You can pay for a wedding with a credit card… but should you?

Can you pay for a wedding with a credit card?

When you break it down, a wedding is usually a series of big expenses rather than one giant sum. While you can get package weddings, most people pay separately for major costs like the venue, food, drinks, dresses, flowers, the photographer, car hire and so on.

Many vendors will take credit cards. But some won't. Venues often require a bank transfer instead. That way there's no risk of a chargeback from the card.

Some vendors charge a fee if you pay with a credit card. So always check before you decide to pay with a card.

What are the benefits and risks of paying for a wedding with a credit card?

How to get the most out of paying for a wedding on credit

1. Spread out your purchases. Break your wedding expenses down and try to spread them out. You can take advantage of the interest-free days many cards offer by making a big purchase, paying it off just before the interest charges kick in, then covering the next big expense.
2. Set up a payment plan to cover your costs. If you have to take a longer time to repay all the wedding expenses, calculate how much the interest is costing you and make a plan to repay it each month. Don't just ignore the debt by paying the minimum each month.
3. Maximise your points earning potential. Many credit cards offer mountains of bonus points to new customers who spend big. A wedding could be the perfect opportunity to get a new card, cover your wedding costs and spend enough to unlock points you can spend on flights for the honeymoon.
4. Set an appropriate credit limit. If you have a lot of big expenses to cover, make sure your credit limit is high enough to handle it. You can apply for a higher credit limit and then lower it after the wedding.

Example: How long it can take to pay off your wedding

The overall cost of your wedding, your credit card repayments and the interest rates and fees all have a big impact on how long it takes to repay.

To give you an idea, let's say you had a credit card with a 19.94% p.a. interest rate. In both scenarios, you aim to pay off your wedding expenses in 12 months.

Here's how it would look with two different budgets:

In the high cost scenario you're paying almost $2,000 a month and you still end up paying over $2,000 in interest.

You could stretch this out further and pay it off in 24 months. You'd have to pay $1,017 a month. And the interest costs over 2 years would be well over $4,000.

Based on calculations using Finder's credit card repayment calculator.

These two scenarios show how different wedding budgets, credit card features and repayments can lead to very different timeframes and interest costs.

Planning ahead can help you keep credit card costs down (and avoid years of debt). So once you know your wedding budget, work out how much you'll put on your credit card and what you can afford to repay each month.

How can I avoid getting in too much debt?

1. Set a budget and stick to it. Easier said than done, but you really need to work out what you can afford to spend before you start flashing your card around.
2. Stagger your purchases if you can. An advantage of a credit card is that it gives you money when you need it and you can spend flexibly. If possible, pay for some expenses earlier and others later, allowing you to pay off the earlier costs (and taking advantage of interest free periods) before dealing with other purchases.
3. Don't pay for everything with a credit card. Paying for some things with cash reduces the amount of debt you'll have to take on.
4. Choose the right kind of credit card for you. More on this below but in short, there are cards for big spenders and there are cards for more budget conscious customers.
5. Make a clear plan to repay the debt on time. Check your card statements, figure out when payments are due and set reminders to pay them. Don't spend and forget about it.
6. Don't withdraw cash using the card. You can use a credit card to withdraw cash from an ATM. But it's a bad idea. There are cash advance fees for doing this, and you get charged a really high interest rate.

What kind of credit card should I use to pay for wedding costs?

Every couple is unique. And the kind of credit card you need depends on your finances, spending habits and goals.

0% interest credit cards

Pay for wedding expenses and get an interest-free introductory period that's usually between 3 and 15 months. Useful for people who know they won't be able to pay off all their purchases in a month or two.

Low rate credit cards

If you need more time to repay your wedding expenses, a card with a low ongoing interest rate could help you save on interest and budget for repayments. Useful for people who will take some time to pay off the card and don't care about points or other benefits.

Frequent flyer credit cards

Want to earn Qantas or Velocity Points while paying for your wedding? You could use a frequent flyer credit card.

These cards are really aimed at bigger spenders. People who could probably afford to pay for everything with their savings but want to earn points. These cards have high annual fees and high interest rates. They're a terrible choice if you can't pay off the wedding costs on time.

Rewards credit cards

Similar to frequent flyer cards, a rewards card lets you earn reward points on your spending. But unlike a frequent flyer card, rewards cards are tied to a bank or credit card rewards points program.

You can use these points on shopping, gift cards, discounts, or convert them to frequent flyer points. As with frequent flyer cards they're not for budget-conscious spenders because they have higher rates and fees.

Frequently asked questions

• What if I've made a payment and then need to reschedule or cancel my wedding?

  As soon as you can, talk to the venue, celebrant, photographer and other wedding vendors about your options. In most cases, you'll be able to work out a different date or get a refund (but you may lose any non-refundable deposits).

  If you're just starting to plan your wedding now, you could also look at wedding insurance. There are options for domestic weddings as well as international ones – although most currently have updated details about what is and isn't covered due to coronavirus.

  If you can't come to an agreement with the vendor, you could contact your credit card company and see if it's possible to request a chargeback to your account.

• What are some alternative ways to finance a wedding?

  If using your savings isn't an option, an alternative to using a credit card is to get a personal loan. The advantages of using a personal loan are that your repayment term is fixed and you'll have a clear schedule of repayments to make.

  With a credit card if you don't pay the balance off the debt can just continue sitting there costing you more money. And with a personal loan you can borrow a large lump sum. Credit cards often limit how much you can spend in a month.

  The downside to using a personal loan is that it's less flexible. Let's say you borrow $20,000 over 2 years with a personal loan. You spend $3,000 to hire a photographer, then a few weeks later you spend $4,000 on a dress and accessories. Then a month later you pay a deposit to book a venue.

  Regardless of how much you spend, you're paying interest on the full $20,000 you've borrowed. With a credit card you pay interest only on the money you've spent.

• How much should you pay for with a credit card?

  Everyone's wedding plans are different – and so are the ways people pay for them. But you shouldn't use a credit card to pay for everything because of the risk of high interest charges and spiralling debt.

  Bottom line? Try to use savings whenever you can and have a clear idea of how long it would take you to pay off a credit card. If it's going to take more than a year, compare personal loans to see if you could save on rates and fees.

Written by

Richard Whitten

Senior Money Editor

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Richard Whitten is Finder’s Senior Money Editor, with over eight years of experience in home loans, property, credit cards and personal finance. His insights appear in top media outlets like Yahoo Finance, Money Magazine, and the Herald Sun, and he frequently offers expert commentary on television and radio, helping Australians navigate mortgages and property ownership. Richard started his career in education and textbook publishing in South Korea. He holds multiple industry certifications, including a Certificate IV in Mortgage Broking (RG 206) and Tier 1 and Tier 2 certifications (RG 146), as well as a Bachelor of Education from the University of Sydney and a Graduate Certificate in Communications from Deakin University. See full bio

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Amy Bradney-George

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Amy is an experienced journalist with over 16 years of experience, contributing to major publications like Money Magazine, The Sydney Morning Herald, and ABC News Australia. Specialising in personal finance, she frequently appeared in media outlets and on radio. Amy holds a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism and Drama from Griffith University and earned RG146 certifications in Tier 1 Generic Knowledge and Tier 2 General Advice Deposit Products, ensuring her expertise is grounded in current financial regulations. Amy was Finder's Senior Writer for Credit Cards from 2016 to 2024. See full bio

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