Best Wedding Loans of 2025

Best wedding loan lenders

SoFi: Best for good credit

Minimum credit score: Undisclosed (likely good to excellent credit).

Why we chose them: SoFi’s large loan amounts, flexible terms and unique perks, like free financial planning, make it a standout lender for good-credit borrowers.

» MORE: Read our SoFi review

Upgrade: Best for multiple rate discounts

Minimum credit score: 580.

Why we chose them: Upgrade offers multiple ways to get a lower rate on a wedding loan, like through setting up autopay or enrolling in another Upgrade product, such as a checking account.

» MORE: Read our Upgrade review

Upstart: Best for bad credit

Minimum credit score: None.

Why we chose them: Upstart personal loans are available to borrowers with bad credit scores and borrowers who don’t have enough credit history to generate a score.

» MORE: Read our Upstart review

Discover: Best for fast funding

Minimum credit score: 660.

Why we chose them: Discover can approve applicants the same day they apply for a wedding loan and send the funds to their account as early as the next business day.

» MORE: Read our Discover review

Best Egg: Best for secured loan option

Minimum credit score: 600.

Why we chose them: Best Egg lets borrowers use their home’s fixtures or vehicle as collateral for a secured loan, which can help them qualify for a lower rate or larger loan.

» MORE: Read our Best Egg review

LendingClub: Best for joint loans

Minimum credit score: 600.

Why we chose them: LendingClub’s joint loans let you add another person, like your partner, to your application and possibly increase your chances of qualifying for a wedding loan.

» MORE: Read our LendingClub review

LightStream: Best for larger loans

Minimum credit score: 660.

Why we chose them: LightStream offers larger loans for borrowers who need to finance more of their wedding, and its longer repayment terms can help keep payments manageable.

» MORE: Read our LightStream review

Prosper: Best for hardship support

Minimum credit score: 560.

Why we chose them: If borrowers fall on tough times, Prosper offers hardship support, which may include reduced monthly payments or an extended loan term.

» MORE: Read our Prosper review

What is a wedding loan?

A wedding loan is an unsecured personal loan you use to pay for wedding expenses.

With a wedding loan, you borrow money from a bank, credit union or online lender and use the funds to pay for the wedding and other related costs — though technically you can use the loan to pay for anything.

You pay back the loan with fixed monthly payments that include interest, usually over one to seven years.

How to get a wedding loan

1. Pre-qualify and compare wedding loan options

The best wedding loans allow pre-qualification before you apply. Pre-qualification involves a short application and soft credit inquiry, so you can check your potential loan terms without hurting your credit score. You’ll need to supply basic personal information and details about the loan you want, like desired amount and repayment term.

Since rates vary, it’s smart to pre-qualify with multiple wedding loan lenders to better compare loan offers. Online lenders are more likely to offer pre-qualification, though some 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 wedding loan lender, you’ll need to formally apply for the loan. Whether you’re applying with a bank, credit union or online lender, most applications are completely digital.

As part of the application, you’ll be asked to 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 and information on any debts.

Once you submit your application, the lender will conduct a hard credit pull and make an approval decision. While some 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 need to review and sign. Funds are then deposited into your bank account and available for use.

The best wedding loans offer same-day funding, while others may take up to a week to send the funds. You can also choose to receive a check, though this may delay funding time further.

Once you receive 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

Wedding loans for bad credit

If you’re worried about qualifying for a wedding loan, there are ways to boost your chances of getting approved. This may include checking your credit report for errors, like accounts that aren’t yours or 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. Adding a partner or family member to your application, particularly if they have better credit or a higher income than you, can help you get approved.

Some online lenders cater specifically to borrowers with bad credit (629 score or lower) and have a low minimum credit score requirement. 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

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. Wedding loans can help you cover any remaining expenses via a lump sum that has a predictable repayment schedule.

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

Pros of wedding loans

• Fast funding: Personal loans can be funded quickly — usually in less than a week but sometimes as fast as the same business day you apply.

• Credit reporting: Most lenders report payments to the three major credit bureaus — Equifax, Experian and TransUnion — so you have the opportunity to build credit as you make on-time payments to pay the loan off.

• Lump sum: You receive the funds in one lump sum, which can help you stick to your wedding budget.

• Fixed monthly payments: Wedding loans have fixed interest rates, so you make the same payment each month. When you’re shopping around, you can compare offers from different lenders to see which monthly payments best fit your budget.

Cons of wedding loans

• Rates depend on your credit: Your credit is a major factor in determining whether you get approved for a wedding loan and what rate you get. A low credit score could lead to a high annual percentage rate. Lenders also use your debt-to-income ratio to assess whether you can afford the monthly payment on a wedding loan.

• Long terms: You could be repaying your loan for up to seven years with a personal loan.

How expensive are wedding loans?

Wedding loan APRs typically range from 6% to 36%. The most expensive wedding loans will have the highest APRs. Here’s an example of how it works:

An average wedding in 2023 cost $30,119, according to an annual survey by research site, The Wedding Report. Say you get a three-year loan for $15,000 (about half the average wedding cost). On the low end, a loan with a 6% APR would mean you’d have monthly payments of $456, and pay $1,428 in total interest.

But if you take out that same loan with a 36% APR, you’d have monthly payments of $687 and pay $9,734 in interest. That’s why qualifying for the lowest rate possible is the best way to reduce wedding loan costs.

You can plug in your potential loan amount and estimate your monthly payments with NerdWallet’s free personal loan calculator.

» Getting married on a budget? Check out our exclusive wedding guide, only available in the NerdWallet app

How wedding loans affect your credit score

There are two ways a wedding loan can affect your credit score.

1. When a wedding loan lender conducts a hard credit pull during the application process, a few points are temporarily knocked off your credit score.

2. If you’re approved for the loan, your payment history will also be reported to the credit bureaus. While a history of on-time payments can help build credit, making late payments or defaulting on the loan can hurt your score.

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 a wedding. 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 during the promotion.

» 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 also 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