Looking for the best wedding planners? For obvious reasons, it’s often the first step in a couple’s nuptial process. A good wedding planner not only takes care of the execution of your milestone day, but can help dream up that day themselves—whether it is helping find a venue, source a florist, mood-board themes, color schemes, and so on. Oh, and they make everything just happen. Smoothly.
Here at Vogue, we review countless numbers of weddings each year for potential coverage. Consistently, a handful of planners show that they are simply the best in the business, whether it is orchestrating a once-in-a-lifetime affair in a far-flung location, crafting creative events with an outstanding experience, or simply just exhibiting beautiful taste. Below, our favorite wedding planners in the United States, Canada, and abroad.
Best Wedding Planners in NYC and the Northeast United States
Augusta Cole’s events feel layered and textured in the best way. Her tablescapes, like the one she created at Laura Jackson’s Maine wedding, have a collected feel—they’re curated, but not overly stylized. (It’s as if you just pulled all of these beautiful pieces out of your chic grandmother’s china cabinet.) Cole is trusted and respected for her discretion just as much as she is for her innate eye for detail. Plus, she creates one-of-a-kind occasions of all shapes and sizes and can think big picture and produce on a grand scale, but also isn’t afraid to get her hands dirty and deal with the nitty-gritty minutiae—and isn’t that what you really want in your wedding planner?
David Stark has been a leader in the event industry for more than 20 years, known for his out-of-the-box designs and the sense of humor and whimsy he brings to his events—think 12-foot chicken topiaries or giant golden eggs. (He’s even transformed a hockey rink into a “trip” to Santorini.) Flourishes like these have attracted big-name clients like Brad Pitt, prompted SNL to tap him to plan its 40th-anniversary bash, and led the New York Public Library to ask him to plan their annual Library Lions Gala.
Fallon Carter Events was started 10 years ago after a trip to Paris. Two of Carter’s friends were getting married and what was meant to be a week-long vacation-cum-wedding celebration quickly turned into a crash course as a wedding coordinator. Suffice it to say, her first foray into events was a success—and from there, Carter jumped into the wedding space head first. When she returned to the States, she headed to New York City to open up shop, and now she plans weddings in Los Angeles, vow renewals in Nevis, and milestone birthdays in Cartagena. Somewhere along the way, she realized the world had become her office.
Founded by Jung Lee, an event planning veteran who has worked with everyone from Joseph Altuzarra to Stephen King, Fête is a full-service wedding planning and design firm based in New York. Lee and her team plan events all over the world and specialize in creating highly custom and high-design events at venues ranging from private estates in Jackson Hole, Wyoming, to villas in Lake Como, Italy.
Jennifer Zabinski of JZ Events was the mastermind behind Serena Williams and Alexis Ohanian’s fairytale-inspired wedding in New Orleans, an evening that was executed flawlessly. (We know, because we were there!) From the surprise video created by Alexis for Serena that ran at the beginning of the ceremony to the actual carousel that appeared for guests like Beyoncé to dance on at the after-party, Zabinski’s efforts were unparalleled, and she did it all in that calm, cool, and collected way that makes her one of the best at what she does. More recently, she threw a bacchanalic wedding in Venice complete with a dancing aerialist.
Lindsay Landman has been producing events in New York and around the world since 2001. Her parties run the gamut: a Gatsby-themed NYC gala, intimate Anguilla nuptials, and an Indian wedding that seamlessly melded modern style with tradition. Plus, Landman’s team is made up of talented graphic designers and florists, making it a one-stop shop for many of your wedding needs.
Marcy Blum began her bespoke wedding service 20 years ago after a career as a chef and food consultant in New York City. During that time, she began planning parties at Gracie Mansion in New York City and throughout the New York area, leading to a roster of bold-name clients like Jennifer Gates, Rickie Fowler and Allison Stokke, Katie Lee, and Kate Bock. No request is too big: She transformed the New York Public Library’s atrium into a club for Nate Berkus and Jeremiah Brent’s wedding, and arranged for Snoop Dogg to perform in a fortress in Dubrovnik, Croatia. The fact that she has the best sense of humor in the business is just an added bonus.
One thing’s for sure: Matthew Robbins and Luis Otoya know how to plan a chic wedding with a strong point of view. Their events are always beautiful, but they feel organic and never fussy. This four-day extravaganza in Cartagena is one of our favorites, as is this colorful three-day wedding in Seville. (Color, by the way, is one of their signatures… with Robbins and Otoya, it’s go bright or go home.)
