If I were you, I'd choose the IHG card. You can get points from many more: HIE/lower-tier hotels, mid-tier Crown Plaza, and higher-end IC. The free night certificates are valid at any IHG property worldwide - Tahiti, HK, Paris, Maui, etc. And you get a new free-night certificate every year you keep the card. They also have a program to use your earned points at ANY non-IHG property, but it's not the best way. Granted IHG has fewer high-end properties, they do have many in the best cities. But Hilton restricts many of their top-tier properties from the reward nights certificates while IHG does not limit in any way (unless a property is sold-out -- so book early).

IHG: $98/year (1st year free) if both you/fiance get the card, 2 free-nights (not just weekend nights) at any IHG property WW. No foreign trans. fees.

HH: $95/year (1st year not free) for one card, 2 free weekend-only nights at limited # of properties. Can't combine if she gets a card too, since a weekend only has 2 days (if she also gets an HH Reserve card, you'll have to book a 9-night stay to combine the following weekend from her card -- and it'll cost $190/year). No foreign trans. fees.



Ultimately my decision would be based on:
- Ease of getting free/award nights in cities I truly want to visit (e.g. Venice)
- How long do I plan to keep this card & Rewards account
- Cost / difficulty in earning points & free reward nights

Pros/Cons for IHG:

The Chase IHG Rewards Select card currently has a 60k with $50 statement credit offer. They often have an 80k offer -- look on this site in another thread for how to ask Chase to UP your offer to 80K (since it sounds like you don't have an invitation). Do so after applying for the 60k offer.

With IHG, you get 1 free night anywhere WW, per year. Combined with the 80k signup bonus, you can stay 3-5 nights for free at any of their lux properties (IHG's top properties require 25-35k), which includes InterContinental.

If you and your fiance each get a card, you'll have up to 160k points, and 2 free-night certificates at no cost (the card is free 1st year, and $49 for years 2+). That's enough for a very long FREE hotel stay at some very nice properties, on your honeymoon. With up to 10 free nights, you could even do 2 cities in Italy. And with the $$$ money you save on hotels, you can splurge it elsewhere on yourselves or on her.

Pros/Cons for HH:

For the Citi HH Reserve, the annual certificate is for weekend stays only, but it has 2 weekend-nights per card. They give no points as a signing-bonus. And the top Hilton properties take more points your earned (points don't go as far), and their program has more blacked-out properties (they exclude more of their top-tiers from this). The card costs $95/yr (no free 1st year).


Either way, happy travels on your honeymoon & afterwards.