Writer: Ashley Fricker
Editor: Lillian Guevara-Castro
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For some couples, finding the best credit cards for weddings should rank right up there with finding a great caterer because tying the knot can be expensive. While paging through bridal magazines can give soon-to-be brides a lot of grand ideas, it often fails to prepare them for the real expenses that come with a wedding. From the venue to the food to the flowers, costs often end up with an extra zero on the end that you weren’t expecting.
For some couples, the costs are easy to keep under control. Sara and Andrew skipped the party and headed downtown, tying the knot for only $55. But the wedding-less wedding isn’t for everyone — not by a long shot. In fact, the typical wedding costs just over $35,000.
But whether you hire a wedding planner or decide to DIY, one of the easiest ways to save on the seemingly endless wedding costs can be to use a credit card. Not only will you typically get extra purchase security, but qualified applicants can find cards with 0% interest offers and awesome rewards to help you save a little — or a lot — on your big day.
0% Intro-APR | Air Miles | Cash Back | Points
Best “0% Intro-APR” Credit Cards for Wedding Expenses
Although many couples receive help from their parents to pay for the wedding, that help doesn’t always cover everything. The majority of couples will provide at least some of their own wedding financing, which can mean a lot of skimping and saving to foot thousands of dollars in bills. Using a typical credit card with an interest rate in the double digits can make these expenses grow exponentially if you’re not careful.
That’s where introductory 0% APR credit card offers can be a major lifesaver — and a budget saver. With a quality introductory offer, you can get 12 months or more of interest-free new purchases, giving you a little breathing room to focus on actually enjoying your wedding. Even better, many of our top-rated intro-offer credit cards won’t charge you an annual fee, either.
Additional Disclosure: Bank of America is a CardRates advertiser.
- Earn 20,000 bonus Points after spending $1,000 in the first 3 months of account opening.
- 0% Intro APR on balance transfers and purchases for 15 months; after that, the variable APR will be 18.49% - 28.49%, based on your creditworthiness. There is an intro balance transfer fee of 3% of each transfer (minimum $5) completed within the first 4 months of account opening. After that, your fee will be 5% of each transfer (minimum $5).
- Earn 3 ThankYou® Points for each $1 spent in an eligible Self-Select Category of your choice (Fitness Clubs, Select Streaming Services, Live Entertainment, Cosmetic Stores/Barber Shops/Hair Salons, or Pet Supply Stores). Choose your eligible Self-Select Category on Citi Online or by calling customer service. The default Self-Select Category is Select Streaming Services.
- Earn 5 ThankYou® Points for each $1 spent on Hotels, Car Rentals and Attractions booked on Citi Travel® via cititravel.com; earn 3 ThankYou Points for each $1 spent at Supermarkets, on Select Transit purchases, and at Gas & EV Charging Stations.
- Earn 2 ThankYou® Points for each $1 spent at Restaurants; earn 1 ThankYou® Point for each $1 spent on All Other Purchases.
- No Annual Fee
Additional Disclosure: Citi is a CardRates advertiser.
Of course, an important thing to remember about introductory offers is that they’re, well, introductory. Once your promotional period expires, your interest rate will return to the default rate, and any remaining balance will start accruing interest fees. Be sure to pay off your purchases before the end of your introductory period to avoid getting stuck with interest charges on your anniversary.
Another concern with some credit card financing offers is whether they operate with deferred interest. Many store credit cards — Zales, Amazon, etc. — use deferred interest models, which mean you’ll be charged interest for your entire purchase if any amount of the financed balance remains unpaid when the offer expires. So, make sure you know whether your card charges deferred interest before you start making purchases.
Best “Air Miles” Credit Cards for Wedding Expenses
Ah, the honeymoon. You and your new spouse, alone together, enjoying married life free from the responsibilities of the everyday world. Unfortunately, that enjoyment may only last about as long as it takes for the bill to arrive — a bill that averages between $4,000 and $5,000 for the typical couple. But what if you could earn a free honeymoon simply by paying for your wedding?
If that sounds strange, listen up. By using the right travel rewards credit card, you can earn points and miles toward a wide range of travel expenses, including hotel rooms, airline tickets, and rental cars — all without spending an extra dime. Our favorite travel rewards credit cards offer flexible redemption options, free from limitations like blackout dates or brand restrictions.
Those who intend to travel abroad with their travel rewards credit card should look for cards, such as the options above, that don’t charge foreign transaction fees on transactions made in a non-US currency. Foreign transaction fees can range from 2% to 4% of your purchase total, which can add up quickly on a luxury honeymoon (or even an economy one).
Best “Cash Back” Credit Cards for Wedding Expenses
If you don’t need help with your travel expenses, but still want to save a little on your wedding’s bottom line, a cash back credit card can be a great option. You can redeem cash back rewards as a statement credit or have them deposited into an eligible bank account, no muss, no fuss.
Choosing a cash back card for your wedding expenses will likely come down to the best unlimited rate, as many wedding expenses — e.g., venues, flowers, etc. — will be unlikely to fall under most bonus categories. That said, a card offering bonus cash back in categories like travel or dining can be handy for destination weddings or rehearsal dinners. You can see some of our best cash back offers below to start your search.
Additional Disclosure: Bank of America is a CardRates advertiser.
- Earn $200 cash back after you spend $1,500 on purchases in the first 6 months of account opening. This bonus offer will be fulfilled as 20,000 ThankYou® Points, which can be redeemed for $200 cash back.
- Earn 2% on every purchase with unlimited 1% cash back when you buy, plus an additional 1% as you pay for those purchases. To earn cash back, pay at least the minimum due on time. Plus, earn 5% total cash back on hotel, car rentals and attractions booked with Citi Travel.
