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If you love credit card rewards, you know that one of the best times to open up a new card is when you have some major expenses on the horizon. This is because those larger expenses can help you reach the minimum spend required for those lucrative welcome offers. If you have a wedding coming up, now is the perfect time for you and your honey boo to open up new rewards credit cards to earn cash back, travel points, and maybe even score some free travel towards your honeymoon!
Best Credit Cards for Weddings and Honeymoons
Before you say “I do,” you may want to consider opening up one of these new credit cards to earn the most valuable rewards on those wedding and honeymoon expenses. Between a venue, decor, party favors, and food, you could be missing out on hundreds of dollars worth of reward points or travel miles if you pay with the wrong card. Here is our recommended list of the best credit cards for weddings and honeymoons!
1. Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card
HTM Rating: The Officiant 🤵♂️
While most credit cards offer bonus miles for specific spending categories, this card allows you to earn 2x miles on ALL spending. And since your wedding purchases likely won’t fit into one specific spending category, having a catch-all rewards card might be the best approach.
bonus_miles_fullMore amazing benefits of owning this card:
- 5X miles on hotels and rental cars via Capital One Travel
- 2x Miles on all other spending
- $100 credit for TSA Precheck or Global Entry
- Card holder benefits for hotels booked through their Lifestyle Collection ($50 experience credit, room upgrades)
- No Foreign Transaction Fees
This Capital One card is an all around favorite, and it’s easy to see why! It’s also worth noting that their travel portal has a great user interface which makes booking hotels and flights a seamless experience. When it comes to racking up miles on your wedding and honeymoon spending, you can’t go wrong with this awesome credit card.
Learn more: card_name2. Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus Credit Card
HTM Rating: Co-Capitan
A wedding is all about making a lifelong promise of commitment to your spouse. Why not seal the deal by earning the highly coveted Southwest Companion Pass? Beyond that, you’ll also be able to take advantage of these amazing travel benefits…
- Free checked bag fees
- No change fees for flights
- No foreign transaction fees
- 2x points on Southwest purchases, internet, phone and some streaming services, local transit, public parking and Rapid Reward hotel and rental car bookings.
- 3,000 anniversary points
- 1 point per $1 on all other purchases
Earning the Southwest Companion Pass is a total travel game changer. This pass allows you to essentially cut your honeymoon flight costs in half, as you’ll be able to bring your partner along and only pay the fees and taxes, which only amounts to a few dollars. Southwest operates in 42 states, and also operates international flights to Puerto Rico, Mexico, Central America, and the Caribbean. So, if you’re planning on going to another location for your honeymoon, be sure to keep this in mind and consider another travel card.
Learn more: card_name3. Chase Sapphire Preferred® card
HTM Rating: Lifemate
Some of the main benefits cardholders can look forward to:
- $50 annual Ultimate Rewards Hotel Credit
- 5x points on travel booked through Chase Travel℠ & 2x on other travel purchases
- 3x points on dining, food delivery services, and takeout
- 3x points on online grocery purchases
- 1 point per dollar spent on all other everyday purchases
- No foreign transaction fees
- Free trip cancellation insurance and primary rental car insurance
If you and your fiancé have grand dreams of traveling around the world, the Chase Sapphire Preferred® card will help stretch your honeymoon budget even further. It’s easy to add an authorized user to your account so you can both collect and consolidate rewards on your everyday spending. But, savvy travel couples can double their overall value if both partners apply for and hold an account individually.
One thing I’m a huge fan of is the Chase Travel portal for booking and managing flights and hotels. It’s super easy to redeem points for travel credit, gift cards, entertainment or even statement credits.
Learn more: card_name4. Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card
HTM Rating: Lounge Lover
Probably the most Baller perk of this luxury credit card is having airport lounge access. Card holders can enjoy unlimited access for you and 2 guests to 1,300+ lounges worldwide from Priority Pass™ and Plaza Premium Group. It’s like your credit card is giving you a honeymoon present!
Other great reasons to open this card:
- Get up to $100 credit towards TSA PreCheck® or Global Entry
- Earn 10x miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel
- Earn 5x miles on flights booked through Capital One Travel
- 2x miles on all other purchases
- Unlimited access for you and two others to over 1,300 lounges
- No foreign transaction fees
The Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card is my personal favorite travel card. Instead of needing to keep track of spending categories where you’ll earn bonus miles, this card yields you 2x miles across the board on all purchases. Since wedding and honeymoon expenses likely won’t fit into a single rewards category like groceries, restaurants, or gas, this can be a great option to maximize rewards for any and all spending.
Oh, and BTW – Capital One offers referral bonuses for helping your friends or family sign up and become cardholders themselves. can quickly boost your point balance. If a friend get approved for a new account using your referral link, you’ll earn 20,000 bonus miles (which equals $200 in travel credits!). Refer. Reward. Repeat!
