A Definitive Guide to the Best Credit Cards for Wedding Expenses, According to Financial Experts

It's not exactly breaking news that weddings can get very costly, very fast. Especially with the dramatic inflation the country has experienced since the pandemic, it's not surprising that couples can expect to pay an average wedding cost of $35,000 (or even more depending on where you tie the knot). While some couples are getting crafty with DIY weddings and others are shifting priorities to fit their wedding budget, many have discovered hacks and incredible savings by thinking and spending strategically with credit cards.

As you're comparing price estimates in our wedding budget tool and deciding how to pay for a wedding in a way that works for your financial situation, consider the expert advice we've included in this story. Below, financial experts weigh in with their advice on financing your wedding on a credit card. Sara Rathner, credit card expert at NerdWallet, and Erin Lowery, personal finance expert and the author of Broke Millennial, share expert tips on how to make credit cards work for you, plus dangers to avoid.

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Whether you're looking to conserve extra funds around the big day or simply saving any last cent for a honeymoon of a lifetime, using the best credit cards for wedding expenses responsibly can help make more of your dreams come true.

In this story:

• Can You Pay Wedding Vendors With a Credit Card?
• How to Choose Credit Cards for Wedding Expenses
• Choosing the Best Credit Cards for Wedding Planning
• Choosing the Best Credit Card for a Honeymoon
• Choosing the Best Credit Card for Couples: Newlywed Expenses

Can You Pay Wedding Vendors With a Credit Card?

Yes, many wedding vendors, from venues to wedding dress designers, accept credit cards as a form of payment. As you're asking wedding vendors questions before booking, make sure to inquire about how payment works. Some vendors may be able to directly take credit card payments while others may process those charges through third-party billing systems, such as Rock Paper Coin, Honeybook or Maroo. Additionally, it will vary from vendor to vendor on whether a fee is applied for paying with a credit card instead of a check or wire transfer.

How to Choose Credit Cards for Wedding Expenses

Here's the thing, do wedding vendors and venues accept credit cards? Often, yes. However, does that mean you need to pay via credit card? Not necessarily. When evaluating your wedding budget breakdown and weighing if a credit card is the best form of payment, you need to consider the decision mindfully.

Consider Your Overall Financial Situation

While you can use credit cards to pay for wedding vendors, Sara Rathner advises that you do so mindfully and only if using that form of payment works within your broader financial situation. "Credit cards are merely a tool you can use to pay for things in a strategic way," emphasizes the financial expert. "You can use them to earn rewards on money you were going to spend anyway, and that helps make every dollar spent work a bit harder for you. Or you can use them as a short-term, interest-free loan."

The pro goes on to note that anyone who pays for a wedding with a credit card "need to be thoughtful whenever you're spending a lot of money in a short period of time. Credit cards aren't going to set your wedding budget for you. Even if they allow you to take on no-interest debt, it's up to you to pay that debt down as aggressively as you can. So, yes, a $5,000 credit card limit is technically money you can use for wedding expenses, but be cautious about spending more than you can afford to pay back."

Understand the Credit Card's Rewards Structure

"If you're able to fund your wedding without taking on debt, this opens up some possibilities for lucrative rewards cards," says Rathner. While selecting the best credit card for the wedding, Erin Lowry explains that "there are three common types of reward structures" to be cognitive of.

• The Sign-On Bonus: With this kind of reward, "you get miles or points after you spend a certain amount of money," says Lowry. This could prove useful when planning your honeymoon or a destination wedding. Rathner is a fan of these rewards, especially ahead of major vendor payments. "A few weeks before a big deposit is due could be a good time to apply for a new card with a generous sign-up bonus, because that one large expense can help you reach the spending minimum required to get that bonus. When I got married in 2015, we did just that to put down a catering deposit," says Rathner. "That helped make our honeymoon in Maui more affordable"
• The Flat-Rate Cash Back: "You get a certain percentage of cash back every time you make a purchase," explains Lowry of a flar-rate cash back reward structure. If you're early in the wedding planning process, this could be a strong option, especially when making larger purchases.
• Rotating Categories: Credit cards with this type of rewards give you "a small percentage of cash back every time you make a purchase, usually 1%. And then increased cash back in different categories each quarterly," says Lowry. If you're flexible with your spending, rotating categories may be a great choice for you!

