Smart ways to pay for your wedding in 2025

Between the venue, catering, flowers, a dress, the rings and all the various accoutrements, weddings are a huge expense.

If you don't have all the cash on hand, there are many ways to finance your big day. You could sign up for a new cash-back rewards credit card or take out a personal loan. There are even Buy Now Pay Later companies like Affirm and Afterpay.

It's lot to keep up with and, if you're not careful, you could end up coming back from your honeymoon to face a mountain of debt.

CNBC Select spoke to three financial planners for their best tips on financing a wedding, each with their own approach.

In an ideal world, you'd have enough cash saved up to pay for the wedding, Washington, D.C.-based financial planner Alicia R. Hudnett Reiss. "But typically, that's not done."

It takes folks years to save up enough to pay out-of-pocket for a wedding, so it's not uncommon to use credit cards to make up the difference.

To avoid debt, start saving well in advance. Whether you're newly engaged or know that you want to pay for your child's wedding one day, crunch the numbers to see how long it would take you to build a reasonable wedding nest egg.

"Be realistic," says Hudnett Reiss. "Estimate the total cost, then break it up into smaller monthly amounts you can set aside until you reach that goal."

Then, if you know you're going to come up short, borrow strategically.

"Sometimes you can get a 0% interest promotion on a credit card you already have or a new one you apply for," Hudnett Reiss said.

The Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card has a 0% intro APR for 12 months from account opening on purchases and qualifying balance transfers. 18.49%, 24.49%, or 28.49% variable APR thereafter; balance transfers made within 120 days qualify for the intro rate and fee of 3% then a BT fee of up to 5%, min: $5.

Just make sure you pay off the balance within the intro period so you can avoid interest charges.

Another option is a personal loan, which might charge a lower interest rate than a credit card. But use caution, since not every personal loan is cheaper, and once you agree to take out the loan, you'll owe monthly payments for up to seven years or longer.

"If you can't pay back that loan, the lender can't take back an asset, such as with a car loan," says Hudnett Reiss. But they can sue for payment and garnish your wages.

Check what rates and payment plans you qualify for through lenders like LightStream or use a lending platform like Upstart or LendingTree to see multiple offers at once.

"I wouldn't recommend taking out a loan for a wedding," says Financial Gym founder Shannon McLay. "Of course, I suggest the client definitely save and have a budget. But then be strategic about using credit."

For example, if a Financial Gym client loves to travel and has good to excellent credit, McLlay suggests they open a Chase Sapphire Reserve® card and reap the generous rewards.

"You have to spend $4,000 in the first three months to earn the 60,000 bonus, but you're probably already spending that on the wedding," she says. "If both spouses get a travel card, you can really maximize the bonuses and get all these travel rewards that can pay for your honeymoon."

Before you swipe, double-check with vendors about their credit card processing fees. Some vendors might charge up to 4%, so pay them in cash when possible.

Be very mindful of your budget if you plan on using credit cards. McLay's strategy works best when you have the cash to pay your cards off immediately, especially if you plan on opening multiple cards in less than a year. The goal is to earn a free honeymoon, not spend the first year of your marriage drowning in debt.

Couples who use credit to finance their wedding should still keep plenty of cash on hand for the big day.

"You want to have cash for tipping servers, bartenders, people like that," McLay says.

It's also customary to tip hairdressers, photographers, the delivery/setup crew, venue attendants, drivers, etc. Some vendors might also require final payment on the day of your wedding, which is easiest to do with cash.

Everyone has an opinion on how to pay for a wedding, says Nashville financial planner Jeanne Fisher. While some don't believe in borrowing money, others consider weddings well worth the financial risk.

"Only you know what you don't have," says Fisher.

If you don't have the cash to pay for wedding costs outright, be honest about how much you can realistically put on a credit card without going into too much debt.

"I would not recommend taking out loans to pay for a celebration," says Fisher. "You have to pay them back, even if the marriage doesn't last."

On the other hand, "a financial planner's role is not to tell you your priorities," says Fisher.

So, if weddings are a big deal for your family, start saving early and research credit cards that will reward you for your expenses. Fisher says she's "a huge fan of maximizing points and rewards."

Worried about overspending? She has a trick for that.

"Set your own maximum on your credit card," said Fisher. "Call your card issuer and ask them to lower the limit to what you consider reasonable. That way, you aren't as tempted to add on extras in all the excitement."

As for budgeting, Fisher has another tongue-in-cheek tip for keeping wedding costs low: "The longer you're engaged, the more expensive the wedding."

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