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Congratulations on one of the most special days of your life! Now prepare to spend more money than you ever have before.
The average cost of a wedding is expected to hit a new high of over $30,000 in 2024, according to Zola's First Look Report. And that figure doesn't even include an engagement ring. But did you know there are some simple steps you can take to save thousands of dollars on your wedding?
If you play your cards right, you could save enough money and earn extra rewards to go on your honeymoon for almost free. That will help take some of the sting out of the alarming amount of money you'll drop on your wedding.
Here are ten tips and tricks you can follow to recoup value from your wedding-related spending.
How to save money on your wedding
- Start saving for your wedding early
- Plan your wedding during "off-season" dates
- Pay with the right credit card whenever possible
- Earn a sign-up bonus
- Earn hotel points (if your venue is a hotel)
- Don't be afraid to negotiate
- Rent as much as you can
- Take advantage of gift registry sign-up bonuses
- Add items to your gift registry (even if you don't think people will buy them)
- Consider taking out a wedding loan
Start saving for your wedding early
The first step in planning your wedding should be to set a budget and start building your savings. A high-yield savings account or certificate of deposit (CD) account can be a great place to keep your money safe, while also earning interest. These accounts can grow your money faster than a traditional savings account because you'll earn a higher APY.
There are several high-yield savings accounts currently offering interest rates above 5%, such as the UFB Portfolio Savings account, with an up to 3.26% APY and no cap and or minimum deposit requirement. CDs sometimes offer even greater interest rates, but you'll need to keep your money locked into the account for a specified amount of time.
- Strong APY on savings balances
- No minimum deposit or balance required for savings
- No monthly fees
- Free ATM card with unlimited withdrawals
- Free transfers between direct deposit accounts
- Online and SMS banking available
- Mobile check deposits
- Security features include fraud and anti-virus protection, SSL encryption for connection, automatic logouts after inactivity
- Potential overdraft fee, though overdraft protection is offered
- Certain types of withdrawals and transfers may be limited
- $10 excessive transaction fee per transaction over 6/month
- No physical branch locations
Plan your wedding during “off-season” dates
January, February and March are generally considered the wedding off-season — though it can vary by location.
You can save a great deal on your venue and various other expenses by getting married at unpopular times. Similarly, you can save significantly by having your wedding on a weekday, as opposed to the weekend.
Wedding vendors would rather offer their services for a discount instead of having no customers at all. Just note that spending on catering and flowers is likely not going to be as discounted as other expenses like the venue and music.
Pay with the right credit card whenever possible
Nearly all wedding expenses can be funneled through credit cards. From the venue to the food to the wedding photographer, inquire straight away as to whether a credit card is an acceptable form of payment.
It can be wise to use more than one credit card during your planning. Weddings are expensive, so determining which cards will give you the best return on your purchase can be a difference of hundreds of dollars in value. For example:
- If you’re paying for a catered meal from a local restaurant, use a card that offers bonus rewards on dining. For instance, the American Express® Gold Card earns 4X points at restaurants worldwide (on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year).
- If you’re spending a lot to decorate your space, the Citi Custom Cash® Card comes with 5% back at home improvement stores on up to $500 in purchases (then 1%) each month that home improvement stores are your biggest expense.
- If your venue is at a hotel, use a card that offers bonus rewards on travel. The Chase Sapphire Reserve® (see rates and fees) offers 4X points on flights and hotels booked direct.
- If you’re making large transactions that don't fall into a bonus category, the Citi Double Cash® Card earns you 2% cash back for purchases (1% cash back for all eligible purchases, plus an additional 1% cash back after you pay your credit card bill; see rates and fees).
The American Express Gold Card is great for earning valuable Membership Rewards® points at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets. Membership Rewards® points transfer to many of the top airline and hotel loyalty programs, which makes this card one of the best options for earning travel rewards.
- You can earn $400+ in dining and rideshare credits every year (Enrollment required for select benefits mentioned)
- Exceptionally rewarding for eligible restaurant and U.S. supermarket purchases
- No foreign transaction fees
- Large annual fee
- Credits are more complicated, you earn them monthly or semi-annually
- Spending caps on the top bonus categories
Highlights
Highlights shown here are provided by the issuer and have not been reviewed by CNBC Select's editorial staff.
- You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $8,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you're approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you're approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- New! Earn 5X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid hotel stays booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points on flights booked through AmexTravel.com, the Amex Travel App, or purchased directly from airlines.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid car rentals booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App and cruises booked and paid through AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- Pay It® lets you tap in the American Express® App to quickly pay for small purchase amounts throughout the month and still earn rewards the way you usually do. Plan It® gives you the option to split up big purchases into equal monthly payments with a fixed fee. You'll know upfront exactly how much you'll pay.
