Best Wedding Loans of 2026

NerdWallet’s picks for the best wedding loans

Our list includes lenders that offer multiple loan types — secured loans, joint loans and co-signed loans — which can help couples qualify for low interest rates and lower monthly payments. We also feature options for borrowers with good to bad credit.

Earnest: Best for affordable wedding loans

Going into married life with debt is never ideal, but you can minimize the cost by picking a lender that offers low interest rates. Earnest has some of the lowest rates of the lenders we looked at, and it offers multiple opportunities for a rate discount, including for paying down the loan’s principal.

To qualify for an Earnest loan, you’ll need at least a 680 credit score, which is higher than most lenders we reviewed.

SoFi: Best wedding loans for borrowers with good credit

If you have good credit, you’ll have your pick of the best loans, and SoFi is a top choice. Its loans come in a wide range of amounts ($5,000 to $100,000), and repayment terms (two to seven years), which gives you plenty of flexibility for the big day. You’ll also get a free financial planning session, which is helpful for couples looking to review their finances after the wedding.

SoFi's minimum loan amount is higher than other lenders', so it’s not a match if you need just a few thousand dollars.

Upgrade: Best for co-signed wedding loans

Co-signed loans, like those offered by Upgrade, are when two people apply for a loan, but only the primary applicant has access to the loan funds. A co-signed wedding loan is a good choice if you have a family member who wants to help pay for the wedding but doesn’t need access to the money. They’re still on the hook for repayment though, if you’re unable to pay.

Upgrade charges an origination fee, ranging from 1.85% to 9.99%.

Happen Bank: Best for joint wedding loans

Happen Bank (formerly LendingClub) offers joint loans, which is ideal for couples who want to finance their wedding together. It also may be easier to get approved for a joint loan, versus applying alone, if your partner has better credit or a higher income than you.

Happen charges an origination fee up to 8%.

Best Egg: Best for secured wedding loans

For couples who are homeowners, Best Egg lets you secure your wedding loan with a permanent fixture in your home (think built-in cabinets or bathroom vanities). This could lead to a rate that’s 20% lower than the lender’s typical unsecured rate. But the lender can seize the collateral if you don’t repay the loan.

On the other hand, couples can't apply together for a loan with Best Egg; the lender doesn't offer joint or co-sign loans.

Upstart: Best wedding loans for borrowers with bad credit

If you’re worried about getting approved for a loan, consider Upstart. It has a minimum credit score requirement of 300 and even considers applicants with no credit score. Upstart also considers nontraditional data as part of your application, like college education and work history, which is unique among lenders.

But these looser requirements may mean a high origination fee — potentially up to 12% of the loan amount.

How we chose the best personal loans

Our team of consumer lending experts follows an objective and robust methodology to rate lenders and pick the best.

30+

Lenders reviewed

We review over 35 lenders, including major banks, top credit unions, leading digital platforms, and high interest installment lenders operating across multiple states.

25+

Categories assessed

Each lender is evaluated across five weighted categories and 27 subcategories, covering affordability, eligibility, consumer experience, flexibility, and application process.

60+

Data points analyzed

Our team tracks and reassesses hundreds of data points annually, including APR ranges, fees, credit requirements, and borrower tools, ensuring up to date, accurate comparisons.

Star rating categories

We evaluate more categories than competitors and carefully weigh how each factor impacts your experience.

Affordability

25%

We review lenders’ annual percentage rate offerings and the competitiveness of each lenders’ APR range. We also assess whether a lender charges an origination fee and any opportunity for borrowers to receive a rate discount.

Customer experience

20%

We consider the experience of the consumer trying to manage a personal loan, which means accessibility of customer service representatives, whether borrowers can choose and change their payment due date, and the ability to track their loan on a mobile app.

Underwriting and eligibility

20%

We consider the rigorousness of each lender’s underwriting practices and how widely available their loans are. This category includes whether a lender does a hard credit check before providing a loan, the range of credit profiles they accept and how many states their loans are offered in.

Loan flexibility

20%

We assess how flexible lenders can be with borrowers, including whether they offer multiple loan types, personal loan amounts and repayment term options and whether they offer direct payment to creditors on debt consolidation loans.

Application process

15%

We consider the lender’s full application process, including a borrower’s ability to preview their loan offer via pre-qualification, whether basic loan information such as APR range and repayment terms are available and easy to find online and how quickly a loan can be funded after approval.

5.0

Overall score

NerdWallet’s review process evaluates and rates personal loan products from more than 30 financial technology companies and financial institutions. We collect over 60 data points and cross-check company websites, earnings reports and other public documents to confirm product details. We may also go through a lender’s pre-qualification flow and follow up with company representatives. NerdWallet writers and editors conduct a full fact check and update annually, but also make updates throughout the year as necessary.

Our star ratings award points to lenders that offer consumer-friendly features, including: soft credit checks to pre-qualify, competitive interest rates and no fees, transparency of rates and terms, flexible payment options, fast funding times, accessible customer service, reporting of payments to credit bureaus and financial education. Our ratings award fewer points to lenders with practices that may make a loan difficult to repay on time, such as charging high annual percentage rates (above 36%), underwriting that does not adequately assess consumers’ ability to repay and lack of credit-building help. We also consider regulatory actions filed by agencies like the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. We weigh these factors based on our assessment of which are the most important to consumers and how meaningfully they impact consumers’ experiences.

NerdWallet does not receive compensation for our star ratings. Read more about our ratings methodologies for personal loans and our editorial guidelines.

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How to choose the best wedding loan lender

To pick from the best lenders listed above, consider these four factors.

