Our top 4 picks for wedding loans
Compare the best wedding loans
Wedding loans are a type of personal loan that are designed for financing a wedding. They typically come with fixed rates and payments and are unsecured. This makes wedding loans different from credit cards, which charge variable rates, and secured loans that require collateral, like home equity loans.
To select our top picks for the best wedding loans, we collected 806 data points from popular lenders, including 26 individual data points for 31 lenders. We also evaluated customer reviews and overall ratings from ConsumerAffairs readers. We used these data points to evaluate factors that impact borrowers the most, including credit score requirements, loan limits, repayment terms and annual percentage rates (APRs) to help us make our final selections.
Our picks may be Authorized Partners who compensate us. This does not affect our recommendations or evaluations, but it may affect the order in which the companies appear.
- Loan amount
- $5,000 to $100,000
- Minimum credit score
- Not disclosed
- Term lengths
- 2 to 7 years
Partner Disclosures
SoFi disclosures
Lowest rates reserved for the most creditworthy borrowers. If approved, your actual rate will be within the range of rates at the time of application and will depend on a variety of factors, including term of loan, evaluation of your creditworthiness, income, and other factors. If SoFi is unable to offer you a loan but matches you for a loan with a participating bank, then your rate may be outside the range of rates listed above. Rates and Terms are subject to change at any time without notice. SoFi Personal Loans can be used for any lawful personal, family, or household purposes and may not be used for post-secondary education expenses. Minimum loan amount is $5,000. The average of SoFi Personal Loans funded in 2024 was around $33K. Information current as of 02/23/26. SoFi Personal Loans originated by SoFi Bank, N.A. Member FDIC. NMLS #696891 (www.nmlsconsumeraccess.org). See SoFi.com/legal for state-specific license details. See SoFi.com/eligibility for details and state restrictions. Fixed rates from 8.74% APR to 35.49% APR. APR reflect the 0.25% autopay interest rate discount and a 0.25% SoFi Plus interest rate discount. SoFi Platform personal loans are made either by SoFi Bank, N.A. or , Cross River Bank, a New Jersey State Chartered Commercial Bank, operating from its Delaware branch, Member FDIC, Equal Housing Lender. SoFi may receive compensation if you take out a loan originated by Cross River Bank. These rate ranges are current as of 02/23/26 and are subject to change without notice. Not all rates and amounts available in all states. See SoFi Personal Loan eligibility details at https://www.sofi.com/eligibility-criteria/#eligibility-personal. Not all applicants qualify for the lowest rate. Lowest rates reserved for the most creditworthy borrowers. Your actual rate will be within the range of rates listed above and will depend on a variety of factors, including evaluation of your credit worthiness, income, and other factors. Loan amounts range from $5,000– $100,000. The APR is the cost of credit as a yearly rate and reflects both your interest rate and an origination fee of 9.99% of your loan amount for Cross River Bank originated loans which will be deducted from any loan proceeds you receive and for SoFi Bank originated loans have an origination fee of 0%-7%, will be deducted from any loan proceeds you receive. Autopay: The SoFi 0.25% autopay interest rate reduction requires you to agree to make monthly principal and interest payments by an automatic monthly deduction from a savings or checking account. The benefit will discontinue and be lost for periods in which you do not pay by automatic deduction from a savings or checking account. Autopay is not required to receive a loan from SoFi. SoFi Plus Discount: SoFi Plus members are eligible for an interest rate reduction of 0.25% on a Personal Loan. To be eligible for the discount, you must meet the SoFi Plus eligibility criteria within 31 days of the funding of your loan. For complete SoFi Plus eligibility, please see the SoFi Plus terms. When you enroll in SoFi Plus, the discount will lower the interest rate that applies to your loan only during periods in which you are enrolled in SoFi Plus. The discount will be removed during periods in which SoFi determines you are not enrolled in SoFi Plus. Each time your loan is re-amortized, your monthly payment amount will change based upon the interest rate that was in place. SoFi reserves the right to change or terminate this offer for unenrolled participants at any time. You are not required to enroll in SoFi Plus to be eligible for Loan approval.