- Updated! $120 Dining Credit: Earn up to a total of $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the Gold Card at Grubhub (including Seamless), Buffalo Wild Wings, Five Guys, The Cheesecake Factory, and Wonder. This can be an annual savings of up to $120. Enrollment required.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year at over 10,000 qualifying U.S. Resy restaurants after you pay for eligible purchases with the American Express® Gold Card. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: Earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment required.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Enjoy up to $120 in Uber Cash annually with your Gold Card. Just add your Card to your Uber account and you'll get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an Amex Card for your transaction.
- New! As an American Express® Gold Card Member, you can enjoy complimentary Hertz Five Star® Status. Enjoy benefits like skipping the counter at select locations, adding an additional driver at no additional cost*, and vehicle upgrades**. Benefit enrollment and Hertz Gold+ registration are required. *Additional drivers must meet standard rental qualifications and must be a spouse or domestic partner to qualify as complimentary. Other additional drivers subject to fees. **Benefits are subject to availability and vary by location. Additional Hertz program Terms and Conditions including age restrictions apply.
- Take advantage of a $100 credit towards eligible charges* at over 1,300 upscale hotels worldwide when you book The Hotel Collection through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App **. *Eligible charges vary by property. **The Hotel Collection requires a two-night minimum stay.
- Book your travel through the Amex Travel App with added peace of mind – backed by American Express® service and support. Only for American Express® Card Members.
- Whenever you need us, we're here. Our Member Services team will ensure you are taken care of. From lost Card replacement to statement questions, we are available to help 24/7.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.
- See Rates & Fees
Foreign transaction fee
None
The Citi Custom Cash® Card is an especially simple and rewarding cash back card because you'll automatically earn bonus rewards where you spend the most.
- Offers a long intro APR on balance transfers
- Easy-to-earn welcome bonus
- No annual fee
- Bonus cash back categories are capped
- Charges a foreign transaction fee
Rewards
- Earn 5% cash back on purchases in your top eligible spend category each billing cycle, up to the first $500 spent, 1% cash back thereafter
- Earn unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases
- Special Travel Offer: Earn an additional 4% cash back on hotels, car rentals, and attractions booked on Citi Travel℠ portal through 6/30/2026
Balance transfer fee
5% of each balance transfer ($5 minimum)
Foreign transaction fee
3%
The Chase Sapphire Reserve® is a standout premium credit card with luxury perks including, hotel credits, complimentary hotel elite status, travel credits, dining credits, rideshare and delivery benefits and much more.
- Access Priority Pass lounges, including unlimited access to Chase Sapphire Lounge® by The Club locations.
- Up to $300 in annual travel credit each account anniversary year
- You can transfer rewards to all of Chase's travel partners including World of Hyatt, Southwest Rapid Rewards and many more
- Top-tier travel and shopping protections
- High annual fee
- Requires a high credit score
- Complicated list of benefits
Highlights
Highlights shown here are provided by the issuer and have not been reviewed by CNBC Select's editorial staff.
- Earn 100,000 bonus points after you spend $6,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
- Get $3,000 in annual value with Sapphire Reserve.
- Earn 8x points on all purchases through Chase TravelSM, including The EditSM and 4x points on flights and hotels booked direct. Plus, earn 3x points on dining worldwide & 1x points on all other purchases
- $300 annual travel credit as reimbursement for travel purchases charged to your card each account anniversary year.
- Access over 1,300 airport lounges worldwide with a complimentary Priority PassTM Select membership, plus every Chase Sapphire Lounge® by The Club with two guests. Plus, up to $120 towards Global Entry, NEXUS, or TSA PreCheck® every 4 years
- Get up to $150 in statement credits every six months for a maximum of $300 annually for dining at restaurants that are part of Sapphire Reserve Exclusive Tables.
- Count on Trip Cancellation/Interruption Insurance, Auto Rental Coverage, Lost Luggage Insurance, no foreign transaction fees, and more.
- Get complimentary subscriptions to Apple TV and Apple Music for a minimum of one year when activated by June 22, 2027, a value of $288 annually.
- Member FDIC
Balance transfer fee
Either $5 or 5% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater
Also, consider making large payments with a credit card that offers flexible financing. Rewards credit cards often have cripplingly high interest rates — the average APR for all credit card accounts is well above 20% at the time of this writing, according to the Federal Reserve. You could save hundreds of dollars by putting that spending on a card that offers a 0% APR intro period to give yourself a year or so to pay it off interest-free.
