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Whether you're getting married or paying for your child's wedding, getting one of the best credit cards for wedding expenses could help. Weddings are often expensive, with an average cost of $30,000. You could use a credit card with a 0% intro APR to pay down wedding costs while avoiding interest charges. Or, if you don't need to finance anything, you could still get a credit card with a big sign-up bonus and rewards to earn something back on what you spend.
BankAmericard® credit card
Great for: 0% intro APR offer
Good/Excellent (670-850)
Intro APR 0% Intro APR for 18 billing cycles for purchases. 0% Intro APR for 18 billing cycles for any balance transfers made in the first 60 days. After the intro APR offer ends, 16.24% - 26.24% Variable APR on purchases and balance transfers will apply. A 3% fee applies to all balance transfers.
Purchases: 0% Intro APR for 18 billing cycles for purchases
Balance Transfers: 0% Intro APR for 18 billing cycles for any balance transfers made in the first 60 days
Regular APR
16.24% - 26.24% (Variable)
Rewards
N/A
Annual Fee
$0
Welcome Offer
N/A
Few cards in this category can compete with this offers long 0% intro APR offer.
Great for: Generous cash back offer
Good/Excellent (670-850)
Intro APR
Purchases: 0%, 15 months
Balance Transfers: 0%, 15 months
Regular APR
17.24% - 28.24% Variable APR
Rewards Earn 5% cash back on everyday purchases at different places you shop each quarter like grocery stores, restaurants, gas stations, and more, up to the quarterly maximum when you activate. Plus, earn unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases—automatically.
1% - 5% Cashback
Annual Fee
$0
Welcome Offer N/A
Discover will match all the cash back you’ve earned at the end of your first year.
We think this card has among the highest cash back potential for cards with no annual fee. The key is the Unlimited Cashback Match — Discover automatically matches all the cash back new cardholders have earned at the end of the first year. That cash back can seriously add up when you earn 5% cash back on rotating bonus categories (when you activate them, up to the quarterly maximum) and 1% on other purchases. Read Full Review
Great for: Travel
Good/Excellent (670-850)
Intro APR
Purchases: N/A
Balance Transfers: N/A
Regular APR
21.24% - 29.24% (Variable)
Rewards 3x points at restaurants, supermarkets, at gas stations, for air travel, and on hotels, 1x points on other purchases
1x - 3x points
Annual Fee
$95
Welcome Offer Earn 60,000 bonus ThankYou® Points after you spend $4,000 in purchases within the first 3 months of account opening. Plus, for a limited time, earn a total of 10 ThankYou® Points per $1 spent on hotel, car rentals, and attractions (excluding air travel) booked on the Citi Travel℠ portal through June 30, 2024.
60,000 ThankYou® Points
Citi Premier offers 3X points on restaurants, supermarkets, at gas stations, for air travel, and on hotels – a unique combination of bonus categories for a low annual fee card. It comes with a welcome bonus that's redeemable for $600 in gift cards or travel rewards, no foreign transaction fee, and access to Citi's ThankYou® Rewards program, a standout in the industry. Read Full Review
Great for: Peace-of-mind purchase protection
Good/Excellent (670-850)
Intro APR
Purchases: n/a
Balance Transfers: n/a
Regular APR
See Pay Over Time APR
Rewards Earn 4X Membership Rewards® Points at Restaurants, plus takeout and delivery in the U.S., and earn 4X Membership Rewards® points at U.S. supermarkets (on up to $25,000 per calendar year in purchases, then 1X). Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points on flights booked directly with airlines or on amextravel.com.
1X-4X Membership Rewards® Points
Annual Fee
$250
Welcome Offer Earn 60,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 on eligible purchases with your new Card within the first 6 months of Card Membership.
60,000
This card offers considerable value, as it earns 4X points at U.S. supermarkets (on up to $25,000 per calendar year in purchases, then 1X) and 4X points at restaurants. Plus, earn 3X points on flights booked directly with airlines or on American Express Travel. Meanwhile, $120 in annual dining credits and $120 in Uber cash can offset almost the entire $250 annual fee. (Terms apply.) Overall, it’s an incredibly lucrative card for those who spend a lot in those categories. Read Full Review
The Platinum Card® from American Express
Great for: Sign-up bonus to help cover wedding costs
On American Express' Secure Website.
Terms apply
On American Express' Secure Website.
Terms apply
Good/Excellent (670-850)
Intro APR
Purchases: n/a
Balance Transfers: n/a
Regular APR
See Pay Over Time APR
Rewards Earn 5X Membership Rewards® Points for flights booked directly with airlines or with American Express Travel up to $500,000 on these purchases per calendar year and earn 5X Membership Rewards® Points on prepaid hotels booked with American Express Travel. Earn 1X Membership Rewards® Points on other purchases. Terms and limitations apply.