Since 2011, Michelle Rago Destinations has been creating bespoke weddings and events everywhere from New Delhi to the Côte d’Azur, gaining celebrity clients such as Jamie Foxx, Matt Damon, and Nicola Peltz. (Yes, she did Peltz and Brooklyn Beckham’s Palm Beach wedding.) There’s no climate Michelle can’t work in, but we’re especially partial to her tropical weddings, like this celebration she organized on Harbor Island in the Bahamas. Her waiting list may be long, but it’s definitely worth it.
Globally celebrated designer Preston Bailey is known for over-the-top florals (think transparent dance floors filled with roses and a menagerie of animals constructed entirely from blooms) as much as the exquisite events themselves. Of course, the two are not mutually exclusive—and both have attracted a top client roster of royal families and celebrities, including Oprah Winfrey, Melissa Rivers, Michael Douglas, and Catherine Zeta-Jones. Recently, he entered the global spotlight for his work on the lavish, multi-month Ambani wedding.
The bottom line is that Blake Sams creates unforgettable gatherings that feel like effortless family affairs. This backyard wedding celebration in Charleston, South Carolina, is the perfect example, exuding his signature sense of effortlessness and ease. He combines an attention to detail and an eye for beauty with a keen understanding of event logistics and an ability to interpret timeless traditions in ways that feel unique and different. The end result is pure magic.
Founder Bryan Rafanelli of Rafanelli Events has become the planner of choice for America’s first families. As one of Michelle Obama’s favorite planners, he was tasked with overseeing the official holiday decorations during the Obama administration. And when Naomi Biden married Peter Neal, he planned the entire wedding at The White House.
Van Wyck Van Wyck is an award-winning, boutique family-run design and planning studio known for creating wildly creative, location-specific installations around the globe. In particular, Bronson van Wyck is famous for his otherworldly creations. Case in point? His own 40th birthday bash, which “transformed an underground concrete bunker into a rich warren of lushly furnished rooms.” In addition to planning impressive parties for everyone from Beyoncé to President Obama, these fashion insiders also produce events for Chanel, Vera Wang, Carolina Herrera, and Diane von Furstenberg.
Best Wedding Planners in the Southeast United States
Calder Clark has garnered a devoted following and much acclaim after two decades of producing, designing, and planning fabulously unstuffy destination weddings all over the globe. Her sweet spot is the ground-up tented bash in a field in the middle of nowhere, where a well-honed residential approach (like interior design, but for an evening!) unfurls—typically in the form of drop-dead gorgeous focal points like chic bars, big band enclaves, custom sunken dance floors, al fresco cocktail decks, and “outside-in” climbing greenery. One part meticulous planning, one part alchemy—that’s their secret sauce.
Over the last two decades, Colin Cowie has designed and produced events around the globe, ranging from intimate gatherings for 50 to grand-scale productions for more than 5,000. And he has quite the client list: Oprah Winfrey, Jennifer Aniston, Jennifer Lopez, and Kim Kardashian West have all enlisted Cowie’s services. Want an example of his work? Look at Gloria Zhu and Stanley Tang’s wedding in Napa.
Guerdy Abraira of Guerdy Design was born in Haiti and grew up in Paris until she was nine when her parents decided to relocate to the United States. Living and traveling all over the world throughout her childhood has provided Abraira with insight into many global cultures, and her experience as a catering manager at a Fischer Island hotel provided her with extensive knowledge of all things food and beverage. Her events run the gamut from beachy and tropical to vintage and eclectic—and everything in between. We love the wedding she coordinated at the Perez Art Museum for stylist Danielle Nachmani.
Led by founder Lynn Easton, Easton Events only plans about eight weddings per year, providing its clients with the utmost in personalized service, from engagement notifications through to the final thank-you. Although based in Charleston, Easton Events plans weddings worldwide—whether it’s building a custom tent on a private ranch in Colorado or arranging a multi-day international wedding in San Miguel Allende, the team is able to do it all with Southern style and charm.
Michelle Norwood believes planning should be fun, transparent, and celebratory—and that comes through in everything she does. The New Orleans native knows how to create weddings that are a true reflection of the couple, their story, and the city they ve chosen to marry in. Bridgette Amofah and Saul Bloch’s wedding, where there was dancing in the street—and in the rain—will forever be one of our favorite wedding references, as is Alessandra Daddario’s. “Michelle Norwood was incredible,” The White Lotus actor told Vogue.