Many of the best zero-interest credit cards offer a 0% intro APR of 15 months or more. For example, the Wells Fargo Reflect® Card offers a 0% intro APR for 21 months from account opening on purchases and qualifying balance transfers (17.49%, 23.99%, or 28.24% variable APR afterward). Balance transfers must be made in the first 120 days to qualify for the intro APR and there is a balance transfer fee of 5% of the amount you transfer ($5 minimum)
The Wells Fargo Reflect® Card is one of the absolute best cards you can apply for if you want to save on interest and pay down debit quickly thanks to its extra generous intro-APR offer on purchases and qualifying balance transfers.
- Incredible intro-APR for purchases and qualifying balance transfers
- No annual fee
- Cell phone insurance: up to $600 of cell phone protection against damage or theft. Subject to a $25 deductible
- No rewards
- No welcome bonus
- High balance transfer fee
Highlights
Highlights shown here are provided by the issuer and have not been reviewed by CNBC Select's editorial staff.
- Apply Now to take advantage of this offer and learn more about product features, terms and conditions.
- 0% intro APR for 21 months from account opening on purchases and qualifying balance transfers. 17.49%, 23.99%, or 28.24% variable APR thereafter; balance transfers made within 120 days qualify for the intro rate, BT fee of 5%, min: $5.
- $0 annual fee.
- Up to $600 of cell phone protection against damage or theft. Subject to a $25 deductible.
- Through My Wells Fargo Deals, you can get access to personalized deals from a variety of merchants. It's an easy way to earn cash back as an account credit when you shop, dine, or enjoy an experience simply by using an eligible Wells Fargo credit card.
Balance transfer fee
5%, min: $5
Foreign transaction fee
3%
Earn a sign-up bonus
If you know you’ll be making many thousands of dollars in purchases, it’s a great time to earn a welcome offer (or two).
There are tons of credit cards with big sign-up bonuses. With a costly wedding on the horizon, you should have no problem meeting considerable minimum spending requirements. For example, if you’ve got the national average of $30,000 in wedding expenses, you could take advantage of these welcome offers:
- Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card (see rates and fees) — Earn 100,000 bonus points after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
- Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card — Earn a one-time bonus of 75,000 miles once you spend $4,000 on purchases within 3 months from account opening, equal to $750 in travel.
- American Express Platinum Card® — You may be eligible for as high as 175,000 Membership Rewards® points after you spend $12,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership.
- Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card (see rates and fees) — Earn 100,000 bonus points after you spend $8,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
Between these welcome bonuses, you can earn at least around $3,000 worth of rewards — and potentially much more if know the best ways to redeem your Chase Ultimate Rewards® points, Capital One miles and American Express Membership Rewards® points. You could very easily fund a five-star honeymoon with a stash of points this size.
The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card packs a punch for a $95 annual fee card, offering annual travel credits, comprehensive travel protections, flexible rewards and more.
- You can transfer rewards to all of Chase's travel partners including World of Hyatt, Southwest Rapid Rewards and many more
- Long list of travel and shopping protections
- Annual Chase Travel hotel credit
- Has an annual fee
- Requires a high credit score
Highlights
Highlights shown here are provided by the issuer and have not been reviewed by CNBC Select's editorial staff.
- Earn 100,000 bonus points after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
- Enjoy benefits such as 5x on travel purchased through Chase TravelSM, 3x on dining, 3x on vacation homes, 3x on gas & EV charging, 3x on top streaming services and online groceries (excluding Walmart, Target, and wholesale clubs), 2x on all other travel purchases, 1x on all other purchases
- Earn up to $100 in statement credits each account anniversary year for hotel stays through Chase Travel
- Count on Trip Cancellation/Interruption Insurance, Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver, Lost Luggage Insurance and more.
- Get a year of complimentary Apple TV when activated by December 31, 2026 - a value of $156.
- Complimentary DashPass which unlocks $0 delivery fees & lower service fees for a min. of one year when you activate by 12/31/27. Plus, a $10 promo each month on non-restaurant orders.
- Receive one statement credit of up to $120 every four years as reimbursement for the application fee charged to your card for a Global Entry, TSA Precheck® or NEXUS application.
- Transfer points to leading airline and hotel loyalty programs
- Member FDIC
Balance transfer fee
Either $5 or 5% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater
The American Express Platinum Card® is a premium card loaded with annual statement credits, entertainment benefits, extensive airport lounge access, elite status perks and more. (Enrollment required for select benefits mentioned)
- Access to 1,550+ airport lounges, including Priority Pass™ lounges (enrollment required) and Amex Centurion lounges
- Statement credit offers worth up to twice what the annual fee costs
- Elite status perks for hotels and rental cars (Enrollment required for select benefits mentioned)
- High annual fee
- Many statement credit offers are complicated and are earned in increments or limited to specific purchases
- Not as rewarding for purchases as other lower-fee travel cards
Highlights
Highlights shown here are provided by the issuer and have not been reviewed by CNBC Select's editorial staff.