Look for Interest-Free Credit Cards

"If you need to spread out payments for those big-ticket wedding purchases, a credit card with a 0% APR promotion can give you at least a year to make payments interest-free," explains Rathner. However, the pro warns that there are a few important considerations with zero-interest credit card offers. First, "you may not qualify for a credit limit high enough to put really big charges on the card." Additionally, once the no-interest promotional period ends, "you'll begin to owe interest on any remaining balance. If you use a credit card to finance part of your wedding, you want to go into this with a plan to pay it all off," advises Rathner.

Prioritize Balance

Credit card companies try to make it as easy and enticing as possible to sign up, but that can be a slippery slope into opening more cards that is wise for your financial situation. "The number of cards you use for wedding purchases depends on how many cards you feel comfortable managing at once," says Rathner. "The moment you struggle to keep up with payment due dates is the moment you need to scale back. It's perfectly fine to pick one card, like a travel card with a sign-up bonus that earns points on your spending. Or you can use two or more cards if you're spending enough to earn more than one sign-up bonus."

Don't Change Your Regular Spending Habits

Lowry advises, "Your goal should be to match a credit card to your regular spending instead of changing your patterns for a specific credit card." She also gives sound advice when it comes to considering a credit card with an amazing rate — but a steep annual charge. "Many reward cards can come with annual fees that can give you a bit of sticker shock." She cautions reward-seekers to look at a credit card from every angle to see if it will fit best into your lifestyle and budget.

Be Strategic With Timing

Choosing the right credit card goes hand-in-hand with picking a wedding date and a venue. Make it one of the first things you and your partner discuss when you first begin to plan your dream day. If you plan to apply for a new credit card, do so a few weeks before you make any deposits so you have the card available when you need it.

Choosing the Best Credit Cards for Wedding Planning

So, what is the best credit card for wedding expenses? Whether it be a wedding venue expense or putting a card down for flowers, you'll want want a card with a generous sign-on bonus and cash-back advantage.

Our pick for the best credit card for big wedding purchases is the Capital One SavorOne Rewards credit card for couples because you'll get more when spending on entertainment, dining, and there's a cash bonus.

Rewards and Specifics

Here is a look at the rewards that the Capital One SavorOne Rewards card offers.

• One-time $200 cash bonus (hello, wedding accessories or travel budget!) after you spend $500 on purchases within the first three months
• Earn 3% cash back on dining and entertainment (like, say, a live band or DJ…), 5% at hotels booked through Capital One Travel (*hint, hint* your bach party), and 1% on all other purchases.
• $0 annual fee plus no foreign transaction fees on purchases made outside of the United States.
• How it can help: expenses like the venue, entertainment, and decor. As the cash back begins to roll in, your other purchases become less expensive, and in some circumstances, your budget may even grow.

Other Good Credit Cards for Wedding Planning

While the Capital One SavorOne Rewards card is our top pick for a wedding planning credit card, there are a few other strong options you could also consider.

• American Express Gold Card: This credit card is nice for wedding planning because the $120 annual dining credit, which is spread out in $10 monthly payments, gives you an excuse to pause for date nights amid the chaos of wedding planning. Additionally, this Amex has a generous sign-on bonus of 60,000 Membership Rewards Point after you spend $6,000 on eligible purchases on your new card in your first six months (which you're likely to do when paying wedding vendors).
• US Bank Visa Platinum Card: This credit card boast a long introductory zero-interest period which is great for folks who may be having a long engagement and want extra time to pay off their charges. The card has 0% APR for 21 billing cycles as well as no annual fee.

Choosing the Best Credit Card for a Honeymoon

You're finally, officially each other's better half, and with wedding stress behind you, it's time to celebrate. Perhaps you're planning a European adventure or a tropical getaway for you and your love. No matter your destination, costs are never far behind. Between flight fares, lodging, tourist activities, and beyond, the average honeymoon cost adds up quickly and you'll want to be strategic about how you cover those expenses. you're going to find yourself with a bill as high as your wedding without some foresight. According to NerdWallet, the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card (which has a perfect 5 NerdWallet ranking) is your best bet when planning your first vacation as newlyweds.

