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The author, Jen Glantz, and her husband.
Susan Shek Photography
Planning a wedding can be pricey, but using the right credit cards to pay for your big day can help.
Some cards offer rewards or travel points you can use to take your honeymoon or offset expenses.
Consider a card with a long intro 0% APR offer if you want to pay off your purchases over time.
Read Insider’s guide to the best travel rewards credit cards.
When a couple is in the thick of planning a wedding, figuring out how to pay for unexpected costs or prices that seem to bust their budget can be stressful. While some save for years to be able to afford their celebration, others are paying the bill by fronting some of the cash now and relying on credit cards that they plan to pay off later.
Take a look at these different credit cards and why they are worthwhile to consider for anyone planning a wedding in 2022.
We’re focused here on the rewards and perks that come with each card. These cards won’t be worth it if you’re paying interest or late fees. When using a credit card, it’s important to pay your balance in full each month, make payments on time, and only spend what you can afford to pay.
Best credit cards for wedding expenses
If you’re going to pay for your big day using credit cards, why not pick ones that give you perks that will help you out in strategic ways that can complement your wedding planning?
A credit card with purchase and fraud protection
When you’re planning a wedding, you’ll be faced with endless decisions, vendors, and purchases you find yourself making on a whim. One of the perks of paying for some of these items with your credit card, instead of with cash, is the protection you can get in case of fraud, theft, loss, or damage.
For example, the American Express® Gold Card offers a fraud protection guarantee, which ensures that cardholders won’t be held liable for any fraudulent charges. You also have access to purchase protection, which covers new eligible items paid for with the card that are damaged, stolen, or lost within 90 days of your purchase. There’s a limit of $10,000 per item and $50,000 per account per calendar year.
So if something happens to your wedding dress or engagement ring, you may receive purchase protection — it’s important to check American Express’ terms and conditions to make sure your purchase is covered.
A credit card with good travel points to help you cover the cost of your honeymoon
If you’re planning to go on a honeymoon after your wedding, it might seem overwhelming to figure out how to pay for that trip. Going with a credit card that offers travel perks could help you cover a lot of the costs associated with that trip, especially if you’re paying for a good chunk of your wedding on a credit card.
One card with great travel benefits is the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card. Not only does this card offer Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card (which is worth around Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card in travel, based on Insider’s points and miles valuations), but it also offers additional travel perks including:
Up to $50 in statement credits each account anniversary year toward hotel stays purchased through Chase 5x points on Lyft rides through March 2025, 5x points on all travel purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards®, 3x points on dining, select streaming services, and online grocery purchases (excluding Target, Walmart, and wholesale clubs), 2x points on other travel, and 1 point per dollar on everything else$10 per month in Gopuff credit through December 2023Travel and purchase protection including primary car rental insurance, trip cancellation/interruption insurance, trip delay insurance, and extended warranty
However, since this card does come with an annual fee of Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card, it’s worth considering how much you’ll use these perks for future travel after you take your honeymoon to determine if this is the right card for you.
A credit card without an annual fee so you don’t have to pay extra fees
Perhaps you’re not in the market for a credit card that might cost you an annual fee to keep the card open after your wedding ends. Picking a credit card with no annual fee that still earns rewards is an option.
For example, the Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card offers Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card — worth $250 in travel. While the travel rewards that come with this card are less than the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card, it still offers benefits that provide value, including:
Unlimited 1.5 points per dollar on all purchases APR of Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card, then a Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card APRNo foreign transaction fees
A credit card that gives you cash back on all your purchases
When you’re planning your wedding, any money you can save along the way makes a big difference. So if you’re looking to earn cash back on purchases, going with a credit card that gives you perks for the categories you spend the most on, could help offset wedding costs.
For example, the Citi® Double Cash Card offers an unlimited flat rate of 2% back on all purchases (earned as Citi ThankYou points). You can earn 1% in cash back (1 point per dollar) when you make a purchase and an additional 1% in cash back (1 point per dollar) when you pay off those purchases.
The card normally doesn’t come with a welcome bonus, but right now it’s offering Citi® Double Cash Card.
The Citi® Double Cash Card also offers a Citi® Double Cash Card, followed by a Citi® Double Cash Card APR.
A credit card that has a long 0% APR time frame
If you’re not able to pay for most of your wedding in cash and instead need to rely on credit, going with a card that offers a generous introductory 0% APR can be helpful so you don’t incur interest for as long as possible.
The U.S. Bank Visa® Platinum Card doesn’t have an annual fee and offers a U.S. Bank Visa® Platinum Card (then a U.S. Bank Visa® Platinum Card APR), giving you extra time to pay off your purchases without racking up high interest charges. Keep in mind you’re still responsible for making at least the minimum payment each month.
Before you take advantage of a 0% APR offer, be sure you have the means and a plan to pay off the balance before the promotional period ends — otherwise, you might be on the hook for high interest charges.