The Best Credit Cards for Weddings and Honeymoons [2021]
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Planning a wedding and honeymoon can be a wonderful time in your life. But it can also be one of the most stressful. Weddings can be expensive and complicated. Since a lot of couples pay for all or some of their wedding expenses themselves, using the right card can help stock up on rewards as they plan their special day.
Unfortunately, there’s not one credit card that will work for everyone in every circumstance. So, to help you sort through all of the options, here’s a guide to help you find the best credit card for your wedding and honeymoon needs.
Whether you are looking to earn lots of points on your flowers or looking for some free nights for your honeymoon, this guide will walk you through it all.
Table of contents
- The Best Credit Cards For Wedding Expenses
- Credit Cards With Great Welcome Bonuses
- Credit Cards That Earn Lots of Points Outside the Typical Categories
- Credit Cards That Offer Bonus Points on Dining
- Credit Cards That Offer Purchase Protection, Extended Warranty, and Return Protection
- Cash-Back Credit Cards
- Credit Cards With Free Authorized Users
- Credit Cards With a 0% Introductory APR
- The Best Credit Cards for Honeymoons
- Final Thoughts
Table of Contents
- The Best Credit Cards For Wedding Expenses
- Credit Cards With Great Welcome Bonuses
- Credit Cards That Earn Lots of Points Outside the Typical Categories
- Credit Cards That Offer Bonus Points on Dining
- Credit Cards That Offer Purchase Protection, Extended Warranty, and Return Protection
- Cash-Back Credit Cards
- Credit Cards With Free Authorized Users
- Credit Cards With a 0% Introductory APR
- The Best Credit Cards for Honeymoons
- Final Thoughts
The Best Credit Cards For Wedding Expenses
Credit Cards With Great Welcome Bonuses
Planning a wedding is an exciting time, but it’s also a time where you’ll probably be spending large amounts of money in a small period of time. While your bank account might be taking a hit, it is the best time to take advantage of credit cards with high welcome bonuses that also tend come with high minimum spending requirements.
While there are a lot of ways to hit the minimum spending requirement on a credit card, many people still find it hard to hit the requirement needed to earn a welcome bonus. So, when you have larger than normal purchases coming up like a wedding dress, photographer, or florist, it’s a great time to consider getting a new credit card.
Here are some great cards that have high spending requirements but also high welcome bonuses:
The Platinum Card® From American Express
The Amex Platinum Card is a premium card that usually requires a hefty spending minimum to earn the welcome bonus. While the spending requirement might be out of your comfort zone, with wedding expenses coming up, it might be the right time to go for this card.
The Amex Platinum Card also comes with a generous welcome bonus and lots of ongoing perks. You may even be eligible to score the coveted 100,000 point welcome bonus.
The American Express Membership Rewards points you earn with this card can then be used towards travel like a honeymoon. You can book flights, hotels, rental cars, and cruises directly through the Amex Travel Portal or you can transfer them to hotel and airline partners.
Amex Card | Benefits & Info |
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The Platinum Card® from American Express ![]() Apply Now (at Amex's secure site) |
Must Reads: For more info on the Amex Platinum, see our thoughts on its benefits & perks, travel insurance coverage, and unbeatable airport lounge access. Take a look here for our full review. If you're a business owner, see our review of The Business Platinum Card from American Express. *This bonus value is an estimated valuation calculated by UP and not the card issuer. |
Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
This is one of the most popular travel rewards credit cards available. However, it also comes with a hefty spending requirement to earn the sign-up bonus. If you have wedding expenses coming up, now might be the perfect time to apply for this card.
Credit Card | Benefits & Info |
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Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card![]() Apply Now (at Chase's secure site) |
Must Reads: For more info on the Chase Sapphire Preferred, see our thoughts on its benefits, travel insurance coverage, and credit score requirements. Take a look at our full review to see why it's one of our favorite Chase credit cards. *This bonus value is an estimated valuation calculated by UP and not the card issuer. |
Credit Cards That Earn Lots of Points Outside the Typical Categories
There are bonus categories that you will often see on rewards credit cards like travel, dining, and groceries. However, lots of wedding expenses won’t fall into any of those categories, so it’s a great idea to find a credit card that offers bonus points on all purchases.