Rewards and Specifics

• 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on your account within the first three months from your account opening.
• You can also earn up to $50 in each account anniversary year for hotel stays purchased through Chase Travel.
• Earn 2x the points on travel and 3x points on dining—perfect for a foodie honeymoon trip.
• Travel perks include no foreign access fees, partner benefits, travel insurance and 1:1 point transfer.
• How it can help: Imagine you and your soon-to-be spouse have been dreaming of a trip to Cabo after the nuptials. Should you apply for this card and get approved, you can potentially put a couple of wedding expenses toward the card and receive enough rewards to get free flights and some extra cash for groceries while you enjoy your stay.

Other Good Credit Cards for Honeymoons

In addition to the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card, there are some other great credit cards with travel rewards that you'll be glad you have for your honeymoon.

• The Platinum Card from American Express: This credit card has a generous perk package including a 150,000 point welcome bonus, $200 annual hotel credit, access to over 1,400 airport lounges across 650 cities in 140 countries, $200 annual airline fee credit, $199 annual CLEAR Plus credit, plus additional perks for Uber, Resy and Saks.
• Capital One Venture Rewards: This credit card is a top contender for honeymoon perks. You can enjoy $250 to use on Capital One Travel in your first year, plus earn 75,000 bonus miles once you spend $4,000 on purchases within the first 3 months from card opening. You also get 2x miles on regular purchases and 5x miles on hotels booked through Capital One Travel.

Choosing the Best Credit Card for Couples: Newlywed Expenses

In addition to credit cards that'll directly help you pay for the wedding, there are a few cards you can get to set you off on the right food in newlywed life. However, Rathner advises couples to talk through what's best for them before applying for cards. "Don't start your life together without having some serious talks about your finances." The Bank of America Cash Rewards credit card is the best option for newlyweds, and especially new home owners.

Rewards and Specifics

Here's the inside scoop on the pros of the Bank of America Cash Rewards credit card.

• 3% cash back in the category of choice: gas, online shopping, dining, travel, drug stores, or home improvement/furnishings.
• 2% back at grocery stores and wholesale clubs like Costco or Sam's.
• Online $200 cash rewards bonus after making at least $1,000 in purchases in the first 90 days of your account opening.
• Earn 3% and 2% cash back on the first $2,500 in combined purchases each quarter in the choice category, and at grocery stores and wholesale clubs, then earn unlimited 1% thereafter.
• How it can help: Perhaps you want to take on some DIY projects for your wedding. That means you'll be finding yourself in the aisles of craft stores and e-commerce retailers. With this card, you're able to let your money really work for you in the area that is going to be the most expensive. Alternatively, you and your partner may be planting roots in your first home together. While you may have scored that killer kitchen appliance from your registry, perhaps you came up short in other categories. This credit card can allow you to get more when spending money on those expensive bed sheets you've been eyeing since they popped the question.

Other Good Credit Cards for Newlywed Expenses

Here are our other top picks for credit cards for newlywed expenses. These options are going to make your first months as a married couple especially rewarding.

• IKEA Visa Credit Card: This card gives you 5% back on IKEA purchases, 0% interest for a year, 3% back in rewards on dining and a bonus $25 IKEA Rewards Dollars when you make $500 in qualifying purchases within the first three months of opening an account.
• Citi Double Cash Card: This credit card has a 4.9 out of 5 rating from NerdWallet. The card's simplicity makes it appealing—perfect for couples who just want something easy after months of wedding planning. Card holders earn 2% cash back on all purchases. You can also receive $200 cash back after spending $1,500 on purchases in the first six months of account opening.
• Amazon Prime Rewards Visa Signature Card: This credit card can be a gamechanger. It allows for 5% back at Amazon and Whole Foods. Plus no annual credit card fee!

Ultimately, even the best credit cards for wedding expenses should be viewed as tools and not free money. Be sure to have open conversations with your future spouse on finances and ensure you're selecting a credit card best for your lifestyle and financial goals.

Jazmine Reed-Clark contributed to the reporting of this story.

Please note: The Knot and the materials and information it contains are not intended to, and do not constitute, financial or tax advice and should not be used as such. You should always consult with your financial and tax advisors about your specific circumstances. This information contained herein is not necessarily exhaustive, complete, accurate or up to date and we undertake no responsibility to update. In addition, we do not take responsibility for information contained in any external links, over which we have no control.