Credit cards can be an 'amazing tool' for your wedding, expert says — but only if you're 'strategic'

Many engaged couples in the U.S. are relying on forms of credit to pay for their wedding. Experts say that approach can be smart, if done carefully.

While 46% of surveyed newlyweds — couples who tied the knot within the past two years — used mostly savings to pay for costs, 24% paid with credit cards, according to a report by LendingTree. The site polled 1,050 newlyweds in early March.

A separate report by Zola, based on a survey of 6,000 couples getting married in 2025, found that 31% of engaged couples polled plan to use credit cards to pay for their wedding, including using points or applying for new cards.

“If you’re strategic, a credit card can be an amazing tool,” said Matt Schulz, chief credit analyst at LendingTree.

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