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What Wedding Expenses Should I Put on a Credit Card, and What Type of Card Should I Use?
December 11, 2024
When a couple is in the thick of planning a wedding, figuring out how to pay for unexpected costs and prices that seem to bust their budget can be stressful. Last year, the average wedding cost sat at around $34,000 — and even if you’ve got help from your parents, chances are you’ll need to pick up some of those costs, too.
While some save for years to be able to afford their celebration, others pay the bill by fronting some of the cash now and relying on credit cards that they plan to pay off later.
This guide explains what wedding expenses you should put on a credit card, the types of credit cards you may want to consider to pay for your wedding costs, and the best credit cards for wedding expenses in 2022.
Should I put wedding expenses on a credit card?
Before we take a look at types of credit cards you may want to use to pay for your wedding expenses, it’s critical you understand whether paying for your wedding on credit is right for you.
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Generally speaking, financial experts say there are typically two situations in which it would make sense for you to charge some (or all) of your wedding expenses on your credit card.
The first is if you plan to pay off your balance in full before your statement rolls over to the following month. You’ll probably want to do this if you have a rewards card and are making big wedding purchases, as you’ll likely rack up loads of points on your eligible purchases.
Better yet, you won’t have to pay any interest on those expenses if you pay your balance off within the month.
The second situation in which you’ll probably want to put wedding costs on your credit card is if you’ve got a credit card with a 0% annual percentage rate (APR). You can normally get a 0% introductory rate (or “promotional rate”) when you set up a new card for a number of months — or sometimes even a whole year or longer.
As long as you’re able to repay your balance within the promotional period, you won’t pay a cent of interest. That’s basically like taking out a free loan. If you find the right card, you might even be able to earn rewards while benefiting from your 0% promo rate.
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?
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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.
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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.
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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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Editorial Disclosure: Opinions expressed here are those of Kudos alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, hotel, airline, or other entity. This content has not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of the entities included within the post.
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