Putting expenses on a credit card vs. paying upfront

If you’re unable to score a card with a 0% introductory period and don’t think you’ll be able to repay your wedding expenses before your credit card balance rolls over, you still have a couple of options.

One option is to pay upfront using your savings. This might be the cheapest option if you’ve been able to save over a number of years, as it’ll enable you to pay for your dream wedding without having to worry about interest rates or loan fees.

If you’d like to go this route, start saving as soon as you can. After all, the sooner you start saving, the more cash you can set aside so you can book your venue and any critical wedding services well in advance.

You might not have the time or the means to save thousands of dollars for your wedding day — and that’s okay. You can apply for a personal loan from a bank instead. This will enable you to pay for all your biggest wedding expenses, like your wedding venue, dress, attire, band, cake, and catering, in one go. You’ll then be able to repay that tab in fixed installments over a set number of months or years.

Using a loan to pay for your wedding isn’t always the cheapest option, but it does make life easy in terms of budgeting for your future repayments.

With all that said, at the end of the day, you might find you’re able to strike a nice balance between paying with cash and credit. For example, you might be able to pay for your venue using an interest-free credit card, and savings you’ve set aside to pay for the wedding dress, band, and meal.

What wedding expenses should I put on a credit card?

Just because you can use a credit card to pay for your wedding doesn’t mean you have to (or should) pay for everything with it. Being strategic with what you use your credit card for can save you time, stress, and of course, money.

So, what should you use your credit card for?

No two weddings are alike, and so the expenses you and your fiancé will have to spring for might not match the expenses your best friends will have to pay for. But here’s a breakdown of the big costs involved in most weddings.

Deposits

Deposits for your big expenses normally need to be paid months (or years) in advance. Because they’re such big upfront purchases, wedding deposits are a great way for you to use your credit card.

Using your credit card for deposits enables you to gradually pay off each deposit over time, and you can then decide later on whether you want to pay the rest of your balance using another credit card charge, cash, savings, or a loan.

Travel expenses

You can get some great travel deals if you pay using a credit card.

Many cards offer bonus points, bonus miles, or other rewards when you book using their air travel partners or certain hotel brands, and you can also benefit from extra consumer protections if anything goes wrong.

You can also choose from a number of travel rewards credit cards designed specifically for travel-related expenses that include exclusive perks, like complimentary airport lounge access at select airports, baggage delay insurance, or a priority pass while traveling.

If you’re making other big wedding purchases using a rewards card, you can use those rewards to book your honeymoon flights afterward at a huge discount, thanks to free airline miles. But you can also get a bump on smaller rewards, like points to redeem or gift cards to spend at gas stations, grocery stores, or other places you can make travel purchases.

Wedding dress

Let’s face it: your wedding dress is likely the most important dress you’re ever going to wear. As a result, its cost can spiral out of control pretty quickly.

In addition to the dress’s price, you have to consider tailoring and shipping it — and a lot can go wrong there. By paying for your wedding dress (or making a deposit) using a credit card, you’ll be able to ensure you get your money back if the worst should happen, thanks to extra customer protection rules.

Your wedding planner

Wedding planners or coordinators can make your life so much easier. But you’ll normally need to pay a decent fee in exchange for their help.

By paying this fee in advance with a credit card, you’ll be able to spread the cost out over time. In addition, you’ll have a well-documented purchase with consumer protections in the event that you and your wedding planner end things badly or a dispute occurs.

What type of credit card should I use for wedding expenses?

The type of credit card you should use for wedding expenses is going to depend largely on how you plan on using that card.

Let’s take a look at the different types of credit cards you may want to consider for your special day.

0% interest cards

If you qualify for a card with a 0% promotional interest rate, you’ll get to spend without having to worry about paying interest for a number of months.

For example, let’s say you’re approved for a 20-month interest-free period. That means you won’t get charged any interest at all on your purchases as long as you stay within the terms and conditions of your card and pay off your balance before your promotional period ends.

Rewards cards

If you want to get free stuff in exchange for paying off your wedding expenses, a rewards card might be the way to go.

If you’re able to clear your balance in full, you could end up scoring cash back, air miles (especially with travel credit cards), or other rewards — all without having to pay any interest.

High limit cards

By choosing a credit card with a high limit, you’ll be able to make big wedding purchases and spread their cost out over a number of months or years.

This’ll give you stability and extra time to pay your wedding off when and how you want to.

What’s the best credit card for wedding expenses?

The best credit card for wedding expenses will depend a lot on you, your credit score, your wedding plans, whether you’re a young adult, and how you’re going to use that credit card.

But if you need help narrowing it down, here are three of the best credit cards for weddings in 2022:

Best for paying off your honeymoon: The Platinum Card from American Express

• Earn card membership rewards points on every dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or American Express Travel
• Get a welcome bonus of 100,000 reward points if you spend $6,000 within six months

Best for spreading out big expenses: U.S. Bank Visa Platinum Card

• 0% intro APR period on purchases and balance transfers
• No annual fees

Best for cash back: Citi Double Cash Card

• Unlimited 2% cash back on all purchases
• 0% intro APR on balance transfers for 18 months

Conclusion

Paying for your big day using credit can be super cost-effective — as long as you’re organized and responsible.

Want to make sure you’re always using the perfect card for the perfect purchase?

Kudos sorts through data across 3,000+ cards and millions of online merchants so that when you are ready to check out, our assistant can scan your wallet to tell you how you should pay and what rewards and benefits you’ll get on that purchase.

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