- Balance Transfer Only Offer: 0% intro APR on Balance Transfers for 18 months. After that, the variable APR will be 17.49% - 27.49%, based on your creditworthiness.
- Balance Transfers do not earn cash back. Intro APR does not apply to purchases.
- If you transfer a balance, interest will be charged on your purchases unless you pay your entire balance (including balance transfers) by the due date each month.
- There is an intro balance transfer fee of 3% of each transfer (minimum $5) completed within the first 4 months of account opening. After that, your fee will be 5% of each transfer (minimum $5).
Additional Disclosure: Citi is a CardRates advertiser.
- INTRO OFFER: Unlimited Cashback Match for all new cardmembers. Discover will automatically match all the cash back you’ve earned at the end of your first year! There’s no minimum spending or maximum rewards. You could turn $150 cash back into $300.
- 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.
- Redeem cash back for any amount. No annual fee.
- Get a 0% intro APR for 15 months on purchases. Then 17.49% to 26.49% Standard Variable Purchase APR applies, based on credit worthiness.
- Terms and conditions apply.
If you know you’ll be charging a lot of wedding expenses on your new cash back card, it can be a good idea to look for a card with a hefty signup bonus. While you’ll need to meet the minimum spending requirement to earn a bonus, the average wedding costs will likely meet — and exceed — most signup bonus requirements. Just be sure to pay off your balance before interest charges kick in to avoid wasting your bonus on interest fees.
Best “Points” Credit Cards for Wedding Expenses
In some ways, credit cards that offer rewards points are the best of both the cash back and travel rewards worlds. That’s because most points programs allow you to redeem your rewards for cash back or travel expenses, as well as a range of other options, including things like gift cards, event tickets, and exclusive experiences.
Selecting the right cards for wedding rewards points will depend both on how you think you’ll earn the most rewards — and how you intend to redeem them. Some points cards provide a simple unlimited rate on all purchases, while others offer bonus points for purchases in common spending categories, and each program will have its own variety of redemption options. Many of our top points cards offer the most per-point value when redeemed for travel expenses.
Additional Disclosure: Citi is a CardRates advertiser.
- Earn 20,000 bonus Points after spending $1,000 in the first 3 months of account opening.
- 0% Intro APR on balance transfers and purchases for 15 months; after that, the variable APR will be 18.49% - 28.49%, based on your creditworthiness. There is an intro balance transfer fee of 3% of each transfer (minimum $5) completed within the first 4 months of account opening. After that, your fee will be 5% of each transfer (minimum $5).
- Earn 3 ThankYou® Points for each $1 spent in an eligible Self-Select Category of your choice (Fitness Clubs, Select Streaming Services, Live Entertainment, Cosmetic Stores/Barber Shops/Hair Salons, or Pet Supply Stores). Choose your eligible Self-Select Category on Citi Online or by calling customer service. The default Self-Select Category is Select Streaming Services.
- Earn 5 ThankYou® Points for each $1 spent on Hotels, Car Rentals and Attractions booked on Citi Travel® via cititravel.com; earn 3 ThankYou Points for each $1 spent at Supermarkets, on Select Transit purchases, and at Gas & EV Charging Stations.
- Earn 2 ThankYou® Points for each $1 spent at Restaurants; earn 1 ThankYou® Point for each $1 spent on All Other Purchases.
- No Annual Fee
Additional Disclosure: Citi is a CardRates advertiser.
- Earn 75,000 bonus Points after spending $6,000 in the first 3 months of account opening.
- Earn 12 Points per $1 spent on Hotels, Car Rentals, and Attractions booked on cititravel.com and 6 Points per $1 spent on Air Travel booked on cititravel.com
- Earn 6 Points per $1 spent at Restaurants including Restaurant Delivery Services on CitiNights℠ purchases, every Friday and Saturday from 6 PM to 6 AM ET. Earn 3 Points per $1 spent any other time
- Earn 1.5 Points per $1 spent on All Other Purchases
- Up to $300 Annual Hotel Benefit: Each calendar year, enjoy up to $300 off a hotel stay of two nights or more when booked through cititravel.com.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees
Additional Disclosure: Citi is a CardRates advertiser.
Some points cards will allow travelers who have a favorite airline or hotel brand to use their earned rewards points to add to a current frequent flyer or hotel loyalty account. Since transfers are usually only allowed to specific partner brands, check the issuer’s website to ensure your credit card rewards points can be transferred to your preferred airline or hotel loyalty program.
Start Off Your New Life with Rewards
For many couples, lifetimes of picturing the perfect day can lead to a lot of wedding excess — enough that some couples end up regretting their over-indulgent “I Do’s.” In the words of bride Kari S., “What I spent on wedding flowers could pay for two months of my mortgage. What the hell was I thinking?”
Rather than breaking the bank to throw a bash worthy of a reality TV season finale, the smarter move is to put a little more into your financial future as a couple. Thankfully, that doesn’t have to mean paper plates and a Justice of the Peace. With a little trim here, a little trim there — and some awesome credit card rewards — you can likely find a way to have your wedding cake, and eat it, too.
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Editorial Note: Our site content is not provided or commissioned by any credit card issuer(s). Opinions expressed on CardRates.com are the author's alone, not those of any credit card issuer, and have not been reviewed, approved, or otherwise endorsed by credit card issuers. Every reasonable effort has been made to maintain accurate information; however, all credit card offer details, including information about rewards, signup bonuses, introductory offers, and other terms and conditions, is presented without warranty. Clicking on any offer on CardRates.com will direct you to the issuer's website, where you can review the current terms and conditions of the offer.
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