LightStream disclosures
Your loan terms, including APR, may differ based on loan purpose, amount, term length, and your credit profile. Excellent credit is required to qualify for lowest rates. Rate is quoted with AutoPay discount. AutoPay discount is only available prior to loan funding. Rates without AutoPay are 0.50% points higher. Subject to credit approval. Conditions and limitations apply. Advertised rates and terms are subject to change without notice. Payment example: Monthly payments for a $10,000 loan at 8.99% APR with a term of 5 years would result in 60 monthly payments of $207.54. Truist Bank is an Equal Housing Lender. © 2023 Truist Financial Corporation. Truist, LightStream, and the LightStream logo are service marks of Truist Financial Corporation. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners. Lending services provided by Truist Bank.
Upstart disclosures
The full range of available rates varies by state. A representative example of payment terms for a Personal Loan is as follows: a borrower receives a loan of $10,000 for a term of 60 months, with an interest rate of 21.58% and a 9.84% origination fee of $984, for an APR of 26.82%. In this example, the borrower will receive $9016 and will make 60 monthly payments of $275. APR is calculated based on 5-year rates offered in December 2023. There is no downpayment and no prepayment penalty. Your APR will be determined based on your credit, income, and certain other information provided in your loan application. Not all applicants will be approved. While most loans through Upstart are unsecured, certain lenders may place a lien on other accounts you hold with the same institution. There may be an option to secure your personal loan through Upstart with your vehicle, which will require a lien to be placed on the vehicle. It is important to review your promissory note for these details before accepting your loan.
- Loan amount
- $5,000 to $100,000
- Minimum credit score
- 670 to 700
- Term lengths
- 2 to 20 years
Partner Disclosures
SoFi disclosures
Lowest rates reserved for the most creditworthy borrowers. If approved, your actual rate will be within the range of rates at the time of application and will depend on a variety of factors, including term of loan, evaluation of your creditworthiness, income, and other factors. If SoFi is unable to offer you a loan but matches you for a loan with a participating bank, then your rate may be outside the range of rates listed above. Rates and Terms are subject to change at any time without notice. SoFi Personal Loans can be used for any lawful personal, family, or household purposes and may not be used for post-secondary education expenses. Minimum loan amount is $5,000. The average of SoFi Personal Loans funded in 2024 was around $33K. Information current as of 02/23/26. SoFi Personal Loans originated by SoFi Bank, N.A. Member FDIC. NMLS #696891 (www.nmlsconsumeraccess.org). See SoFi.com/legal for state-specific license details. See SoFi.com/eligibility for details and state restrictions. Fixed rates from 8.74% APR to 35.49% APR. APR reflect the 0.25% autopay interest rate discount and a 0.25% SoFi Plus interest rate discount. SoFi Platform personal loans are made either by SoFi Bank, N.A. or , Cross River Bank, a New Jersey State Chartered Commercial Bank, operating from its Delaware branch, Member FDIC, Equal Housing Lender. SoFi may receive compensation if you take out a loan originated by Cross River Bank. These rate ranges are current as of 02/23/26 and are subject to change without notice. Not all rates and amounts available in all states. See SoFi Personal Loan eligibility details at https://www.sofi.com/eligibility-criteria/#eligibility-personal. Not all applicants qualify for the lowest rate. Lowest rates reserved for the most creditworthy borrowers. Your actual rate will be within the range of rates listed above and will depend on a variety of factors, including evaluation of your credit worthiness, income, and other factors. Loan amounts range from $5,000– $100,000. The APR is the cost of credit as a yearly rate and reflects both your interest rate and an origination fee of 9.99% of your loan amount for Cross River Bank originated loans which will be deducted from any loan proceeds you receive and for SoFi Bank originated loans have an origination fee of 0%-7%, will be deducted from any loan proceeds you receive. Autopay: The SoFi 0.25% autopay interest rate reduction requires you to agree to make monthly principal and interest payments by an automatic monthly deduction from a savings or checking account. The benefit will discontinue and be lost for periods in which you do not pay by automatic deduction from a savings or checking account. Autopay is not required to receive a loan from SoFi. SoFi Plus Discount: SoFi Plus members are eligible for an interest rate reduction of 0.25% on a Personal Loan. To be eligible for the discount, you must meet the SoFi Plus eligibility criteria within 31 days of the funding of your loan. For complete SoFi Plus eligibility, please see the SoFi Plus terms. When you enroll in SoFi Plus, the discount will lower the interest rate that applies to your loan only during periods in which you are enrolled in SoFi Plus. The discount will be removed during periods in which SoFi determines you are not enrolled in SoFi Plus. Each time your loan is re-amortized, your monthly payment amount will change based upon the interest rate that was in place. SoFi reserves the right to change or terminate this offer for unenrolled participants at any time. You are not required to enroll in SoFi Plus to be eligible for Loan approval.
