Wedding planning is a very special skill set that is hard to master. It requires a creative mind, an understanding of good hospitality, meticulous organization, excellent management, and incredible emotional intelligence to liaise with vendors and clientele. The top wedding planners in the world possess all these traits and have harnessed them to craft some of the most stunning celebrations for elite clients. Ahead, learn about the best of the best in the wedding industry.
As go-to party planner of the Kardashian family, you know Mindy Weiss is a master at crafting a grand affair. Weiss has been in business for almost 30 years, but still manages to turn around incredible events that push the boundaries in design and hospitality. While Mindy and her Los Angeles-based team craft fêtes of every variety, weddings are truly a star from this industry titan.
Photo: Aaron Delesie, Amy & Stuart
Elevated affairs with a classic touch are a specialty of Easton Events. Led by Lynn Easton and her right-hand Dawson Haynes, the full-service planning company is a leader in the space that creates show-stopping spaces with a unique, elegant perspective. Based in Charleston, the firm produces stunning events around the world with an eye for design as well as workshops for the industry.
Photo: Sophie Lin Berard, Liz Banfield
Refined and organic elegance is the ethos when it comes to weddings planned by Bash Please. The California-based firm produces destination events around the globe that echo luxury without being too flashy. An emphasis on beautiful florals and details are a signature of this talented team.
Photo: Kristen Marie Parker, Heather Waraksa
With over 20 years of experience under her belt, Alison Hotchkiss of Alison Events has built a top-notch team that produces beautiful events in destinations around the world. From small soirées to multi-day grand affairs, the full-service planning firm can tailor their creative minds to craft the luxury wedding of their clients’ dreams.
Photo: Norman & Blake
Beautiful details, seamless guest experience, and a good party are the foundations of a wedding planned by Smith + James. Creative director Tory Smith and studio manager Lauren Silavin frequently team up with the best vendors in the business to produce amazing, curated celebrations around the globe. Not only is a Smith + James wedding about aesthetics, but it’s also about crafting the right vibe for the couple and their guests to have an incredible time.
Photo: Norman & Blake
Romantic elegance is a touchstone of a Sinclair & Moore wedding. Led by husband-wife duo Steve and Jamie Moore, the full-service planning firm crafts stunning events that feel at once traditional and innovative. Beautiful florals and great guest experience are a guarantee at a bespoke event by their team.
Photo: Ryan Ray, Kristen Marie Parker
If you’re planning a wedding in Lake Como, The Lake Como Wedding Planner is an easy vendor choice when looking for a talented planner to craft your celebration. The local team is tapped into the best vendor network in Europe to help produce breathtaking events for their clients in the iconic destination. Of course, this skilled team also plans incredible parties in locations around the globe.
Photo: Shawn Connell, Umberto Armiraglio
Jove Meyer is a New York-based planner with an eye for bold design. Spaces drenched in color and dramatic floral moments are a specialty of this wedding pro. We particularly love how Meyer places an emphasis on inclusion in his work to make both clients and vendor teams feel celebrated and accepted in the planning process.
Photo: Norman & Blake, Mili Ghosh
Destination weddings are a specialty for planner Lisa Vorce. Along with her team, the founder crafts immersive events that blend hospitality, stunning design, and a respect for the destination to create one-of-a-kind experiences. With a boutique approach, Lisa Vorce Co. limits the number of events each year to ensure personalized attention, making every celebration a distinctive and unforgettable affair.
Photo: Elizabeth Messina, Norman & Blake
Lynden Lane is a premier wedding and event planning company renowned for crafting highly personalized celebrations. Founded by a dynamic mother-daughter team, the firm brings a deeply collaborative and design-forward approach to every event, blending timeless elegance with modern sophistication. The team is known for its exceptional attention to detail, bespoke experiences, and a commitment to storytelling through design.
Photo: Valorie Darling
Founder and creative director Gregory Blake Sams curates elevated affairs with a touch of whimsy. Classic, elegant weddings often have an original touch when crafted by his team, from dramatic florals to artful additions to unexpected backdrops. Of course, Sams ensures that his luxe design ideas blend perfectly with guest experience and a hospitality focus.
Photo: Jose Villa, Joel Villa-Serrato
Wedding planner Michelle Norwood has fostered an ethos of curated charm and elegance to her celebrations. As a native of New Orleans, Michelle infuses her events with the city’s vibrant culture and warmth, creating experiences that are both authentic and memorable. Only working with a select number of couples per year, she is able to dedicate her time to create a supportive and bespoke planning experience for her clients.
Photo: Mo Davis Photography
Marcy Blum uses her 35 years of experience to craft beautiful and innovative weddings that continually push the boundaries of event design. Attention to detail and bold ideas often make Marcy a favorite of the celebrities to set the stage for their biggest life moments. Based in New York City, the firm produces affairs big and small in destinations everywhere.
Photo: Allan Zepeda
If you are hoping to host a classic wedding with a modern feel, Charleston-based Augusta Cole should be on your radar. The full-service event planner emphasizes high-touch logistics and thoughtful design to curate bespoke events for her clients. Along with her team, Clark creates weddings full of lush florals and pretty patterns.