Launched in 2011, Rebecca Gardner has quickly become known for her twists on the traditional. Her background as the Savannah College of Art and Design’s director of creative initiatives is clearly visible in her signature tablescapes and environmental installations, which deftly mix a raucous wonderland-like whimsy with old-world refinement. Her style has caught the eye of Lauren Santo Domingo and Margherita Missoni, and, well, a whole lot of other people—her home-and-hosting wares website, Houses and Parties, has a cult following. Look at the eccentric wedding she planned for Kimberlin Rogers, here.
Tara Guérard: Charleston, South Carolina and New York City
Tara Guérard made a name for herself planning classic Southern weddings in classic Southern locales, from Augusta, Georgia to Bluffton, South Carolina. Yet after opening a second office in New York City, she s found a legion of East-Coast fans too—planning high profile affairs in upstate New York and the Hamptons. Many of her events have a garden-party feel, and her team knows how to make an outdoor tent with a wow-factor.
Best Wedding Planners in the Midwestern United States
Alicia Fritz’s A Day in May Event Planning Design, founded in 2007, creates weddings along the shores of the Great Lakes and destinations worldwide. From a flower-filled yacht for an eloping couple to a cherry-themed wedding at a private residence on the coast of Michigan (think rustic crates filled with cherries and berries, stationery with sweet cherry illustrations, and small bowls of cherries as place settings), A Day in May brings serious charm to each event.
Based in Detroit and L.A., and traveling wherever their clients take them, Alison and Bryan are a husband-and-wife team with more than 175 weddings under their belts. For the great-great-grandson of Henry Ford, they created a giant suspended floral installation to mimic the flowers that grow wild in Sperlonga, a favorite spot for the couple. For a bride from Mexico and a groom from France, they produced an event in a castle in Brittany, France, accommodating three different cultures and languages in the process. But their signature is blending these globally inspired details with the laid-back vibe of the West Coast and the charm and comfort of the Midwest.
.jpg)
Offering full-service destination planning, one of Estera Events’ favorite challenges is transforming private homes into custom wedding venues. In Chicago alone, the team has converted the Art Institute of Chicago into a romantic alfresco wedding, created a rustic-inspired wedding at the Chicago Cultural Center, and designed a whimsical golden-themed wedding at the Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago.
Founder Lori Stephenson began her career in the wedding industry more than 25 years ago, designing custom bridal gowns. She later launched her full-service planning company, and the team at Lola Event Productions is now celebrating 10 years. In that time, they have designed more than 500 weddings across the city. Their events truly run the gamut, from intimate elopements to a grand four-day Indian wedding extravaganza at the Palmer House Hilton Hotel.
Kate Company is a full-service luxury wedding and event design firm, meaning it will handle everything from designing the invitations to executing the to-do list day of. Some of its out-of-the-box ideas include branding the dance floor with a giant hashtag and having the couple arrive at the reception on the back of an elephant, as well as more low-key—but just as fun—details, like cheeky custom coasters or “rally towels” as seat covers at a sporty after-party.
The president of Kehoe Designs, Tom Kehoe, is known for his innovative designs—think sheets of delicately twinkling crystals enveloping the aisle—and his sizeable team has crafted breathtaking installations all over the city, from a towering wedding arch and an aisle flanked by manicured hedges in the Field Museum to a modern, colorful affair in the Museum of Contemporary Art.
Best Wedding Planners in the Southwestern United States
Virginia Edelson began her career as the catering sales and events manager at The Little Nell, Aspen’s only five-star, five-diamond property, and later translated that event experience into her own full-service planning firm: Bluebird Productions. The Bluebird team focuses on blending the natural beauty of Colorado into their events with details like river rock place cards and embossed leather napkin holders, always with an eye toward keeping its affairs eco-friendly.
Founded by Kate Ryan and Chelsea Dillon, Gold Leaf Event Design Production has planned weddings everywhere from The Little Nell in Aspen to The Breakers Palm Beach and abroad. Thoughtful details abound in its creations: guests’ names delicately laser-cut out of wood to serve as place cards, a snowboard serving as a guestbook, and faux-fur-capped chairs for an outdoor winter ceremony in Aspen.
Serving the Rocky Mountains, Love This Day Events has created bespoke weddings for celebrities such as Today Show host Savannah Guthrie at Dove Mountain in Arizona, and Broadway star Annaleigh Ashford’s Devil’s Thumb Ranch wedding. The team excels at infusing a rustic, outdoorsy charm (think barnyard doors and woodsy garlands) with showstopping elements like a fireworks display over the newlywed couple.