These cards will make the most out of all of your wedding-related purchases, not just the ones that fit into a bonus category.
Citi® Double Cash Card
The Citi® Double Cash Card earns 2% cash back on all purchases; 1% when you make the purchase and 1% when you pay the bill.
Chase Freedom Unlimited® Card
The Chase Freedom Unlimited® card earns 5% cash-back on travel through Chase Ultimate Rewards, 3% cash-back on dining and drugstores, and 1.5% cash-back on all other purchases. That means you can earn extra cash back on all of those miscellaneous wedding purchases like flowers, tuxedo rentals, and a DJ.
If you would prefer travel rewards over cash-back, you can use your points in the Chase Travel Portal instead of taking the cash-back. Each Ultimate Rewards point earned through the Chase Freedom Unlimited is worth 1 cent per point when used in the Chase Travel Portal.
Credit Card | Benefits & Info |
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Chase Freedom Unlimited®![]() Learn More (at Chase's secure site) |
Must Reads: For more info on the Chase Freedom Unlimited, see our thoughts on its benefits and our full review. |
Hot Tip: Many grocery stores sell gift cards to lots of stores, including some that might come in handy for your wedding or honeymoon. Use the American Express® Gold Card to purchase gift cards at U.S. supermarkets and earn 4 Membership Rewards points/$1. Then use those gift cards like cash. You will have a stack of points in no time that you can then use towards your honeymoon!
Credit Cards That Offer Bonus Points on Dining
If you happen to be hosting a rehearsal dinner or even a reception at a restaurant, you need to get your hands on a credit card that offers bonus points on dining purchases. Some catering halls may code as a restaurant too, but it’s good to check ahead of time if you can. Try making a small charge at the establishment to see how it codes on your credit card.
Here are just a few of the great choices for credit cards that earn bonus points on dining:
The Amex Gold Card is a winner when it comes to dining; you will earn 4 Membership Rewards points per $1 at all U.S. restaurants. Plus this card earns 4x points at U.S. supermarkets so you can stock up on necessities.
Amex Card | Benefits & Info |
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American Express® Gold Card ![]() Apply Now (at Amex's secure site) |
Must Reads: For more info on the Amex Gold Card, see our guides on its benefits and perks, as well as our full review. *This bonus value is an estimated valuation calculated by UP and not the card issuer. |
Cardmembers can also earn up to $10 per month in dining credits, $10 per month in Uber Cash credit that can be used at Uber Eats (starting in 2021), and a complimentary 12-month subscription to Eats Pass.
Chase Sapphire Reserve® Card
The Chase Sapphire Reserve card is a favorite among points and miles enthusiasts for good reason; it offers lots of perks and earns valuable Chase Ultimate Rewards points. You will earn 3 Ultimate Rewards points for every $1 spent on travel and dining worldwide (and up to $1,000 in monthly grocery store purchases from November 1, 2020, to April 30, 2021).
Bottom Line: For even more options, check out the guide to the best credit cards for restaurants and dining.
Credit Cards That Offer Purchase Protection, Extended Warranty, and Return Protection
Since you will undoubtedly be making some large purchases for your upcoming nuptials, you might want to consider a card that offers purchase protection, extended warranty, or return protection.
Here are just some of the cards that offer protections on your retail purchases:
Credit Cards That Offer Purchase Protection
Hot Tip: For more information and additional credit card options, check out these guides to the best credit cards for purchase protection and the best credit cards for extended warranty.
Credit Cards That Offer Extended Warranty
- Chase Sapphire Preferred card
- British Airways Visa Signature® Card
- United Explorer℠ Card
- The Amex EveryDay® Credit Card from American Express
Credit Cards That Offer Return Protection
Hot Tip: If you are making any wedding purchases online, don’t forget to use a shopping portal for bonus points or extra cash-back. CashBack Monitor is a great tool to use to see what portal is offering the highest reward.