Photo: Corbin Gurkin, Molly Peach
Weddings by JZ Events are absolutely affairs to remember. Founder Jennifer Zabinski’s hospitality background led her to two decades of event planning, where she puts as much attention to the guest experience as she does to show-stopping designs. The planner and her team regularly produce stunning destination weddings that are featured in top publications.
Photo: Allan Zepeda, Ryan Ray
Laurie Arons has been crafting beautiful celebrations since 1994. The full-service planning company brings an elegance to their events, marrying romantic, elevated design with seamless service. Based in San Francisco, Arons regularly crafts destination events throughout the country.
Photo: Jose Villa, Lacie Hansen
Fashion publicist-turned–event planner Liz Linkleter is a whiz at crafting an incredible party. The London-based creative and her team orchestrate amazing celebrations around the world with an eye for detail, elegant aesthetics, and a sense of fun. The full-service planning company puts impact first, making sure each wedding feels dramatic yet not ostentatious.
Photo: Norman & Blake
With over 30 years in the industry, Colin Cowie has established his firm as a go-to for glamorous, luxury events. The creative infuses bold florals, top-tier service, and unique experiences into every event. With offices in New York and Italy, Cowie and his team are easily able to produce incredible weddings at a global scale.
Photo: Allan Zepeda, Larissa Cleveland
Creating moments of connection and joy are the goal for Beth Helmstetter and her full-service planning firm. The creative curates both intimate celebrations and large multi-day affairs for clients in beautiful destinations from Paris to Cabo San Lucas. Artful design and thoughtful guest experience are both present in her team’s productions.
Photo: Steve Steinhardt, Jenny Quicksall
London-based Sarah Haywood is an easy choice when picking a planner for a European celebration. The creative combines lush florals with colorful design elements to create weddings that make a statement. Her team can tailor events to fit practically any style to bring her clients’ vision to life.
Photo: Robert Fairer, M&J Photos
Romantic design is a signature of destination event planner Fallon Carter. Her wedding celebrations are all about telling love stories through stunning spaces, thoughtful details, and curated moments. The Fallon Carter team connects Southern hospitality with international luxury at wedding weekends hosted throughout the world.
Photo: Elizabeth Austin, AGPcollective
Shannon Leahy has an eye for design that makes her events feel at once dramatic and refined. Her California and Maryland-based event planning team curate weddings around the globe that emphasize style and service. Even while conceptualizing custom builds for multi-day celebrations, Leahy maintains a relaxed approach to create an easy experience for her clients.
Photo: Corbin Gurkin, Jose Villa
Mae&Co Creative is a skilled full-service planning firm that has no problem designing a bohemian rehearsal dinner in the desert or an elegant reception in Florence. The detail-oriented team led by Manda Worthington brings their experience to create beautiful experiences that capture their clients’ visions. The team produces no more than five events per year to properly dedicate their time to each celebration.
Photo: Anni Graham, Duey Photo
Flawless design and execution are a trademark of a Michelle Rago event. The destination wedding planner has spent years in the business fine-tuning her craft to produce beautiful celebrations that make an impact. A concierge-style approach makes planning an event with Rago’s team an easy experience for couples.
Photo: Corbin Gurkin, Anée Atelier
If you’re looking for elevated design with a funky, cool-girl twist, Melissa Sullivan of Studio Sully should be on your vendor list. The planner brings a unique perspective to her work that innovates on the expected at a wedding celebration. Destination weddings are a specialty of Sullivan’s, where she is able to make any location party ready.
Photo: Dias de Vino y rosas
Since 1996, Bryan Rafanelli has been producing wow-worthy events around the globe. The full-service planning team’s events are sure to be showstopping with bold color, florals, original builds, and seamless service. With offices in New York, Palm Beach, and Boston, the firm is able to produce events at a grand scale around the globe.
Photo: Abby Jiu Photography
HauteFêtes brings a European sensibility, attention to detail, and personalized approach to their event design. Led by Dani Blasena, the California-based event design and planning studio organizes beautiful events at unique destinations worldwide. Often playing in softer palettes, HauteFêtes is the perfect match for those looking to craft a dreamy, romantic wedding with luxury roots.
Photo: Holly Clark Photography, Ryan Ray
Making your wedding feel like a stunning vacation is the goal of Alison Bryan Destinations. The married founders bring their background in the hospitality space to create incredible experiences for their clients and guests. Luxe travel and beautiful design perfectly marry in this creative team’s work.
Photo: Norman & Blake
Xin Huang, founder of Le Petite Privé, is a planner who has made her mark in the wedding world in recent years. Not only does she craft beautiful celebrations for couples, but she has become a go-to for crafting stunning events for the industry and creative bridal designers looking to put on a show for New York Bridal Fashion Week. You can expect attention to detail and unique productions from a Le Petite Privé event.
Photo: Samm Blake, Calenrose
Jolene Peterson has made a mark with her beautifully creative event design and warm approach. Based in Colorado, Laurel & Rose specializes in destination weddings with concierge-level planning. The full-service event team is dedicated to creating lively celebrations and fostering moments of connection for their clients.
Photo: Rachel Havel, Erich McVey
