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The Best Credit Cards For Weddings And Honeymoons

Young married couple on the beach
BY 
Katie Seemann
- UPDATED:
  1. Credit Cards  / 
  2. Strategies & Guides

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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.

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.

Chase Sapphire Preferred® Credit 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 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 a flat 1.5% cash-back, or 1.5 Ultimate Rewards points per dollar, on all 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.

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:

Amex Gold Card

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.

Chase Sapphire Reserve® Card

The 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 dining worldwide.

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 this guide to the best credit cards for purchase protection.

Credit Cards That Offer Extended Warranty

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 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 bonus categories:

  • 3% cash-back as U.S. supermarkets – up to $6,000 per year
  • 2% cash-back as U.S. gas stations and select U.S. department stores. This would be a great way to purchase a wedding dress.
  • 1% cash-back on all other purchases

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:

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:

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

couple at airport
Start your honeymoon off right with travel perks from your credit card. Image Credit: Shutterstock.

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 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.

In addition to a $300 yearly travel credit, 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.

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.

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.

Hilton honors diamond status
Fast track to the top-tier Hilton Diamond Elite status with just one credit card. Image Credit: HiltonHonors.com.

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.

woman in hotel room
Using the right credit card can help you get free hotel rooms and perks. Image Credit: Shutterstock.com

World of Hyatt Credit Card

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.

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 guidess 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.

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. 

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:

Bottom Line: For more information about all of your credit card insurance options, check out our guide to credit card insurance.

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 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.

American Airlines Credit Cards

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.

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
  • Chase Sapphire Reserve
  • 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 Citi Prestige Card, and the Citi/AAdvantage Platinum Select World Elite have been collected independently by Upgraded Points. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.

Featured Image Credit: Rawpixel via Shutterstock

Frequently asked questions

Can you pay for a wedding with a credit card?

Yes, most vendors will be happy to take a credit card. The more wedding expenses you can put on a credit card, the more rewards points or cash back you will be able to earn. Just be sure to pay off your bill in full each month to avoid hefty interest fees.

What is the best credit card for couples?

There are lots of great credit cards out there for couples. To choose the best one, you should know what your goals are. If you want a card that earns flexible points, look at a card like the Chase Sapphire Preferred. If you would prefer cash-back, check out a card like the Chase Freedom Unlimited that earns 1.5% cash-back on every purchase.

What's the best credit card for newlyweds?

There are lots of great credit cards out there for newlyweds. Look for a card that earns bonus points on categories you will use often. The Amex Gold Card earns 4x points on categories like U.S. restaurants and U.S. supermarkets, and even comes with a $120 yearly dining credit.

Katie Seemann

About Katie Seemann

Katie is an Ohio native who caught the travel bug after spending a semester in college in Nottingham, England. In addition to exploring England, she visited Ireland, Scotland and the Netherlands during that time and loved every minute of it (everything except the hostel in Scotland – that’s an experience she doesn’t intend on repeating!) In 2015, Katie discovered the world of points and miles, and since then she’s earned countless points and has an embarrassingly large number of credit cards in her wallet (which she needs a spreadsheet to keep track of!)
@Zen_Life_Travel Read More

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