1. Borrower requirements: First consider the lender’s basic requirements. Many lenders publish a minimum credit score requirement, and some lenders (like banks and credit unions) require an existing relationship to apply for a loan. This can help quickly narrow down your options.

2. Loan amounts: Loan amounts range from $1,000 to $100,000, and each lender offers a different range. Make sure any lenders you’re considering offer the amount you need to finance your wedding. Try to only borrow what you need, even if you qualify for more.

3. Repayment terms: Loan terms range from two to seven years, and available terms vary by lender. The longer the term, the more interest you’ll pay over the length of the loan. It’s best to go with the shortest term that still has an affordable monthly payment.

4. APR: Finally, consider what annual percentage rate you can qualify for with each lender. If you have good to excellent credit (a 690 score or higher), you’ll have the best chance of qualifying for rates at the low end of lenders' ranges. Here are average APRs by credit band that NerdWallet users received for wedding loans:

Source: Average rates are based on aggregate, anonymized offer data from users who pre-qualified for wedding loans through NerdWallet in the last 30 days. Rates are estimates only and not specific to any lender.

How much do wedding loans cost?

The cost of a wedding loan depends on what APR you qualify for. The most expensive wedding loans will have the highest APRs. Here’s an example of how it works:

An average wedding costs $34,200, according to wedding website The Knot^[1]. Say you get a four-year loan for $15,000. A loan with a 15% APR would mean you’d have monthly payments of $417, and pay $5,038 in total interest.

But if you take out that same loan with a 27% APR, you’d have monthly payments of $514 and pay $9,683 in interest. That’s why qualifying for the lowest rate possible is the best way to reduce wedding loan costs.

Plug in your potential wedding loan amount and estimate your monthly payments with NerdWallet’s free personal loan calculator.

How to get a wedding loan

1. Pre-qualify and compare your options

The best loans offer pre-qualification, so you can check your potential loan terms without hurting your credit score.

This involves filling out a short application. You’ll supply basic personal information and details about the loan you want, like desired amount and repayment term.

It’s best to pre-qualify with multiple wedding loan lenders to compare offers. Online lenders are more likely to offer pre-qualification, though many banks and credit unions do, too.

» Get started: Pre-qualify with multiple lenders for free with NerdWallet

2. Submit your application

Once you’ve pre-qualified and decided on a lender, you’ll need to formally apply for the loan. Most applications are completely digital.

As part of the application, you’ll provide personal and contact information, like proof of identification, Social Security number, address and phone number. You may also need to provide proof of employment and income.

Once you submit your application, the lender will conduct a hard credit pull. This temporarily knocks a few points off your credit score.

While many decisions are instantaneous, other lenders may take a few days, especially if the lender needs more information.

» MORE: How to apply for a personal loan

3. Get funded

Once approved, you’ll receive the loan agreement, which you’ll review and sign. The loan funds are then deposited into your bank account and ready for use.

The best wedding loans offer same-day funding, while others may take up to a week to send the funds.

After receiving the funds, make a plan for repayment. Missing a loan payment can hurt your credit score and trigger late fees.

» MORE: How to manage your personal loan

Can you get a wedding loan with bad credit?

Wedding loans are available even if you have bad credit (a 629 score or lower). Some online lenders specifically cater to those with bad credit and have low minimum credit score requirements.

Since rates may be higher with these lenders, make sure you can afford the monthly payment for the duration of the loan.

» COMPARE: Best loans for borrowers with bad credit

If you need help qualifying, there are ways to quickly boost your chances of getting approved. This includes checking your credit report for errors, like inaccurate credit limits, or paying off any small debts, which can help build your score.

You may also consider a co-signed or joint wedding loan, as mentioned above. Adding a partner or family member to your application can help you get approved, particularly if they have better credit or a higher income than you.

Are wedding loans a good idea?

It’s best to pay for your wedding with money you’ve saved, but that isn’t always an option for couples.

As long as you qualify for a low rate, and you’re confident you can repay the loan without sacrificing other financial goals, wedding loans may be a good idea. Weigh the pros and cons of wedding loans carefully, though.

Pros of wedding loans

Cons of wedding loans

What the nerds think

How will a wedding loan affect my credit score?

“As long as you make the payments on-time, a wedding loan could actually help build your score. That's because you’re showing responsible repayment behavior to the credit bureaus. Late payments will hurt it, though, so consider setting up automatic payments on your loan."

Jackie VelingSenior Writer & Content Strategist

Wedding loan alternatives

Compare other options for financing your wedding so you can celebrate your big day feeling confident you’ve made the right financial choice.

Savings: With a long enough engagement, you and your partner may be able to save up to cover the cost of the wedding, interest-free.

Financial experts don’t recommend incurring debt for discretionary expenses like weddings. Instead, estimate your wedding’s cost and then choose a strategy for saving.

0% APR credit cards: You may be able to pay for the wedding interest-free with a 0% APR credit card. The zero-interest promotional period on these cards can last up to 21 months.

You usually need good or excellent credit to qualify for this type of card. Be mindful of the card’s typical APR, which will take effect if you can’t pay the balance off during the promotional period.

» COMPARE: Best 0% APR credit cards

Rewards cards: You can put some of your expenses — like the dress and decorations — on a rewards credit card and potentially get cash back. A travel rewards card could help you put money toward your honeymoon, too.

Some of these cards require good or excellent credit to qualify, and you may not get rewarded for all of your expenses. But they’re an option if you’re going to use your own cash to cover some of the costs.

» COMPARE: Best credit cards for wedding expenses

Downsize: You can look for other ways to save on your wedding. This may include reducing the guest list or picking an off-peak date. Reducing costs could prevent you from financing altogether or lessen the amount you need to borrow.