1X-5X Membership Rewards® Points
Annual Fee
$695
Welcome Offer Earn 80,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $8,000 on purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership.
80,000
This luxury travel card has some of the most prestigious perks you'll find — access to over 1,400 airport lounges, elite status with Hilton and Marriott Bonvoy, and spending credits worth over $1,500 in value every year. Just be ready for the hefty annual fee, which can be offset in the first year with a welcome bonus worth $800 in points. Terms apply. Read Full Review
Great for: Long 0% intro APR offer
Good/Excellent (670-850)
Intro APR 0% intro APR for 21 months from account opening on purchases and qualifying balance transfers
Purchases: 0% intro APR, 21 months from account opening
Balance Transfers: 0% intro APR, 21 months from account opening on qualifying balance transfers
Regular APR
18.24%, 24.74%, or 29.99% Variable APR
Rewards
N/A
Annual Fee N/A
$0
This no-frills card is a solid choice if your priority is to avoid credit card interest for as long as possible. It offers an incredible 0% intro APR for 21 months from account opening on purchases and qualifying balance transfers. The balance transfer fee (5%, min: $5) is higher than some cards — but if you want an equally long intro APR on purchases, then this card is hard to beat. Read Full Review
Great for: Unlimited cash back
Good/Excellent (670-850)
Intro APR 0% intro APR for 15 months from account opening on purchases and qualifying balance transfers
Purchases: 0% intro APR, 15 months from account opening
Balance Transfers: 0% intro APR, 15 months from account opening on qualifying balance transfers
Regular APR
20.24%, 25.24%, or 29.99% Variable APR
Rewards Earn unlimited 2% cash rewards on purchases.
2% cash rewards
Annual Fee N/A
$0
Welcome Offer Earn a $200 cash rewards bonus after spending $500 in purchases in the first 3 months.
$200 cash rewards
This card’s unlimited 2% cash rewards on purchases is the highest we’ve seen for a flat-rate rewards card with no annual fee. It also has an incredibly easy-to-earn $200 welcome bonus and a generous intro APR offer. We simply haven’t come across this combination of top perks in one card before. Read Full Review
Great for: Cash back sign-up bonus
On Chase's Secure Website.
On Chase's Secure Website.
Good/Excellent (670-850)
Intro APR 0% Intro APR on Purchases and Balance Transfers for 15 months
Purchases: 0% Intro APR on Purchases, 15 months
Balance Transfers: 0% Intro APR on Balance Transfers, 15 months
Regular APR
20.49% - 29.24% Variable
Rewards Enjoy 5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase Travel, our premier rewards program that lets you redeem rewards for cash back, travel, gift cards and more; 3% cash back on drugstore purchases and dining at restaurants, including takeout and eligible delivery service, and 1.5% on all other purchases
1.5% - 5% cash back
Annual Fee N/A
$0
Welcome Offer Earn an extra 1.5% on everything you buy (on up to $20,000 spent in the first year) — worth up to $300 cash back. That's 6.5% on travel purchased through Chase Travel, 4.5% on dining and drugstores, and 3% on all other purchases.
Up to $300 cash back
This card would be highly-rated based on its unlimited 1.5% - 5% cash back rates & 0% Intro APR offer alone. But the innovative sign-up bonus (worth up to $300 cash back) makes it particularly good if this would be your primary credit card. With the bonus, you’ll earn 4.5% cash back on dining and drugstores, 6.5% on travel booked through Chase Ultimate Rewards®, and 3% on all other purchases (on up to $20,000 spent in the first year). After the bonus, you’ll still earn the regular cash back rates on every purchase. Read Full Review
The best credit card for a wedding will depend on what kind of benefits you're looking for. There are credit cards you can use to finance a wedding, earn cash back on wedding expenses, or cover travel costs on a honeymoon. Here are some of the most common reasons people open a wedding credit card:
If you find a few cards you're interested in and aren't sure which to pick, try The Ascent's Compare Credit Cards tool to help narrow down your choices.
A credit card might just seem like a way to pay for wedding expenses. But the best credit cards have benefits that can help with those wedding bills, including:
You can benefit from one of the best wedding credit cards no matter how much you're planning to spend. If you're expecting to spend $3,000 for a small wedding in a friend's backyard, a credit card still has its benefits, like the rewards you can earn.
If you've always dreamed of a grand affair with a princess dress or fancy tux, wedding credit cards could help with that, too. Or, if you're not sure about using a credit card, another option is to take out a wedding loan.
A FICO® Score of 670 or higher is recommended to qualify for the best credit cards for a wedding. These credit cards are designed for consumers who have a good credit score.
Your credit score isn't the only factor in a credit card application. Credit card issuers look at plenty of other information, including your income and your credit history as a whole.
Wondering what to expect from a credit card application? You'll see how different credit scores can affect card applications below. These use FICO® Score ranges, because that's the most widely used type of credit score by lenders. If you don't know it, check out our guide on how to get your credit score.