Cash-Back Credit Cards
Cash-back cards are great options if you value simplicity and flexibility. Cash-back rewards are easy to earn and easy to redeem. Whether you are looking to replenish your savings after the wedding or looking for some extra cash to put towards your honeymoon, credit cards with cash-back options are a great choice.
Here are a few of the credit cards that earn cash back:
Chase Freedom Unlimited
The Freedom Unlimited is a great option if you have lots of expenses coming up because it earns 1.5% cash-back on all non-bonused purchases.
The cash back is actually awarded as Chase Ultimate Rewards points that you can take as cash-back or you can redeem points for travel through the Chase Travel Portal. This card offers great earning potential and lots of flexibility.
Hot Tip: Worried that you won’t be able to earn enough points for any significant awards? Check out this guide to see what you can do with 10,000 or fewer Chase Ultimate Rewards points.
Blue Cash Everyday Card from American Express
The Blue Cash Everyday is a cash-back card with no annual fee and comes with some great benefits and bonus categories:
Amex Credit Card | Benefits & Info |
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Blue Cash Everyday® from American Express![]() Apply Now (at Amex's secure site) |
Must Reads: For more info on the Blue Cash Everyday Card, see our guide on its benefits and our full review. |
Bottom Line: More more options, check out this guide to the best cash-back credit cards.
Credit Cards With Free Authorized Users
If you and your partner want to to maximize the rewards you earn from your wedding expenses, consider a credit card that lets you add an authorized user free of charge. That way, you can each have a card that is earning rewards or cash-back on the same account.
Here are just a few cards that offer a free authorized user card:
- Citi® AAdvantage® Executive World Elite™ Mastercard® (free for up to 10 additional cards)
- Chase Freedom Unlimited Card
- Amex Gold Card (free for up to 5 additional cards)
- Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card
Credit Cards With a 0% Introductory APR
While the best way to handle your credit cards is to not carry a balance from month to month, sometimes life gets in the way. Whether you have an unexpected medical bill, car repair, or a large expense like a wedding coming up, it’s good to know that there are credit cards out there that can help you pay off your debt before you rack up hefty interest charges.
Here are some good choices if you are looking for an introductory 0% APR offer:
- Chase Freedom Unlimited: 0% APR for 15 months on purchases and balance transfer. After that a variable APR of 14.99%-23.74% will apply.
- Ink Business Unlimited® Credit Card: 0% APR for 12 months. After that, 13.24%-19.24% variable APR.
- Ink Business Cash® Credit Card: 0% APR for 12 months. After that, 13.24%-19.24% variable APR.
- Capital One® Venture One® Rewards Credit Card: 0% APR for 12 months. After that, 15.49%-25.49% variable APR.
Hot Tip: For more information about your 0% APR options, check out this guide to the best credit cards with 0% APR.
The Best Credit Cards for Honeymoons

Credit Cards That Earn Bonus Points on Travel
Travel is a common category that can earn lots of bonus points on lots of credit cards. But there are a few that stand out from the rest. If you are getting ready to make a large travel purchase like a honeymoon, consider putting the expenses on one of these cards:
Chase Sapphire Reserve Card
The Chase Sapphire Reserve card is a favorite among points and miles enthusiasts for good reason; it offers lots of perks and earns valuable Chase Ultimate Rewards points. You will earn 3 Ultimate Rewards points for every $1 spent on all travel including airfare, hotels, cruises, car rental agencies, travel agencies, taxis, trains, toll bridges, parking lots, timeshares, and more (and up to $1,000 in monthly grocery store purchases from November 1, 2020, to April 30, 2021).
In addition to a $300 yearly travel credit (including gas and grocery purchases through June 30, 2021), you will be eligible for a TSA Precheck ($85) or Global Entry ($100) fee reimbursement to help you speed through airport security.
While you are traveling, this card has got you covered with excellent travel insurance, car rental insurance, airport lounge access, and no foreign transaction fees.
