A new study finds Montana the No. 16 hottest state for the wedding industry as 2022 marks the biggest year ever for weddings.

After a COVID-19 slump, an unprecedented 2.5 million weddings are set to take place this year – a surge not seen since 1984 – and Americans will spend a record $68.7 billion on venues, dinner, drinks, music, flowers, photography, attire – and of course, the ring.  

Rare Carat — an online diamond marketplace — released a study on States Where the Wedding Industry is Booming after analyzing Bureau of Labor Statistics data on annual pay and employment for five occupations central to the industry – event planners, jewelers, florists, photographers, and bakers.

Key Findings in Montana contributing to its No. 16 ranking:

*        Event planners: Earn $49,730 and there are 74 event planners per 100,000 jobs

*        Jewelers: Earn $40,210 and there are 31 jewelers per 100,000 jobs

*        Florists: Earn $27,590 and there are 41 florists per 100,000 jobs

*        Photographers: Earn $50,090 and there are 23 photographers per 100,000 jobs

*        Bakers: Earn $31,820 and there are 172 bakers per 100,000 jobs.

10 Hottest States: 1) New York, 2) Washington, 3) Rhode Island, 4) Massachusetts, 5) Hawaii, 6) Connecticut, 7) California, 8) Colorado, 9) Vermont, 10) New Jersey.

10 Worst States: 1) West Virginia, 2) Mississippi, 3) Kentucky, 4) Alabama, 5) New Mexico, 6) Louisiana, 7) South Carolina, 8) Arkansas, 9) Kansas, 10) Wyoming.