Unveiling the Best Cities for DIY Outdoor Weddings in 2026

Will folks start ditching the wedding planner, the all-inclusive packages, and $13,000 venues for a down-to-earth wedding ceremony in their favorite park, on a local beach, or even in their backyard?

To mark National Wedding Planning Day on March 1, Lawn Love is unveiling the Best U.S. Cities for DIY Outdoor Weddings in 2026.

Best Cities for DIY Outdoor Weddings

1. Santa Fe, New Mexico
2. Fort Myers, Florida
3. Vista, California
4. Tyler, Texas
5. Danbury, Connecticut
6. Boca Raton, Florida
7. El Cajon, California
8. West Palm Beach, Florida
9. Doral, Florida
10. Suffolk, Virginia

To rank the cities, we considered average yard sizes, access to park space and beaches, and climate. We also looked at access to wedding services — like caterers and bridal shops — and local interest for outdoor, beachfront, and backyard weddings, among 19 total metrics.

Key Insights:

• Couples spend an average of $12,900 on venues, according to The Knot. In comparison, the cost of park wedding permits can range from $25 in Central Park to $525 for a 3-hour slot in Minneapolis (No. 192) city parks.

• Santa Fe, New Mexico, takes 1st place with big backyards, decent park access, over 300 days of sunshine annually, low average humidity, and access to key wedding services like flower shops and bakeries.

• Southeastern cities Miami (No. 11) and Atlanta (No. 20) score among hardy Midwestern cities — Minneapolis (No. 192), Chicago (No. 374), and Detroit (No. 489) — with some of the highest local interest in outdoor weddings (based on Google searches adjusted by 100,000 residents).

Read the full story here: https://lawnlove.com/blog/best-cities-outdoor-weddings/