Your credit score is in the bad credit/poor credit range, or you have a thin credit history and haven't qualified for a score yet. Here's what that means:
Your credit score is in the fair credit range. You may still have access to a limited number of cards, but:
This is the start of the good credit range, which means that:
You're in the very good to excellent credit range. This has lots of financial benefits, including:
If your credit score is below 580, it's a good idea to focus on improving your credit score. You could do that with a starter credit card if you haven't established much credit history yet. Or, if the issue is negative items on your credit file, a secured credit card could be what you need. Make sure to check your credit score for errors, report any mistakes you find, pay down debt, and always pay your bills on time.
Even if you can't use credit cards to pay for your entire wedding due to a low credit score, you can start the process of raising that score. It's often possible to make fast progress. You could start married life with a stronger credit score, and that helps when you take out loans, rent an apartment, or apply for a job requiring a credit check.
If you do plan to use credit cards to pay for your wedding, find the type of card that will benefit you the most. You might have access to everything from cards for international travel to straightforward cash back cards. Think about what will help the most with your wedding so you can pick out the best card.
Card | Rating | Great For |
---|---|---|
2024 Award Winner
|
Rating image, 5.00 out of 5 stars.
5.00/5
Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale.
5 stars equals Best.
4 stars equals Excellent.
3 stars equals Good.
2 stars equals Fair.
1 star equals Poor.
We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
= Best = Excellent = Good = Fair = Poor |
Great For: 0% intro APR offer |
2024 Award Winner
|
Rating image, 5.00 out of 5 stars.
5.00/5
Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale.
5 stars equals Best.
4 stars equals Excellent.
3 stars equals Good.
2 stars equals Fair.
1 star equals Poor.
We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
= Best = Excellent = Good = Fair = Poor |
Great For: Generous cash back offer |
Rating image, 5.00 out of 5 stars.
5.00/5
Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale.
5 stars equals Best.
4 stars equals Excellent.
3 stars equals Good.
2 stars equals Fair.
1 star equals Poor.
We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
= Best = Excellent = Good = Fair = Poor |
Great For: Travel |
|
2024 Award Winner
|
Rating image, 4.50 out of 5 stars.
4.50/5
Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale.
5 stars equals Best.
4 stars equals Excellent.
3 stars equals Good.
2 stars equals Fair.
1 star equals Poor.
We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
= Best = Excellent = Good = Fair = Poor |
Great For: Peace-of-mind purchase protection |
Rating image, 4.50 out of 5 stars.
4.50/5
Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale.
5 stars equals Best.
4 stars equals Excellent.
3 stars equals Good.
2 stars equals Fair.
1 star equals Poor.
We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
= Best = Excellent = Good = Fair = Poor |
Great For: Sign-up bonus to help cover wedding costs |
|
2024 Award Winner
|
Rating image, 4.50 out of 5 stars.
4.50/5
Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale.
5 stars equals Best.
4 stars equals Excellent.
3 stars equals Good.
2 stars equals Fair.
1 star equals Poor.
We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
= Best = Excellent = Good = Fair = Poor |
Great For: Long 0% intro APR offer |
Rating image, 5.00 out of 5 stars.
5.00/5
Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale.
5 stars equals Best.
4 stars equals Excellent.
3 stars equals Good.
2 stars equals Fair.
1 star equals Poor.
We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
= Best = Excellent = Good = Fair = Poor |
Great For: Unlimited cash back |
|
Rating image, 5.00 out of 5 stars.
5.00/5
Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale.
5 stars equals Best.
4 stars equals Excellent.
3 stars equals Good.
2 stars equals Fair.
1 star equals Poor.
We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
= Best = Excellent = Good = Fair = Poor |
Great For: Cash back sign-up bonus |
It depends on the wedding venue. Not all venues accept credit card payments, and some of the ones that do charge an additional fee to cover the payment processing fees.
The best credit card to use to pay for a wedding is a rewards card that earns either cash back or travel rewards. You can use cash back to reduce your credit card bill, or travel rewards to save on trip expenses.
Keep in mind that the best credit card to pay for a wedding will depend on your situation and financial needs. Anyone can benefit from a rewards card, but if you need to pay off wedding expenses over time, a 0% intro APR credit card could be the better choice.
If you want to finance your wedding dress with a credit card, choose a card with a 0% intro APR on purchases. With this type of card, you're not charged interest on purchases during the intro period.
Our Credit Cards Experts
We're firm believers in the Golden Rule, which is why editorial opinions are ours alone and have not been previously reviewed, approved, or endorsed by included advertisers. The Ascent does not cover all offers on the market. Editorial content from The Ascent is separate from The Motley Fool editorial content and is created by a different analyst team.
The Motley Fool owns shares of and recommends Visa and Mastercard. The Motley Fool recommends Amex.