 of 46

Calder Clark

Region: In the South

Where: Charleston, South Carolina

The Details: Provides design services; 30 percent or more of jobs are destination weddings

Top Tip: Clark says the cornerstone of any great planner-client relationship is trust, and that's why she cultivates it from day one.

To Book: Visit calderclark.com

23 of 46

Easton Events

Jose Villa

Region: In the South

Where: Charleston, South Carolina [and Charlottesville, Virginia]

The Details: Multiple office locations; 30 percent or more of jobs are destination weddings; provides design services

What We Love: Lynn Easton and her team are very clear about what can be achieved within a certain budget and will help facilitate Plan B if Plan A isn't feasible.

To Book: Visit eastonevents.com

24 of 46

Kristin Newman Designs

Gayle Brooker

Region: In the South

Where: Charleston, South Carolina

The Details: Provides design services; 30 percent or more of jobs are destination weddings

Her Style: Newman strives to soak up the couple's sense of style and listen to their priorities to help the pair make choices that are "so them."

To Book: Visit kristinnewmandesigns.com

25 of 46

Tara Guérard Soirée

Corbin Gurkin

Region: In the South

Where: Charleston, South Carolina [and New York City, New York]

The Details: Multiple office locations, provides design services

Sweet Stat: Her weddings have ranged from 15 people to 1,200 attendees, but on average, she plans for 250.

To Book: Visit taraguerardsoiree.com

26 of 46

Jessica Sloane Event Styling and Design

Jessica Lorren

Region: In the South

Where: Nashville, Tennessee

The Details: Multiple office locations; provides design services; offers partial planning, month-of help, or consulting

Top Tip: "The biggest mistake is booking vendors or a venue prematurely," says Sloane. "Make sure you're 100 percent happy before signing contracts and paying deposits; many are nonrefundable."

To Book: Visit jessicasloane.com

27 of 46

Merriment Events

Jen Fariello Photography

Region: In the South

Where: Richmond, Virginia

The Details: Provides design services

Her Style: Virginia is for lovers, which may be why most of Courtney Spencer's weddings are planned within state lines.

To Book: Visit merrimentevents.com

28 of 46

Rafanelli Events

Genevieve de Manio Photography

Region: In the East

Where: Boston, Massachusetts [and New York City, New York; Washington, D.C.; and Palm Beach, Florida]

The Details: Multiple office locations; 30 percent or more of jobs are destination weddings; provides design services

Bio Bit: Bryan Rafanelli planned Chelsea Clinton's nuptials and once built a barge in Boston Harbor for another wedding.

To Book: Visit rafanellievents.com

29 of 46

AaB Creates

Dave Robbins Photography

Region: In the East

Where: Brooklyn, New York

The Details: Provides design services; offers partial planning, month-of help, or consulting; 30 percent or more of jobs are destination weddings

What We Love: Xochitl Gonzalez and Mayra Castillo mix things up culturally to honor a bride or groom's roots—for example, incorporating a fusion menu or a Chinese lion dance.

To Book: Visit aabcreates.com

30 of 46

Ang Weddings and Events

Jillian Mitchell Photography

Region: In the East

Where: New York City, New York

The Details: Provides design services; offers partial planning, month-of help, or consulting

Bio Bit: Tzo Ai Ang has lived in four countries located on four continents, allowing her to work well with clients from unique places and with diverse backgrounds.

To Book: Visit angweddingsandevents.com

31 of 46

David Reinhard Events

Daria Bishop and Johnny Miller

Region: In the East

Where: New York City, New York

The Details: 30 percent or more of jobs are destination weddings

Their Style: Frequent fliers Ann David and Nicky Reinhard will plan and execute an unforgettable wedding wherever their clients take them.

To Book: Visit davidreinhard.com

32 of 46

David Stark Design and Production

Region: In the East

Where: Brooklyn, New York

The Details: Provides design services

Bio Bit: Stark's work as a designer and event planner stems from his roots as a fine artist. His studio approaches an event as a three-dimensional art piece customized to the clients.

To Book: Visit davidstarkdesign.com

33 of 46

JZ Events

Brian Dorsey Studios

Region: In the East

Where: New York City, New York

The Details: Provides design services; offers partial planning, month-of help, or consulting

Bio Bit: With a background in hospitality, Jennifer Zabinski uses her knowledge of all things service-oriented, from food to staffing, to plan seamless events.

To Book: Visit jzevents.com

Account

More

The 45 Best Wedding Planners in the United States

1 of 46

1 of 46

2 of 46

Alison Events

2 of 46

3 of 46

Jenna Lam Events

3 of 46

4 of 46

Laurie Arons Special Events

4 of 46

5 of 46

Rosemary Events

5 of 46

6 of 46

Shannon Leahy Events

6 of 46

7 of 46

Shelter Co.

7 of 46

8 of 46

Bash, Please

8 of 46

9 of 46

Beth Helmstetter Events

9 of 46

10 of 46

Duet Weddings

10 of 46

11 of 46

Geller Events

11 of 46

12 of 46

Lisa Vorce Co.

12 of 46

13 of 46

Mindy Weiss Party Consultants

13 of 46

14 of 46

Bluebird Productions

14 of 46

15 of 46

Sinclair & Moore

15 of 46

16 of 46

The Nouveau Romantics

16 of 46

17 of 46

A Day in May Events

17 of 46

18 of 46

Ginny Au

18 of 46

19 of 46

Anna Lucia Events

19 of 46

20 of 46

Jacin Fitzgerald Events

20 of 46

21 of 46

Toast Events

21 of 46

22 of 46

Calder Clark

22 of 46

23 of 46

Easton Events

23 of 46

24 of 46

Kristin Newman Designs

24 of 46

25 of 46

Tara Guérard Soirée

25 of 46

26 of 46

Jessica Sloane Event Styling and Design

26 of 46