Using credit cards to pay for your wedding: pros and cons

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a lot Participating couples In the United States it depends on Credit forms To pay for their wedding. Experts say this approach can be smart, if done carefully.

While 46 % of married married couples – husbands who linked the node over the past two years – have mostly used savings to pay cost costs, driven by 24 % with credit cards, According to To a report from LindingTree. The site surveyed 1050 newly married couples in March.

A sporadic A report from Zola, based on a survey that included 6000 couples who marry in 2025, found that 31 % of husbands who included a survey of the use of credit cards to pay the price of their wedding, including using points or applying for new cards.

“If you are strategically, the credit card may be a great tool,” said Matt Schools, Credit Senior Credit at LindingTree.

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Otherwise, a credit card Experts say it can be a slippery slope, causing couples to walk in the corridor with long -term debts.

About 67 % of the newly surveyed married couples for debts for their wedding, according to Lindingtree.

For new cards, the average annual percentage percentage, or borrowing cost, is 24.35 %, which is the highest since December.

“In the end, a beautiful wedding should never come at the expense of financial tension for a new marriage,” said Gloria, Garcia Cecisonus, a financial company accredited in Larmdore, an investment and wealth management company.

“Make these savings work more seriously for you.”

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Wedding parties Become More expensive every year. The average cost of a wedding in 2025 is expected to be $ 36,000, According to To Zola. This rises from $ 33,000 in 2024 and $ 29,000 in 2023.

If you have savings for covering your wedding costs, imposing a credit card fee and then using these savings immediately to pay the bill can help you earn rewards such as points or miles.

Some credit cards offer large registration rewards when spending a specific amount on the card within a short period of opening it. This may be more than you spend on normal expenses, but on hand if you have large expenses-such as wedding-related purchases and deposits.

By immediately pushing these fees with your savings, you can take advantage of rewards for things like honeymoon, according to Schulz.

“It is a way to make these savings work more seriously for you,” he said.

Other advantages can also be the use of credit card. Credit cards provide layers of federal protection that can help card holders in dispute fees Get a recovery Experts say that if things are going on an element or service purchased using a card, said experts.

Some cards are also offered Buy protectionA form of insurance against theft or damage, for all nerdwallet. Make sure to read the fine printing of what your credit card provides and the duration of the conditions.

Do not take debts for a “short -term event”

However, the key with credit cards “is full payment”, said Ted Rosman, chief industry analyst in Bankraate.

“I certainly do not recommend putting wedding expenses on a card if you are going to take this over time,” he said.

Failure to pay the balance will leave you with high interest debts when starting your new marriage.

Nearly a quarter, or 24 %, of new married married married couples within two years of wiping still pays debts, according to Lindingtree. Among those who are still in money with money, 47 % said they will end the payment of religion in six months to a year.

“You don’t want to sacrifice your long -term welfare for a short -term event,” Rosman said.

APR credit card 0 % It can be a tool for wedding payments, as it will pay a little or no benefit on the suspended balances for a period of time. However, be sure to finish the card payment before the promotion is over, experts say. Otherwise, whatever the remaining balance will get attention.

Credit card fee, cash discounts

As you start Plans of the wedding Jason Rei, a wedding scheme in Los Angeles, and communicating with sellers, said, ask if they accept credit cards as a form of payment.

Some sellers may take cash or check payments only, while others may receive additional fees Treatment fees For credit cards, Rhee said. This is amazing Additional fees It can range from 1.5 % to 3.5 %, according to Bankate.

Lauren Kai, the executive editor of The Knot, said that paying whether to pay the additional cost is affordable and deserves all this trouble, or if it is better to use a different form of payment with the seller.

What’s more, some sellers may provide discounts for cash payments.

Securing the wedding ceremony exceeds the protection of credit

Kay said that while credit cards can provide certain protection for payments or purchases that incurred them, they may not provide wider protection or policies to cover larger expenses, such as reception or place.

“In most cases, your credit card will not provide any real benefit if there is something wrong with buying this size,” said Kai.

For such expenses, wedding insurance policies can be a good option to consider. Kai said it helps you protect you from unexpected dangers such as harsh weather, theft or the seller who did not appear.