Best credit card for paying for a wedding
The venue, caterer and deposits add up to one of the largest bills most people ever pay. Paid off in full each month, a bill that size can earn an entire welcome bonus.
On a $10,000 bill, Capital One Venture Rewards comes out ahead at about $1,140 in the first year.
Updated 2026-09-16. Personal cards only.
| # | Card | Welcome bonus | The bill earns | Annual fee | First year | Worth it until a card fee of |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Capital One Venture Rewards Capital One after $4,000 in 3 months |
$975 | $260 | $95 | $1,140 | 11.4% |
| 2 | Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card Chase after $3,000 in 3 months |
$1,050 | $140 | $95 | $1,095 | 10.9% |
| 3 | Aeroplan Card Chase after $4,000 in 3 months |
$1,013 | $135 | $95 | $1,053 | 10.5% |
| 4 | Aer Lingus Visa Signature Card Chase after $5,000 in 3 months |
$975 | $130 | $95 | $1,010 | 10.1% |
| 5 | British Airways Visa Signature Card Chase after $5,000 in 3 months |
$975 | $130 | $95 | $1,010 | 10.1% |
| 6 | Iberia Visa Signature Card Chase after $5,000 in 3 months |
$975 | $130 | $95 | $1,010 | 10.1% |
| 7 | Chase Sapphire Preferred Chase after $5,000 in 3 months |
$938 | $125 | $95 | $968 | 9.7% |
| 8 | Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card American Express after $3,000 in 6 months |
$920 | $115 | $150 | $885 | 8.8% |
| 9 | American Express Gold Card American Express after $8,000 in 6 months · offer varies by person |
$1,100 | $110 | $325 | $885 | 8.8% |
| 10 | Capital One Venture X Capital One after $4,000 in 3 months |
$975 | $260 | $395 | $840 | 8.4% |
Bonuses are valued with our conservative point values; "the bill earns" uses each card's base rate, since a venue or school rarely counts as a bonus category. Offers change often and some are targeted, so check the bank's page before you apply.
Before you pay
- Some venues and vendors add a fee for paying by card, often around 3%. Ask first: on $10,000, a 3% fee is $300, which cancels out a smaller bonus.
- Deposits are often due months apart, and a bonus window starts when the account opens. Open the card shortly before the largest payments, not a year early.
Common questions
Which card is best for a wedding?
On a $10,000 bill, Capital One Venture Rewards comes out ahead at about $1,140 in the first year: its welcome bonus, plus what the bill earns at its base rate, minus the annual fee. That assumes you can open it before paying and pay the balance in full.
Does a card fee change the answer?
Yes. Each row shows the fee at which that card stops being worth using. Capital One Venture Rewards stays ahead of paying another way until the fee reaches about 11.4% of the bill.
Why aren't bigger bonuses listed?
Only cards whose spend requirement a $10,000 bill clears on its own are ranked. A card with a larger bonus and a larger requirement can still be worth it if the rest of your spending makes up the difference.
Which card should this spending actually be on? The demo re-scores a year of realistic spending against every card in a wallet — free, no signup. See it on sample data →