The Best Credit Cards for a Wedding

Weddings are a beautiful expression of love and family, but they can come at a big price.

In the United States, the average cost of a marriage, including ceremony and reception, is $34,000, according to The Knot’s annual survey of real-life weddings.

Fear not, young couples of the internet. When managed properly, the best credit cards can make your wallet a little easier. Whether it’s a long-term interest-free airbag on a bill or cash rewards for multiple expenses, here are the best credit cards for wedding expenses.

US Bank Visa Platinum Card: Best for long initial period 0% APR

Why did we choose this: Consistently one of the most popular starting cards APR 0%, US Bank Visa® Platinum Card offers one of the longest interest free introductory periods on purchases available. You won’t have to pay interest for 20 billing cycles (then that’s 14.74% to 24.74% with variable annual interest), giving you plenty of time to pay off the principal faster.

Even if you apply for this card halfway through your wedding preparations and have already made a few purchases with the card with a high interest rate, that’s fine. The US Bank Visa Platinum card extends its 20-period billing cycle to 0% APR and balance transfers, although you will have to pay a balance transfer fee of 5% or 3% (whichever is higher).

pros

• Flexible due date
• Mobile phone protection up to $600 (including $25 deductible)
• No annual fee
• Free credit score

Minuses

• High ordinary variable annual interest rate (14.49–24.49%)
• No bonus program

Who should applyA: Couples who have a lot of DIY projects for their weddings and buy craft supplies will love the leeway that APR’s lengthy intro gives. If you have already made some purchases on a card with high interest rates, this is a good card to transfer your balance and pay off that debt.

Who should missA: Those with a lot of money saved up and generally big budgets probably don’t need this card’s long introductory period in April. If this sounds like you, you should apply for a card that will reward you for your purchases instead.

Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card: Best for Weddings Abroad

Why did we choose thisA: As the wedding approaches, you won’t have time to go online and manage qualifying reward categories every quarter. Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card surprisingly simple: 5X miles on hotels and car rentals booked through Capital One Travel, and 2X miles on every purchase.

You can also earn 60,000 bonus miles if you spend $3,000 on purchases within the first three months – an easy goal to achieve if you’re planning a wedding. Plus, you’ll have so many wedding expenses that you don’t need a card with an overly high annual fee like
Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Cardthough the Venture X is a great option for those on a bigger budget.

pros

Minuses

• $95 per year
• Partner airlines exclude major US airlines

Who should applyA: If you’re planning a wedding elsewhere, it’s best to get a card with a high enough sign-up bonus to cover some of your honeymoon expenses.

Who should miss: Honeymooners-to-be who aren’t planning a honeymoon or wedding elsewhere don’t see much point in getting a travel credit card just to cover their wedding expenses.

Wells Fargo Active Cash Card: The Best Money Back Option

Why did we choose this: Those who do all nine yards – cake, lights, dance floor, sound system, outdoor bar, and more – will have so many expenses that you’ll have a hard time keeping track of which categories you’re spending in. expensive items such as a venue, you may have to pay by check or cash. So for items that you can charge on credit, you should get a flat rate cashback card, like Wells Fargo Active Cash℠ Card.

You will earn 2% cashback on every purchase with no limits on rewards. However, you should be aware that cash back rewards can only be used in the form of checks, credit statements, direct deposits, or ATM withdrawals.

pros

• Cashback 2% from every purchase
• $200 cash bonus if you spend $1,000 within three months.
• No annual fee
• No minimum redemption requirements

Minuses

• Rewards can only be used as cashback.
• Unable to transfer rewards to other programs

Who should apply: Wells Fargo Active Cash is suitable for couples who simply want to redeem their rewards in cash to cover their expenses, not for travel rewards or gift cards.

Who should missA: If you are planning a DIY wedding, mostly with small purchases, you should apply for a card that will give higher rewards.

Bank of America Customized Cash Rewards Credit Card: Best for Online Shopping

Why did we choose this: You might be doing all sorts of shopping for your wedding — throwing gala dinners, booking a short honeymoon, and doing a bunch of small shopping on Etsy. If yes, then you will like it Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards Credit Card. Its main benefit is a 3% cash back on the category you choose, and you can choose between petrol, online shopping, restaurants, travel, pharmacies or household items and furniture.

Bonus: You can change your category up to once per calendar month. You will also receive 2% cashback on grocery shopping and wholesale club purchases. Keep in mind, however, that there is a general spending limit of $2,500 for the 2% and 3% per quarter categories.

pros

• $200 online cash rewards if you spend $1,000 within 90 days.
• No annual fee
• Rewards increased from 25% to 75% thanks to the Preferred Rewards program.
• 0% APR at the beginning on new purchases for 15 billing cycles (14.24% to 24.24% varies thereafter)

Minuses

• $2,500 spending cap on 2% and 3% categories each quarter
• Limited repayment options (check, credit statement or direct deposit)

Who should apply: Those who make all sorts of purchases, whether in a restaurant, online stores or household, will appreciate the flexibility provided by Bank of America Customized Cash Rewards. This is mostly good for those hosting medium to small size weddings due to the $2500 spending limit.

Who should miss: If you are clearly making most of your purchases in one category, such as travel, for a wedding, you should skip this and look for a card with higher rewards in your spending category.

Comparison of credit cards for wedding expenses

Weddings come in all shapes and sizes, depending on the venue, the guest list, and the traditions you’re going to be celebrating. Be sure to get a card that matches your spending so you don’t have to worry about your rewards on that special day. Here are all of our favorite options summarized in a table:

How to choose a credit card for wedding planning

Planning a wedding essentially comes down to choosing different colors, fonts, and colors. To decide which credit card you want to receive your wedding rewards from, consider the following factors:

• April introductory period: While you may have saved up for a wedding, they are always more expensive than people expect. It may be that you need some time to pay off all your expenses. In this case, determining how long it will take to recoup your wedding expenses will help you choose a card with a long enough initial APR period to help you with this. If you’re having trouble calculating how much it will take to pay off your current balance, use our balance transfer calculator.
• Reward type: Planning your honeymoon right after your wedding, or want to move out and furnish a new place? Newlyweds may prefer a card that brings travel rewards, while those moving to a new home will likely need more cash.
• Annual fee: There are enough expenses for weddings, so why add an annual credit card fee to them? Couples with big budgets may find that mid-range travel cards or high income cash back cards are really worth the annual fee because of all the rewards you get in return. However, if you’re looking to save money and get a great deal, the annual fee-free card is a great addition to your wallet.
• Highest category expenses: Let’s say that instead of a grand ceremony, you host two parties, one for family and one for friends. In this case, your biggest expense category will be dining, so you should choose the best dining card. If you spend money on different categories, choose a more flexible card like Bank of America Customized Cash Rewards or a flat-rate cashback card like Wells Fargo Active Cash.

bottom line

Planning a wedding is stressful and mental, so make sure you get a card that will earn you a solid reward without thinking about it.

There are as many different credit cards to suit your needs as there are different types of weddings. Be sure to buy carefully before making a decision, but everything should go smoothly after that.