Chase Card | Benefits & Info |
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Chase Sapphire Reserve®![]() Apply Now (at Chase's secure site) |
Must Reads: For more on the Chase Sapphire Reserve, see our thoughts on its benefits, global airport lounge access, and travel insurance protection. Take a look here for our full review. *This bonus value is an estimated valuation calculated by UP and not the card issuer. |
Citi Prestige® Card
This card is a powerhouse when it comes to earning points on traveling. Just check out all of these points earning options:
- Earn 5 Citi ThankYou points for every $1 spent on airfare
- Earn 3 Citi ThankYou points for every $1 spent on hotels
- Earn 3 Citi ThankYou points for every $1 spent on cruises
Plus, the Citi Prestige® Card comes with a nice welcome bonus and plenty of other travel perks like airport lounge access and a yearly travel credit of $250.
CREDIT CARD | CARD INFO |
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Citi Prestige® Card![]() Learn More (at Citi's secure site) |
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Hot Tip: For more great options that offer great travel benefits check out our guide to the best travel rewards credit cards.
Credit Cards That Come With Hotel Elite Status
If you want to enjoy a little luxury on your honeymoon, consider a hotel credit card that offers elite status.
Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card
The Hilton Honors American Express Aspire card is unique because it offers the top level Hilton Diamond Elite status to you by just having the card. This status usually requires 30 stays, 60 nights, or 120,000 Hilton Honors base points earned each year, so this is a huge benefit.

As a Hilton Diamond Elite member, you will enjoy perks like:
- 100% bonus on base points earned. That means you’ll earn 20 Hilton Honors points per $1 at Hilton properties
- 5th-night free benefit on award stays
- Executive lounge access
- Complimentary breakfast
- Room upgrades, if available
The Amex Platinum Card
The Amex Platinum Card comes with mid-level elite status at 2 different hotel brands: Hilton and Marriott. With this card, you will get Hilton Honors Gold and Marriott Bonvoy Gold Elite status automatically.
These 2 status levels come with some similar benefits including:
- Room upgrades when available
- 5th-night free on award stays
- Late checkout
- Free internet
- Bonus points on hotel stays
Hot Tip: For more information about the Amex Platinum Card, check out the guide to the benefits and perks of the Amex Platinum Card.
Credit Cards That Offer Free Nights or Hotel Credits
If you are planning to stay at a nice hotel or resort on your honeymoon, why not use a credit card that will help you get a free night or hotel credit.
The Amex Platinum Card
With The Amex Platinum Card, you have access to the American Express Fine Hotels & Resorts program. The hotels in these programs come with perks that can help make your stay special:
- Room upgrade upon arrival (subject to availability)
- Daily breakfast for 2 people
- Guaranteed 4 p.m. late checkout
- Noon check-in (subject to availability)
- Complimentary Wi-Fi
- A unique property amenity valued at $100 (spa or food and beverage credit)
The great thing is that these perks are available even on a one-night stay so you can double up on these perks if you are staying in multiple locations.

Hyatt Hotels has a great program for hotel redemptions because of their favorable award chart; free rooms start as low as 5,000 World of Hyatt points per night (but you can also find some fantastic luxury redemptions too)!
Plus, if you have the World of Hyatt credit card, you can earn even more free nights. Each year after your account anniversary, you will receive 1 free night in a Category 1-4 hotel or resort. You’ll earn an additional free night if you spend $15,000 in purchases during the year.
Hot Tip: If you are looking for a great deal on travel, check out these guides to the best websites to book flights at the cheapest prices, the top websites to book hotels at the lowest prices, and the best websites for booking cruises. Also, look for travel packages. These type of package deals, where you buy a hotel and flight together, will save you money 9 times out of 10. These packages are available from many online travel agencies like Expedia, Orbitz, or Travelocity.
Credit Cards With Travel Insurance
When you are planning a big trip like a honeymoon, it’s good to have some trip insurance just in case. The good news is that if you have the right credit card, you don’t have to purchase an additional insurance policy — your coverage is built in to your credit card!
Trip Cancellation Insurance: It’s no fun to have to cancel a trip, but it’s even worse when you lose a lot of money because of it. That’s where trip cancellation insurance can come in handy. This type of insurance will help you avoid cancellation fees and can reimburse you for non refundable charges.