LightStream disclosures
Your loan terms, including APR, may differ based on loan purpose, amount, term length, and your credit profile. Excellent credit is required to qualify for lowest rates. Rate is quoted with AutoPay discount. AutoPay discount is only available prior to loan funding. Rates without AutoPay are 0.50% points higher. Subject to credit approval. Conditions and limitations apply. Advertised rates and terms are subject to change without notice. Payment example: Monthly payments for a $10,000 loan at 8.99% APR with a term of 5 years would result in 60 monthly payments of $207.54. Truist Bank is an Equal Housing Lender. © 2023 Truist Financial Corporation. Truist, LightStream, and the LightStream logo are service marks of Truist Financial Corporation. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners. Lending services provided by Truist Bank.
Upstart disclosures
The full range of available rates varies by state. A representative example of payment terms for a Personal Loan is as follows: a borrower receives a loan of $10,000 for a term of 60 months, with an interest rate of 21.58% and a 9.84% origination fee of $984, for an APR of 26.82%. In this example, the borrower will receive $9016 and will make 60 monthly payments of $275. APR is calculated based on 5-year rates offered in December 2023. There is no downpayment and no prepayment penalty. Your APR will be determined based on your credit, income, and certain other information provided in your loan application. Not all applicants will be approved. While most loans through Upstart are unsecured, certain lenders may place a lien on other accounts you hold with the same institution. There may be an option to secure your personal loan through Upstart with your vehicle, which will require a lien to be placed on the vehicle. It is important to review your promissory note for these details before accepting your loan.
- Loan amount
- $1,000 to $75,000
- Minimum credit score
- 300
- Term lengths
- 3 or 5 years
Partner Disclosures
SoFi disclosures
Lowest rates reserved for the most creditworthy borrowers. If approved, your actual rate will be within the range of rates at the time of application and will depend on a variety of factors, including term of loan, evaluation of your creditworthiness, income, and other factors. If SoFi is unable to offer you a loan but matches you for a loan with a participating bank, then your rate may be outside the range of rates listed above. Rates and Terms are subject to change at any time without notice. SoFi Personal Loans can be used for any lawful personal, family, or household purposes and may not be used for post-secondary education expenses. Minimum loan amount is $5,000. The average of SoFi Personal Loans funded in 2024 was around $33K. Information current as of 02/23/26. SoFi Personal Loans originated by SoFi Bank, N.A. Member FDIC. NMLS #696891 (www.nmlsconsumeraccess.org). See SoFi.com/legal for state-specific license details. See SoFi.com/eligibility for details and state restrictions. Fixed rates from 8.74% APR to 35.49% APR. APR reflect the 0.25% autopay interest rate discount and a 0.25% SoFi Plus interest rate discount. SoFi Platform personal loans are made either by SoFi Bank, N.A. or , Cross River Bank, a New Jersey State Chartered Commercial Bank, operating from its Delaware branch, Member FDIC, Equal Housing Lender. SoFi may receive compensation if you take out a loan originated by Cross River Bank. These rate ranges are current as of 02/23/26 and are subject to change without notice. Not all rates and amounts available in all states. See SoFi Personal Loan eligibility details at https://www.sofi.com/eligibility-criteria/#eligibility-personal. Not all applicants qualify for the lowest rate. Lowest rates reserved for the most creditworthy borrowers. Your actual rate will be within the range of rates listed above and will depend on a variety of factors, including evaluation of your credit worthiness, income, and other factors. Loan amounts range from $5,000– $100,000. The APR is the cost of credit as a yearly rate and reflects both your interest rate and an origination fee of 9.99% of your loan amount for Cross River Bank originated loans which will be deducted from any loan proceeds you receive and for SoFi Bank originated loans have an origination fee of 0%-7%, will be deducted from any loan proceeds you receive. Autopay: The SoFi 0.25% autopay interest rate reduction requires you to agree to make monthly principal and interest payments by an automatic monthly deduction from a savings or checking account. The benefit will discontinue and be lost for periods in which you do not pay by automatic deduction from a savings or checking account. Autopay is not required to receive a loan from SoFi. SoFi Plus Discount: SoFi Plus members are eligible for an interest rate reduction of 0.25% on a Personal Loan. To be eligible for the discount, you must meet the SoFi Plus eligibility criteria within 31 days of the funding of your loan. For complete SoFi Plus eligibility, please see the SoFi Plus terms. When you enroll in SoFi Plus, the discount will lower the interest rate that applies to your loan only during periods in which you are enrolled in SoFi Plus. The discount will be removed during periods in which SoFi determines you are not enrolled in SoFi Plus. Each time your loan is re-amortized, your monthly payment amount will change based upon the interest rate that was in place. SoFi reserves the right to change or terminate this offer for unenrolled participants at any time. You are not required to enroll in SoFi Plus to be eligible for Loan approval.