- You may be eligible for as high as 175,000 Membership Rewards® points after you spend $12,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you're approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you're approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Get more for your travels with 5X Membership Rewards® points on all flights and prepaid hotel bookings through American Express Travel®, including Fine Hotels + Resorts® and The Hotel Collection bookings. You earn 5X points on flights purchased directly from airlines or through American Express Travel® on up to $500,000 on these purchases per calendar year.
- With over 1,550 airport lounges - more than any other credit card company on the market* - enjoy the benefits of the Global Lounge Collection, over $850 of annual value, with access to Centurion Lounges, 10 Delta Sky Club visits (subject to visit limitations) when flying on an eligible Delta flight, Priority Pass™ membership (enrollment required), and other select partner lounges. *As of 01/2026
- $200 Uber Cash + $120 Uber One Credit: With the Platinum Card® you can receive $15 in Uber Cash each month plus a bonus $20 in December when you add your Platinum Card® to your Uber account to use on rides and orders in the U.S when you select an Amex Card for your transaction. Plus, when you use the Platinum Card® to pay for an auto-renewing Uber One membership, you can get up to $120 in statement credits each calendar year. Terms apply.
- $300 Digital Entertainment Credit: Experience the latest shows, news and recipes. Get up to $25 in statement credits each month when you use your Platinum Card® for eligible purchases on Disney+, a Disney+ bundle, ESPN streaming services, Hulu, The New York Times, Paramount+, Peacock, The Wall Street Journal, YouTube Premium, and YouTube TV when you purchase directly from one or more of the providers. Enrollment required.
- $600 Hotel Credit: Get up to $300 in statement credits semi-annually on prepaid Fine Hotels + Resorts® or The Hotel Collection* bookings through American Express Travel® using the Platinum Card®. *The Hotel Collection requires a minimum two-night stay.
- $400 Resy Credit + Platinum Nights™ by Resy: Get up to $100 in statement credits each quarter when you use the Platinum Card® to pay for eligible purchases with Resy, including dining purchases at over 10,000 qualifying U.S. Resy restaurants. Enrollment required. As a Platinum Card® Member you have special access to reservations on select nights at participating sought after Resy restaurants in select cities through Platinum Nights™ by Resy. Simply add your Platinum Card® to your Resy profile to book your reservation.
- $219 CLEAR+ Credit: CLEAR+ helps get you to your gate faster by using your face to verify you are you at 55+ airports nationwide. You can cover the cost of a CLEAR+ Membership* with up to $219 in statement credits per calendar year after you pay for CLEAR+ with your Platinum Card®. *Excluding any applicable taxes and fees. Subject to auto-renewal.
- $200 Airline Fee Credit: Select one qualifying airline and then receive up to $200 in statement credits per calendar year when incidental fees, such as checked bags and in-flight refreshments, are charged by the airline to the Platinum Card® Account. American Express relies on airlines to submit the correct information on airline transactions to identify incidental fee purchases. If you do not see a credit for a qualifying incidental purchase on your eligible Card after 8 weeks, simply call the number on the back of your Card. Qualifying airlines are subject to change. See terms & conditions for more details.
- Start your vacation sooner, and keep it going longer. When you book Fine Hotels + Resorts® through American Express Travel®, enjoy noon check-in, when available, and guaranteed 4PM late check-out.
- $300 lululemon Credit: Enjoy up to $75 in statement credits each quarter when you use the Platinum Card® for eligible purchases at U.S. lululemon retail stores (excluding outlets) and lululemon.com. That's up to $300 in statement credits each calendar year. Enrollment required.
- $155 Walmart+ Credit: Get up to a $12.95* statement credit back each month after you pay for a monthly Walmart+ membership (subject to auto-renewal) with your Platinum Card®. *Up to $12.95 plus applicable taxes on one membership fee.
- Whenever you need us, we're here. Our Member Services team will ensure you are taken care of. From lost Card replacement to statement questions, we are available to help 24/7.
- $895 annual fee.
- Terms Apply.