Learn more: card_name5. The Platinum Card® from American Express
HTM Rating: Fancypants
Just a few other reasons why this is one of the best credit cards for weddings and honeymoon expenses…
- $200 hotel credit on prepaid hotel bookings through American Express Travel.
- $240 digital entertainment credit
- $200 of Uber Cash ($15/month, plus a bonus $20 in December)
- $200 airline fee credit
- $199 CLEAR® Plus Credit
- Access to the American Express lounge collection (1,400+ lounges)
- $155 Walmart+ Credit
- 5x points on prepaid hotels through American Express Travel
- 5x points on flights booked directly with airlines or through American Express Travel
This baller credit card is a great option for newlyweds who are looking to experience an exquisite honeymoon, and want to be in the lap of luxury while traveling. Since it has a higher minimum spend, paying for wedding expenses might allow someone who wouldn’t normally spend that much money to qualify for the generous welcome offer.
This card also tops our list for the best credit cards with lounge access. If you’ve never been in a Centurion Airport Lounge before, you’re in for a real treat!
Learn more: card_name6. Chase Freedom Unlimited®
HTM Rating: Minimalist
More perks that come with this thrifty card choice:
- Unlimited 1.5% cash back
- 5% cash back on travel booked through Chase Travel℠
- 3% cash back on dining
- 3% cash back on drugstores
- No foreign transaction fees
This card is perfect for folks who don’t need all the fancy bells and whistles. If you’re planning on a minimalist wedding, but booking large on travel for your honeymoon, this trusty companion will work wonders.
Learn more: card_name7. Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card
HTM Rating: The Frugalite
Some of the benefits this free card can bring you…
- 1.5 points per dollar on every purchase
- 3 points per dollar on travel booked through the Bank of America Travel Center
- 0% APR for 15 billing cycles
- No foreign transaction fees
If you’re a fan of cards with no annual fees and still want to earn a meaningful amount of travel rewards to use for your honeymoon or other trips, this Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card really shines. It’s very flexible in what it classifies as travel, so you can use your rewards as a statement credit for things like hotels, airfare, rental cars, amusement parks, art galleries, cruises, zoos, and even some restaurants. Plus, you’re able to get more than one point per mile on all spending without needing to pay any hefty annual fees!
Learn More: card_name8. IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card
HTM Rating: Honeymoon Hideaway
Plus, you’ll get to enjoy these other awesome benefits…
- Up to 26x points on IHG hotel and resort stays
- 5x points on travel and hotels
- 5x points on gas stations
- 5x points on dining, including takeout and delivery
- 3x points on all other purchases
- Automatic platinum elite status
- Redeem 3 free nights, get the fourth one free
- Anniversary free night
- No foreign transaction fees
- $100 statement credit for Global Entry, TSA Precheck, or Nexus
- Earn a $100 statement credit and 10,000 anniversary miles when you spend $20,000 each calendar year.
Honestly, the amount of rewards you can earn with this card completely blows me away. It features similar rewards to cards with much higher annual fees, and can completely knock out one of the biggest expenses for your travel. Plus, it’s hard to beat earning 3x points on every single purchase you make!
Overall, this card is a great option for anyone looking to travel, and can help to make your honeymoon even more special!
Learn more: card_nameWhat are rewards credit cards?
Rewards credit cards allow you to earn rewards for using them to pay for your everyday spending. While some allow you to earn cash back, others reward you with points or miles that can be redeemed for things like free travel, gift cards, or statement credits. In addition to points and miles, many rewards cards offer additional benefits, like rental car insurance, cell phone insurance, TSA Precheck or Global Entry credits, trip cancellation insurance and more. Using these cards can help you to accrue lifestyle-improving perks without needing to make any changes to your spending habits.
Why use a rewards card to pay for Wedding or Honeymoon Expenses?
If you’re planning on tying the knot, having the right rewards credit cards can make your big day even more special. Here are just a few benefits of using a rewards credit card to pay for your wedding and honeymoon expenses.
Easily meet minimum spends
The best time to open a new credit card is when you have big expenses coming up, because it can help you to meet minimum spends you may not otherwise be able to meet without overspending. It’s no secret that weddings are often expensive, so this could be a great opportunity to earn sign-up offers without the stress of planning to meet those high minimum spends.
Earn travel rewards and spend less on your honeymoon
One of the best reasons to open up a new credit card before your wedding is to earn valuable travel rewards that can help to cut down the cost of future trips. When you combine your rewards points with these tips to save money on travel, you could even potentially honeymoon for free!
Travel Insurance
Wife left you at the altar and you have to cancel your honeymoon to Greece? No problem! (I’m just kidding, if this applies to you I am so… so sorry).