LightStream disclosures
Your loan terms, including APR, may differ based on loan purpose, amount, term length, and your credit profile. Excellent credit is required to qualify for lowest rates. Rate is quoted with AutoPay discount. AutoPay discount is only available prior to loan funding. Rates without AutoPay are 0.50% points higher. Subject to credit approval. Conditions and limitations apply. Advertised rates and terms are subject to change without notice. Payment example: Monthly payments for a $10,000 loan at 8.99% APR with a term of 5 years would result in 60 monthly payments of $207.54. Truist Bank is an Equal Housing Lender. © 2023 Truist Financial Corporation. Truist, LightStream, and the LightStream logo are service marks of Truist Financial Corporation. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners. Lending services provided by Truist Bank.
Upstart disclosures
The full range of available rates varies by state. A representative example of payment terms for a Personal Loan is as follows: a borrower receives a loan of $10,000 for a term of 60 months, with an interest rate of 21.58% and a 9.84% origination fee of $984, for an APR of 26.82%. In this example, the borrower will receive $9016 and will make 60 monthly payments of $275. APR is calculated based on 5-year rates offered in December 2023. There is no downpayment and no prepayment penalty. Your APR will be determined based on your credit, income, and certain other information provided in your loan application. Not all applicants will be approved. While most loans through Upstart are unsecured, certain lenders may place a lien on other accounts you hold with the same institution. There may be an option to secure your personal loan through Upstart with your vehicle, which will require a lien to be placed on the vehicle. It is important to review your promissory note for these details before accepting your loan.
- Loan amount
- $1,000 to $40,000
- Minimum credit score
- None
- Term lengths
- 1 to 5 years
Pros and cons of using a loan for wedding expenses
Personal loans for weddings come with their share of pros and cons, especially when you compare them with other sources of funding.
Pros
- Typically fixed rates
- Predictable monthly payments and terms
- Get a lump sum upfront, helping to cover vendor costs
Cons
- Potential for high rates
- Some loans have fees, like origination fees or late fees
- Good credit or better is typically required
Considerations before getting a wedding loan
While wedding loans help you fund a single day of your life, their impact can be felt for years to come. Most wedding loans last for two to seven years, or even longer than that. That means you could be making payments on your loan well into your marriage, and at a time when you're trying to reach other financial goals.
This is why you should borrow only what you need to fund your wedding, and not a penny more. Make sure the monthly payment can easily fit into your budget, and check whether prepayment penalties apply. If you have the ability to pay more than the minimum payment on your loan in the future, having that option could help you save money on interest and get out of debt faster.
Also, remember that a wedding loan can impact your credit score. You can build your credit if you pay your wedding loan early or on time each month. But if you make late payments or let your loan go into default, you can cause damage to your credit score that could take years to fix.
» MORE: How to manage your money
How to get a wedding loan
To get a wedding loan, take the following steps.
1. Figure out your budget
Elliott Appel, a financial planner, said you should be careful about how much you borrow. You should be honest about your budget, and potentially even decide on one or two things you want to spend lavishly on and others you can do without. Making a budget before applying for a loan can help you avoid long-term financial problems.
