The 64 Best Wedding Planners in the United States
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.
1 of 65
Alison Events
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
2 of 65
Jenna Lam Events
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
3 of 65
Laurie Arons Special Events
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
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Rosemary Events
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
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Shannon Leahy Events
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
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Shelter Co.
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
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Bash, Please
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
8 of 65
Beth Helmstetter Events
Region: In the West
Where: L.A.
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
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Duet Weddings
Region: In the West
Where: L.A.
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
10 of 65
Geller Events
Region: In the West
Where: L.A.
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
11 of 65
La Fleur Weddings & Events
Region: In the West
Where: Santa Barbara, California [and Maui, HI]
The Details: Has multiple office locations; provides design services
What We Love: In addition to the big day and its surrounding events, Jill La Fleur's team assists with honeymoon planning.
To Book: Visit lafleurweddings.com
12 of 65
Lisa Vorce Co.
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
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Love & Splendor
Region: In the West
Where: Grover Beach, California
The Details: Provides design services
Top Tip: Owner Angel Swanson notes that the earlier you bring on a planner, the sooner you can benefit from his or her knowledge.
To Book: Visit loveandsplendor.com
14 of 65
Mindy Weiss Party Consultants
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
15 of 65
Sitting in a Tree
Region: In the West
Where: San Diego, California [and Sayulita, Mexico]
The Details: Multiple office locations; 30 percent or more of jobs are destination weddings; provides design services; offers partial planning, month-of help, or consulting
Their Style: Destination weddings are owner Tori Hendrix's favorite. She likes the magic of having loved ones together for a weekend in a place other than their own.
To Book: Visit sittinginatreedesign.com
16 of 65
Bluebird Productions
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
17 of 65
Gold Leaf Event Design & Production
Region: In the West
Where: Aspen, Colorado [and Palm Beach Gardens, FL]
The Details: Provides design services; offers partial planning, month-of help, or consulting; has multiple office locations
What We Love: This company always finds ways to showcase the couple's hobbies and passions at the wedding.
To Book: Visit goldleafevent.com
18 of 65
Love This Day Events
Region: In the West
Where: Winter Park, Colorado [and Missoula, MT]
The Details: Multiple office locations; 30 percent or more of jobs are destination weddings; provides design services; offers partial planning, month-of help, or consulting
Their Style: "We are rustic-luxe," says lead planner Kara Delay. "Give us a barn, a meadow, or a ski shack and we can create something magical."
To Book: Visit lovethisdayevents.com
19 of 65
Michelle Leo Events
Region: In the West
Where: Sandy, Utah
The Details: Provides design services; offers partial planning, month-of help, or consulting
Sweet Stat: Although Leo typically plans a wedding in eight to 12 months, she once pulled one off with three weeks' notice
To Book: Visit michelleleoevents.com
20 of 65
Sinclair & Moore
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
21 of 65
Imoni Events
Region: In the Southwest
Where: Phoenix, Arizona [and San Diego and Denver]
The Details: Multiple office locations; provides design services; offers partial planning, month-of help, or consulting
Bio Bit: Most of Jennifer Thye's events take place across the Grand Canyon State, especially in Phoenix, Scottsdale, and Tucson.
To Book: Visit imonievents.com
22 of 65
The Nouveau Romantics
Region: In the Southwest
Where: Austin, Texas [and New York City]
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
23 of 65
A Perfect Event
Region: In the Midwest
Where: Chicago, Illinois
The Details: Provides design services; offers partial planning, month-of help, or consulting; 30 percent or more of jobs are destination weddings
Sweet Stat: In the biz since 1992, "chief eventeur" Debi Lilly has planned 200-plus weddings
To Book: Visit aperfectevent.com
24 of 65
Estera Events
Region: In the Midwest
Where: Chicago, Illinois
The Details: Offers partial planning, month-of help, or consulting; provides design services
Their Style: Owner Hilary Carpenter describes their motto as "the art of approachable elegance" and ensures each event is "as welcoming as it is gorgeous."
To Book: Visit esteraevents.com
25 of 65
A Day in May Events
Region: In the Midwest
Where: Traverse City, Michigan
The Details: Provies 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
26 of 65
Rocket Science Weddings & Events
Region: In the Midwest
Where: St. Paul, Minnesota
The Details: Provides design services; offers partial planning, month-of help, or consulting
Their Style: "We do what we call 'up north destination weddings,'" says owner Gretchen Culver, who often plans events at private homes in Minnesota and Wisconsin.
To Book: Visit rocketscienceweddingsandevents.com
27 of 65
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
28 of 65
Anna Lucia Events
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
29 of 65
Ashley Baber Weddings
Region: In the South
Where: Atlanta, Georgia
The Details: Provides design services; offers partial planning, month-of help, or consulting
Her Style: "We love to keep up with clients after the big day to watch their milestones," says Baber. "To know we were a little part of beginning that life together is really special."
To Book: Visit ashleybaberweddings.com
30 of 65
Jacin Fitzgerald Events
Region: In the South
Where: Johns Creek, Georgia [and Napa Valley, CA]
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
31 of 65
Toast Events
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
32 of 65
Hollis Starks & Co.
Region: In the South
Where: Louisville, Kentucky
The Details: Provides design services; offers partial planning, month-of help, or consulting
Her Style: Starks has a business background and a strong sense of responsibility when it comes to clients' budgets. She doesn't believe in "funny money."
To Book: Visit hollisstarks.com