These are just a few of the credit cards that come with trip cancellation insurance.
- Chase Sapphire Reserve card
- Ink Business Preferred
- United Explorer℠ Card
- BarclayCard Arrival Plus® World Elite Mastercard®
Car Rental Insurance: If you plan on renting a car on your honeymoon, you’ll need to have some car rental insurance. If you have the right credit card, you can decline the coverage offered by the rental agency because you may already be covered.
Here are just some of the credit cards that come with car rental insurance.
- Chase Sapphire Preferred card
- Chase Sapphire Reserve card
- Ink Business Preferred Card
- The Amex Platinum Card
- Delta SkyMiles® Card Gold American Express Card
- Amex Gold Card
Hot Tip: For more information about all of the cards that come with car rental insurance, check out our guide to the best credit cards for car rental insurance coverage.
Baggage Delay Insurance: There’s nothing worse than starting a vacation when your bags are still en route. However, if your credit card comes with baggage delay insurance, you can be reimbursed for purchasing essentials you need while you wait for your luggage to arrive.
Here are some of the credit cards that offer baggage delay insurance:
- Chase Sapphire Reserve card
- Chase Sapphire Preferred card
- Chase Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier Credit Card
- American Express® Green Card
- BarclayCard Arrival Plus® World Elite Mastercard®
Credit Cards That Come With Free Checked Luggage
If you are planning a long honeymoon, you might end up bringing a lot of luggage. Instead of getting hit with high baggage fees, use a credit card that offers complimentary checked bags instead.
Here are just some of the great options to help save money on checked baggage fees:
Delta Credit Cards
These Delta cards offer a free checked bag on Delta flights for the card holder and up to 8 additional passengers on the same reservation. The reservation must include the card holder’s Delta SkyMiles number, but you don’t actually need to pay for the flights with the Delta credit card.
- Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card
- Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card
- Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card
American Airlines Credit Cards
- Citi®/ AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Elite™ Mastercard®
- This card comes with a free checked bag for you and up to 4 companions on the same reservation on domestic flights.
- Citi®/ AAdvantage® Executive World Elite™ Mastercard®
- Comes with a free checked bag for you and up to 8 companions on the same reservation on domestic flights.
United Airlines Credit Cards
For these options, your United MileagePlus member number must be included on the reservation and you must purchase your ticket with your United credit card.
- United℠ Explorer Card: This card comes with 1 free checked bag for the card holder plus 1 companion on the same reservation.
- United MileagePlus® Club Card: This card comes with 2 free checked bags each for the card holder plus 1 companion on the same reservation.
Hot Tip: If you fly on Southwest Airlines, your first 2 checked bags will be free; everyday on every flight! Plus, Southwest flies to lots of honeymoon worthy destinations, including Hawaii.
Credit Cards With No Foreign Transaction Fees
If you are traveling abroad for your honeymoon, don’t pay fees to use your credit card. Lots of no foreign transaction fee credit cards are out there, so it should be easy to find one that suits your needs.
Here are a few favorite credit cards with no foreign transaction fees:
- Chase Sapphire Preferred card
- Chase Sapphire Reserve card
- Ink Business Preferred
- The Amex Platinum Card
- Amex Gold Card
Hot Tip: Looking to go on a cruise for your honeymoon? Check out our detailed guide to using points and miles to book a cruise!
Final Thoughts
Planning your wedding and honeymoon can be a stressful time and one that comes with a lot of expenses. Making the most of those expenses with a good travel rewards credit card is a smart way to earn lots of bonus points or cash-back for every dollar you spend.
Whether you want to earn as much cash-back as possible or earn perks for your honeymoon hotel stay, there is a travel rewards credit card that can help you out.
The information for the American Express® Green Card, Citi Prestige Card, Chase Freedom Unlimited®, United Explorer℠ Card, Hilton Honors, Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card, Citi/AAdvantage Platinum Select World Elite, and Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card have been collected independently by Upgraded Points. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
For rates and fees of the Platinum Card® from American Express, click here.
For rates and fees of the American Express® Gold Card, click here.
For rates and fees of the Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express, click here.