Luckily, some rewards credit cards come with comprehensive travel insurance which can make sure you don’t lose your hard earned cash if disaster strikes. Coverage varies depending on which credit card you have, but you could be covered in the event of cancellation, illness, baggage loss, or emergency medical services. These benefits can give you peace of mind when booking an important trip like your honeymoon.
No Foreign Transaction Fees
Traveling abroad for your honeymoon? Opening up a good travel rewards credit card can ensure you don’t have to deal with pesky foreign transaction fees. These sneaky charges can seriously add up while vacationing, leaving you with a spending hangover when you get back! Luckily, all the cards we’ve listed fall under our list of top cards with no foreign transaction fees.
Earn even more rewards with this “two player strategy!”
It’s time to take your partnership with your fiancé to the next level with this strategy to earn more than double the rewards points!
As you’ve learned by now, many of these best credit cards for weddings and honeymoons have large welcome offers for new cardmembers. Well, if both you AND your fiancé apply and get approved for separate accounts, you can both take advantage of the card benefits. Depending on the points program and reward type, couples can then combine their rewards to redeem higher value experiences. This can go a loooong way towards a killer honeymoon.
Considerations before applying
Before you pull the trigger and start applying to all of these awesome credit cards, there are a few important considerations to think through.
Credit requirements and impact on your score
Many of the best rewards credit cards require high credit scores for approval, especially premium cards. Before you apply, check in with your credit score, and if it’s below the 670 range, consider taking time to rebuild your credit score.
Weighing benefits vs. annual fees
Before opening up a credit card for your wedding or honeymoon, it’s important to take a look at what the card offers and decide if you will take advantage of those benefits. If you can’t see yourself truly using a lot of the benefits, then the card may not be worth the annual fee for you. Assess the value of what you’re getting out of that card, and decide for yourself if the benefits are worth the cost.
Healthy credit card habits
And lastly (but most importantly), it’s crucial that you hold off on opening any new credit cards until you have developed healthy credit card habits. Accumulating any amount of interest will not be worth the benefits, and can have a years-long impact on your financial wellbeing. Make sure that you are prepared to pay off your credit card balances in full and on time every month before opening up a rewards credit card.
Credit card FAQ
Should I add my fiancé as an authorized user?
If you’re working towards a shared goal of meeting a minimum spend, it could be a good idea to add your fiance as an authorized user on your card. This can help you to meet that minimum without feeling pressured to spend more than you normally would.
However, if you’re planning a wedding, chances are you’ll be spending enough money to meet more than one minimum spend. Why not instead refer your partner to the same card to snag two welcome offers and a referral bonus? 😉
Should I get a travel credit card for my honeymoon?
If you’re looking to save money on your honeymoon, getting a travel credit card in advance can help you to reduce your honeymoon expenses. It can also make your honeymoon feel even more lavish if you take advantage of all the perks the card has to offer. Just make sure you’re confident in your ability to manage a credit card responsibly before taking the plunge.
How many credit cards are too many?
Before you get carried away and open 25 credit cards at once to pay for your wedding expenses, remember that managing multiple credit cards can take skill and planning. It’s always best to start slow, and build from there. Not to mention, opening multiple credit cards at the same time can temporarily hurt your credit score.
A good rule of thumb is to follow the “Chase 5/24” rule. If you apply for a Chase card, they won’t approve your application if you’ve applied to 5 cards in the past 24 months. This can be a helpful rule to follow to keep from having too many credit card inquiries in a short period of time.
The Bottom Line:
When planning a wedding or honeymoon, you’ll be swiping your credit card A LOT! So leveraging credit card rewards can earn you a ton of good rewards and offset the cost of your big event. Opening new rewards cards is smart because they come with generous welcome offers that you will likely qualify for with big expenses. You could even earn enough rewards to pay for your honeymoon in full!
Just keep in mind, rewards cards are never worth it if you take on debt that you can’t re-pay immediately. If you don’t have enough cash in the bank to throw a big wedding or pay for a honeymoon, going into debt with credit cards is not the answer. Always follow the golden rules of credit cards, no matter the circumstances.
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*Advertiser Disclosure: How to Money has partnered with CardRatings for our coverage of credit card products. How to Money and CardRatings may receive a commission from card issuers. Some or all of the card offers that appear on the website are from advertisers. Compensation may impact on how and where card products appear on the site. Lastly, the site does not include all card companies or all available card offers.
*Editorial Disclosure: Opinions, reviews, analyses & recommendations are the author’s alone, and have not been reviewed, endorsed or approved by any of these entities.
*User Generated Content Disclosure: Responses are not provided or commissioned by the bank advertiser. Responses have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by the bank advertiser. It is not the bank advertiser’s responsibility to ensure all posts and/or questions are answered.