Dallas wedding planner Rachel Eden Leuck of Rachel Events has repeatedly been voted Best in Dallas by WFAA’s A-List. Leuck puts a spin on the classic wedding by introducing Texas-sized elements: giant vases filled with red blooms, aerial hoop dancer performances, gold-dipped china, or a Mercedes SLS AMG with gullwing doors for the newlyweds to make their getaway.
Best Wedding Planners on the United States West Coast and California
A wedding by Bash Please typically exudes a contemporary California elegance: floral arrangements veer towards the artfully wild rather than perfectly trimmed (or even in vases—for one wedding, they hung tulips upside down from the ceiling). Receptions embrace the natural elements that surround them, whether it is a desert, vineyard, or beach. While most of their affairs are planned in the Golden State, they’ve planned high-profile nuptials across the country, including Alex Cooper’s wedding in Rivera Maya.
Vogue first ran a wedding by Melissa Sullivan’s Studio Sully in 2023. Since then, we’ve run four more—including one at a sculpture park in Amagansett and in the Palm Springs desert. Why? Her highly original weddings are always playful and avant-garde. Some of her most original feats include a James Turrell-inspired chuppah at a retro ’60s glam wedding in Palm Springs as well as a “surrealism-meets-nature” themed reception in the Hamptons. For the artistic-leaning bride, there’s no better choice.
Though based in San Francisco, the team at Alison Events Planning Design has orchestrated events all over the United States and in 14 countries around the world. Nothing is too small (an intimate wedding at a private home in Connecticut) or too big (a lavish, rose-filled affair at Hotel du Cap-Eden-Roc in Antibes, France, complete with a performance by Chris Martin).
Laurie Arons is a veteran of the party planning world, having created more than 600 exclusive events since founding her company in 1994. While Arons and her team can execute just about any vision—including a giant acrylic heart “pierced” by place card arrows for one creative couple—their aesthetic tends to reflect a rustic elegance and romantic ease (think vintage furniture, tapered candles, lush flowers).
Lisa Vorce has planned some of our favorite weddings: Julia Arnhold and Lane Gerson’s super-cool wedding at Roxbury Farm? Check. Isabel Roth’s lacy, long-sleeved Reem Acra fashion moment in Puglia? Check. And Kate Upton and Justin Verlander’s whirlwind wedding weekend in Tuscany, where the bride wore not one but two Valentino dresses? Check check. And, no big deal, but she did Olivia Culpo and Christian McCaffrey’s classic New England wedding in Rhode Island. Vorce doesn’t mass produce events—she creates unique experiences that reflect her clients and the place where they’ve chosen to wed.
Mindy Weiss is a go-to among the celebrity set, having planned events for Justin and Hailey Bieber, Ellen DeGeneres and Portia De Rossi, Russell and Nina Westbrook, and the Kardashian family. No matter the occasion, Weiss prizes herself on making the details feel personal so that no two events ever look or feel alike. In addition to designing stylish celebrations, Weiss has also written several children’s books, including Goldie The Handpicked Flower Girl and Jack Brings the Rings as well as The Wedding Book, The Wedding Planner, and The Baby Keepsake Book and Planner. Recently, she planned a quintessentially California affair at Stanly Ranch in Napa Valley as well as Ben Platt’s wedding in New York City.
Oren has produced high-profile events all over the world, from Florence to Hong Kong. Known not only for their artistry and precise execution but also for their discretion, Yifat Oren and her team at Oren Co have become favorites of some of Hollywood’s top entertainers, including Cameron Diaz, Reese Witherspoon, Natalie Portman, Anne Hathaway, and Adam Levine. Recently, they planned the Oregon wedding of Portland Trailblazers guard CJ McCollum.
Rosemary Hattenbach began producing events after a successful career in the film industry, so it’s no surprise that the weddings she plans have the feeling of carefully orchestrated sets: rows of wedding pews under weeping willows for the ceremony, or a skywriting plane scrawling messages of love in the sky mid-reception. Her dramatic events have garnered her quite a client list of Silicon Valley and Hollywood power players.
Husband-and-wife duo Steve Moore and Jamie Sinclair Debell cater to the Pacific Northwest but will travel worldwide. Their events run the gamut: their own nuptials in a barn in Lynden, Washington; elegant backyard weddings; and an all-out Provence-inspired bash for one lucky couple. Not planning a wedding quite yet? Join them for their floral design workshops out of their Seattle studio.
