7 smart ways to pay for your wedding

From flowers to venues to someone photographing every moment, wedding costs add up fast. In fact, the average wedding in the U.S. now costs over $35,000.* 

Luckily, there are strategic ways to fund your big day without wiping out your savings (or maxing out five credit cards). 

Whether you’re newly engaged, planning your budget, or knee-deep in wedding Pinterest boards, every fiancé needs a financial game plan. We’re here to celebrate with you and help—not just with saving, but with financial tools you may not have considered.

Before you spend a cent, build a budget. You need one place where everything lives: venue quotes, dress costs, vendor estimates, tips for the DJ, and so much more. 

Use a budgeting tool to plug in your numbers and track them in real time. You can link your bank accounts, set and track financial goals, map out spending, and a lot more.

Treat your wedding like a short-term investment. Creating a joint savings account specifically for the occasion helps separate it from emergency funds or day-to-day spending. 

Set up automatic transfers from each paycheck. Even $100/week can snowball into thousands by the time you walk down the aisle.

If you’ve got a year or more to plan, let your money do more than sit. Put your savings in a certificate of deposit (CD) or a money market account where it can earn more than a regular savings account with low risk. 

CDs are great if you know exactly when you’ll need the money (say, 12 months from now). Money market accounts give a bit more flexibility if you’re not sure when payments will hit. 

Tip: For a side-by-side breakdown, check out our guide: CD or Money Market Account?

Not all wedding costs can be prepaid or saved for. That’s where a personal loan may come in—especially if you have a clear plan to pay it off and want to avoid high-interest credit cards. A secured personal loan has its own advantages, like: 

• Fixed interest rates
• Predictable monthly payments
• Potentially better APR than wedding-specific financing

Your wedding day will end, but your credit score lives on. If you're planning to use a credit card, consider using tools like CBNA Credit Companion℠ to help build your credit history while keeping your utilization low. 

Keep balances under 30% of your limit, pay on time, and avoid “retail therapy” after a stressful fitting.

It’s common for parents or relatives to offer to chip in. Have an open (and early) conversation about how much they’re willing to contribute and what say that gives them, if any. For example, your parents may offer to pay for the venue, but you still get the final say on the decorations.

Like we said before, your wedding only lasts a day—or a week, if you really like to celebrate. But your marriage is an investment for life. 

Use this planning season to build strong financial habits as a couple. Discuss debt, saving goals, shared expenses, and future financial decisions together. 

A financial guide for couples can help you start framing your mindset for the long term.

*Source: zola.com/expert-advice/whats-the-average-cost-of-a-wedding