"Every dollar you borrow is a claim on your future time and earnings," Appel said. "It can be challenging to start a marriage with a huge monthly debt payment because of a wedding."
Every dollar you borrow is a claim on your future time and earnings. It can be challenging to start a marriage with a huge monthly debt payment because of a wedding.”
Before you settle on a monthly payment, Appel recommends making sure your personal loan payment, housing expenses, car payments, student loan payments and any other necessary expenses still give you enough room in your budget to enjoy life and have flexibility.
"If you take out a loan that's too large, the payments may cause stress," Appel said.
2. Check if you qualify
Personal loan requirements vary from lender to lender. Some lenders require good to excellent credit, while others have no minimum credit score requirement at all.
Fortunately, the best lenders for wedding loans let you check your rate and approval odds before you fill out a full loan application. You can see if you qualify without a hard inquiry on your credit report, as well as see the rate you'll likely get if you’re approved.
3. Compare lenders and offers
Once you check your rate with a few lenders, compare personal loan companies based on their rates, loan fees and repayment options. Ideally, you'll find a wedding loan in the exact amount you need with a payment plan that fits your budget.
4. Apply with a lender
Follow the application requirements for your chosen lender and wait for approval and disbursement of funds. Once you get your funds, you can start paying for upfront costs, like securing a venue or vendors.
What to do if you can't qualify for a wedding loan
If you can't qualify for a wedding loan but need money to fund your nuptials, you may need to wait to get married. Putting off the wedding date can give you time to save for the wedding. For example, if you can manage to save $500 per month for two years, you will have $12,000 set aside for the affair.
In the meantime, you can also take steps to increase your credit score so you have a better chance at qualifying for funding. While there are many ways to build credit over time, the most important steps include paying all your bills on time and paying down debt to reduce your credit utilization ratio.
Whatever you do, avoid applying for predatory loans to fund your wedding, including payday loans. Make sure to read the fine print for any loans you're considering, and make sure you understand the interest rate and fees you're asked to pay.
Alternatives to wedding loans
You don't have to borrow for a wedding with a personal loan if you don't want to. There are other sources of funding you may be able to access.
Credit cards
Credit cards make it easy to pay vendor expenses and repay the money on a monthly basis. While credit cards are known for charging high interest rates, some cards have a 0% intro APR offer for new cardholders for up to 21 months. If you’re able to pay off your balance before the intro APR offer expires, you won’t have to pay any interest.
Crowdsourcing
Ask family and friends to contribute to a wedding fund instead of buying wedding shower gifts. You can even start a GoFundMe to raise funds for a wedding.
Home equity loans
Home equity loans let you borrow against the equity you have in your home. Like personal loans, these loans come with fixed interest rates, set monthly payments and a specific payoff deadline that will not change.
Home equity lines of credit
A home equity line of credit (HELOC) is a line of credit that uses the equity of your home as collateral. This means you can borrow what you need as you need it (up to limits), and your monthly payment is based on how much money you use. Note that HELOCs typically have variable interest rates.
FAQ
Is getting a wedding loan a good idea?
Wedding loans can be a good idea if you have a budget for your wedding, know how much you can afford to repay each month and don’t mind making a monthly loan payment. However, like all other loan products, it's possible to borrow too much and get in financial trouble. It’s important to compare lender offers so you know you’re getting the best deal, and to read over the terms of any loan agreement carefully before you sign.
What can a wedding loan be used for?
People use wedding loans to pay for rings, dresses, the ceremony, the reception, food, entertainment and honeymoons. Make sure to read the fine print of the loan contract so you know if there are any prohibited uses of your loan funds.
How can you choose the best wedding loan?
To choose the best wedding loan for you, make sure you compare at least three different lenders’ offers. Take a look at their terms, rates and fees, and get prequalified if you can. Then, choose the best offer, keeping in mind what you can afford to pay each month.
Article sources
ConsumerAffairs writers primarily rely on government data, industry experts and original research from other reputable publications to inform their work. Specific sources for this article include:
- The Knot, “How Much Does the Average Wedding Cost, According to Data?” Accessed Feb. 4, 2026.