Event designer Stanlee Gatti is known as the man behind most of San Francisco’s lavish, large-scale parties. He is one of the best in the business and made headlines in 2021 for his work on Ivy Getty’s wedding weekend—a fall affair where Earth, Wind Fire performed at the welcome party, Nancy Pelosi served as the officiant at the ceremony, and the reception went until the next day.
Stefanie Cove produces memorable weddings around the world. With over 15 years of experience, she’s known for her refined taste and having total discretion. This industry expert has the ability to execute both large and small-scale events and can be counted on to ensure her client’s personal aesthetics are woven into every aspect of their big day. Recently, we published a wedding she planned in Crested Butte—whose stunning ceremony setting you can see above.
Located near Seattle s Stone Way, Valley Co. designs events all over the Pacific Northwest and beyond. To founders and spouses Aleah and Nick, every detail matters. They firmly believe that every event they do should feel unique, balanced, and imaginative—boxes they check time and time again.
Best Canadian Wedding Planners
Principal planner Alicia Keats brings her years in management and theater arts to her role, crafting stage-worthy designs and moments for her clients while also seamlessly managing all logistics. Some of her most memorable events have included a secret reception venue, a late-night yacht party in the harbor, an extravagant mountainside 12-course meal served alfresco under the stars, and a masquerade ball complete with stilt walkers and opera singers.
Montreal-based Chic by Nicole is your one-stop shop for all things wedding planning, whether your goal is an intimate or large-scale celebration. The company offers bespoke services and design proposals that are romantic, timeless, and above all, approachable.
Hera Weddings and Events has garnered the attention of some big names like NHL hockey star Mike Green, thanks to the company’s creative aesthetic. While it can deftly execute stunning, romantic nuptials, the team prides itself on doing weddings of all different styles, with a particular focus on enhancing the beautiful, rugged backdrop of the Banff area.
Iris Li, founder of Blue Lavender Events, offers full planning to month-of coordination for clients in the greater Toronto area. From a candlelit Art Deco–inspired wedding done in black and gold to a romantic outdoor scene with topiary escort cards, birch trees draped in candles, and oodles of orchids, Li says she likes to pull her inspiration from her global travels.
Best International Wedding Planners
Owner Alex Fitzgibbons and Fait Accompli’s founder and director Camilla Monckton have mastered the art of discretion and the ability to create lavish, spectacle events on an international level. As the royal family’s preferred event planner, Fait Accompli has elegantly pulled off countless royal functions, from gala events at Kensington Palace for Princess Diana to the 2011 royal wedding of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge at Buckingham Palace. More recently, they organized a wedding thrown at the Drayton House, the estate where Saltburn was filmed.
Banana Split planned Sofia Richie’s wedding at the Hotel du Cap-Eden-Roc in the South of France—and quickly became one of the most sought-after wedding planners for traditional, grand events across the globe. (“It took us about a year working with Banana Split, who have been fantastic,” Richie says of her planners.) They’re particularly known for their lush, billowing statement floral installations—seen here at Richie’s wedding in May 2023.
Lanza Baucina are all about discretion. They have no social media presence and their website is a mere landing page that advertises their company’s experience “ranging from royal and A-List celebrity weddings to groundbreaking productions in extraordinary and unchartered locations.” You can see their work in this ’70s-inspired wedding in St. Tropez this grand affair at a Baroque Villa in Palermo, or this Narnia-esque wedding in Gstaad. Spoiler alert: each one ends in quite the party.
Known as Britain’s most sought-after wedding planner, Sarah Haywood has planned lavish events for big names the world over, even pulling off one fete in just two weeks. She prides herself on personalized service, taking on a maximum of five clients at any one time. In addition to planning events, she became the go-to international commentator for the wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton, and is the U.K.’s top-selling bridal author.
Led by New York-born Diana Sorensen, Sugokuii Events specializes in destination events in Capri. Designing less than eight events per year in order to devote undivided personal attention to each client, Sugokuii Events has produced unforgettable multi-day celebrations that capture the best of la dolce vita for Bumble founder Whitney Wolfe Herd and Gabriella Givenchy, to name-drop just a few notables. Her events are known for their unique, vibrantly colored florals, beautifully hand-painted and personalized ceramics, and perfectly precise execution.