- See Rates & Fees
Balance transfer fee
N/A
Foreign transaction fee
None
Earn hotel points (if your venue is a hotel)
You don’t have to book hotel stays — or even open hotel credit cards — to earn a stockpile of hotel points. Most major hotel chains allow you to earn rewards for hosting your wedding at one of their event spaces:
- Hilton Honors — 1X point per dollar spent on guest rooms, meeting rooms and more on qualifying events at participating hotels in the Hilton portfolio (on up to $100,000 of your bill).
- IHG One Rewards — 3X points on events, food and beverage and rooms booked for others (up to 60,000 points per event)
- Marriott Bonvoy — 2X points on eligible room, food, beverage and audio/visual charges (up to 60,000 points per event or up to 105,000 points for Titanium Elite and Ambassador Elite members) per dollar (60,000 points max, though status holders can earn more)
- World of Hyatt — 1X point on events (up to 50,000 points per event)
In some cases, you may have to stipulate that you want to earn points when signing your contract.
Hotel points cannot be liquidated for cash, but they can save you a lot of money on hotel stays later, such as on your honeymoon.
Don’t be afraid to negotiate
Most things in life are negotiable, including your bills, salary, real estate and even wedding expenses.
Whether it’s your venue or various vendors (flowers, music, cake, etc.), you can challenge prices and make lower offers. Wedding taxes are no joke. If the vendors don’t want your business, they don’t have to oblige. Just be sure you’ve got an acceptable backup plan — or the humility to revoke your lower proposal — if the vendors won’t budge.
Rent as much as you can
You’d probably be surprised at the number of things you can rent for your wedding. Obvious items are things like tables, chairs, flatware, and tents. But you can also rent wedding dresses, tuxedos, bridesmaid dresses and even jewelry. This could be the difference between spending several thousand dollars and several hundred dollars.
Take advantage of gift registry sign-up bonuses
Gift registries often come with some manner of bonus for joining. You’ll probably get free knickknacks upfront, but you’ll sometimes be incentivized to add certain items to your registry.
For instance, Crate & Barrel’s registry throws in all sorts of bonus gifts depending on how much of your registry is purchased. At the time of this writing, you can get an All-Clad Cook and Serve Tool Set ($100 value) after completing $800 or more in All-Clad products on your registry or a toughened Nonstick PRO 11" Crepe Pan with Rateau ($100 value) and Cerise Enameled Cast Iron Signature Wok ($300 value) after completing $1,500 or more in Le Creuset products on your registry.
Add items to your gift registry (even if you don’t think people will buy them)
Speaking of registries, here’s a nice little hack: As a condolence of sorts, certain stores will discount the remaining items in your registry that weren’t bought. This is called a registry completion discount. Depending on the store at which you’ve registered, you could see a discount of up to 25%.
Even if you’re confident the items on your registry won’t be purchased by your friends and family, add them anyway so you can then buy them for significantly less yourself.
Consider taking out a wedding loan
If you need additional help financing your wedding, it might make sense to take out a personal loan that you can use to pay for wedding expenses. Personal loans often have lower interest rates than credit cards, and you can use them to finance nearly every kind of expense.
CNBC Select picked LightStream as the top overall wedding loan lender because of its low interest rates, lack of fees and flexible terms. You can also match with lenders that best fit your needs with our personal loan marketplace.
LightStream Personal Loans offer low APRs, no fees and the ability to apply online. Its terms are as long as 20 years, or 240 months.
- Same-day funding available through ACH or wire transfer (conditions apply)
- Loan amounts up to $100,000
- No origination fees, no early payoff fees, no late fees
- LightStream plants a tree for every loan
- Requires several years of credit history
- No option to pay your creditors directly
- Not available for student loans or business loans
- No option for pre-approval on website (but pre-qualification is available on some third-party lending platforms)
Compare offers to find the best loan
Bottom line
Weddings are already intrinsically stressful. But as you can see, there are plenty of steps you can take to mitigate the financial burden associated with the big day. By doing things like opening credit cards to earn a few welcome bonuses, maximizing bonus categories for expenses, and leveraging gift registry promotions, you could receive many thousands of dollars in value.
Money matters — so make the most of it. Get expert tips, strategies, news and everything else you need to maximize your money, right to your inbox. Sign up here.
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At CNBC Select, our mission is to provide our readers with high-quality service journalism and comprehensive consumer advice so they can make informed decisions with their money. Every personal finance guide is based on rigorous reporting by our team of expert writers and editors with extensive knowledge of financial products. While CNBC Select earns a commission from affiliate partners on many offers and links, we create all our content without input from our commercial team or any outside third parties, and we pride ourselves on our journalistic standards and ethics.
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For rates and fees of the American Express® Gold Card, click here.
For rates and fees of the American Express Platinum Card®, click here.
