What are the benefits of the best credit cards for weddings?
A credit card might just seem like a way to pay for wedding expenses. But the best credit cards have benefits that can help with those wedding bills, including:
- Credit card rewards you can use as you begin your new life. Weddings can be costly, but with a rewards card, you could earn cash back, credit card points, or miles in the process.
- Generous sign-up bonuses. A sign-up bonus can help you offset some of the cost of a wedding. There are credit cards with sign-up bonuses worth hundreds of dollars or more in cash rewards or travel points. These are available to new cardholders, which is one of the reasons it can make sense to open a new credit card for your wedding.
- An interest-free period to pay back wedding expenses. You could put expenses on a card with a 0% intro APR for new purchases. Then, you'll have the entire intro period to pay back your card's balance with no interest charges. Just remember that the interest rate will increase to the go-to APR after the intro period ends, so this works best if you can pay off the balance by then.
- All your records are in one place. Planning a wedding typically means paying several vendors. For example, there's the wedding dress, photographer, florist, musician, venue, reception hall, and caterer. Remembering who was paid and when is more manageable when all you have to do is check your credit card statement. And if you snag a high-limit credit card, you may be able to pay for an entire wedding on one card.
- Potential protections. Some credit cards cover costs if purchases are damaged, lost, or misplaced. For example, a rewards card might cover the loss of a damaged wedding dress so you can find another in time for the ceremony.
You can benefit from one of the best wedding credit cards no matter how much you're planning to spend. If you're expecting to spend $3,000 for a small wedding in a friend's backyard, a credit card still has its benefits, like the rewards you can earn.
If you've always dreamed of a grand affair with a princess dress or fancy tux, wedding credit cards could help with that, too. Or, if you're not sure about using a credit card, another option is to take out a wedding loan.
What credit score do you need for a credit card for a wedding?
A FICO® Score of 670 or higher is recommended to qualify for the best credit cards for a wedding. These credit cards are designed for consumers who have a good credit score.
Your credit score isn't the only factor in a credit card application. Credit card issuers look at plenty of other information, including your income and your credit history as a whole.
Wondering what to expect from a credit card application? You'll see how different credit scores can affect card applications below. These use FICO® Score ranges, because that's the most widely used type of credit score by lenders. If you don't know it, check out our guide on how to get your credit score.
FICO® Score of under 580
Your credit score is in the bad credit/poor credit range, or you have a thin credit history and haven't qualified for a score yet. Here's what that means:
- Many credit cards will be out of reach. Consider starting with secured credit cards. These require a security deposit, so they're easier to get.
- When you're approved for a credit card, the card issuer will likely start you out with a low credit limit.
- Your credit card will almost certainly have a high interest rate. But you can avoid interest charges by always paying your credit card bill in full.
FICO® Score of 580 to 669
Your credit score is in the fair credit range. You may still have access to a limited number of cards, but:
- You could qualify for an unsecured credit card that doesn't require a security deposit.
- You can expect to pay a higher interest rate than cardholders with higher credit scores.
- You may have limited or no rewards credit card options.
FICO® Score of 670 to 739
This is the start of the good credit range, which means that:
- Your credit score is high enough for most of the best credit cards, although approval isn't guaranteed.
- Your interest rate may still be higher than cardholders with better credit scores.
- You could also qualify for a high credit limit, depending on your income.
FICO® Score of 740 to 850
You're in the very good to excellent credit range. This has lots of financial benefits, including:
- You could potentially qualify for any credit card, including top airline credit cards, hotel cards, and other rewards-rich card options.
- It should be easy to land a credit card with a good APR, such as a 0% intro APR offer.
- You should have card options with relatively high credit limits.
If your credit score is below 580, it's a good idea to focus on improving your credit score. You could do that with a starter credit card if you haven't established much credit history yet. Or, if the issue is negative items on your credit file, a secured credit card could be what you need. Make sure to check your credit score for errors, report any mistakes you find, pay down debt, and always pay your bills on time.
Even if you can't use credit cards to pay for your entire wedding due to a low credit score, you can start the process of raising that score. It's often possible to make fast progress. You could start married life with a stronger credit score, and that helps when you take out loans, rent an apartment, or apply for a job requiring a credit check.
If you do plan to use credit cards to pay for your wedding, find the type of card that will benefit you the most. You might have access to everything from cards for international travel to straightforward cash back cards. Think about what will help the most with your wedding so you can pick out the best card.
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