Finder’s experts evaluated 120+ personal loan providers to help you find the right personal loan for wedding expenses. These lenders work with a range of credit scores, and we included lenders that offer wedding loans for bad credit. Select Compare on up to four products to see rates, credit score requirements and loan amounts side by side.
The Finder Score crunches 6+ types of personal loans across 50+ lenders. It takes into account the product's interest rate, fees and features, as well as the type of loan eg investor, variable, fixed rate - this gives you a simple score out of 10.
Wedding loans are fixed-rate personal loans you can use to pay for your wedding. Typical rates range from 6.99% to 35.99% APR — with the lowest rates going to borrowers with credit scores of 670 and up. Some lenders also charge origination fees of up to 10% on the amount borrowed, depending on your credit score.
With a personal loan, you have two to 12 years to repay, based on the amount borrowed. It’s best to use a wedding loan when you can’t cover all the expenses but have excellent credit and a full-time job. This enables you to snag the lowest rate possible while you pay it off over the shortest term you can afford.
And, if you’re thinking way ahead you can look into specific financing for an engagement ring before you even start planning the wedding.
Tying the knot isn’t cheap — the average cost of a wedding in 2022 was $30,000, according to a survey by The Knot, which is approximately $256 per guest. This figure includes the most common wedding expenses, including:
Here’s what you could expect to pay for a typical wedding:
| Number of guests | Avg. cost per guest | Total cost |
|---|---|---|
100 | $256 | $25,600 |
250 | $256 | $64,000 |
500 | $256 | $128,000 |
Your actual cost will vary by location. The most expensive states to get married in, on average, are Massachusetts ($30,489), New Jersey ($30,357) and Connecticut ($29,499), and the most expensive cities to get married in are New York, Los Angeles and Chicago. Meanwhile, couples in Arkansas, West Virginia and Mississippi tend to pay the least — with the average wedding costing between $12,426 and $13,399.
The venue also impacts your overall cost. The average wedding venue cost $11,200 in 2022 — which represents about 30% of the total cost. Choosing a more budget-friendly venue — for example, at home or the beach — is one way to significantly reduce your wedding’s expenses.
While tipping vendors on your wedding day isn’t always mandatory — it’s a customary gesture and lets people know you appreciate them. Some vendors include gratuities as part of their contracts, so read your contract carefully and don’t tip extra if they’re already included.
The Knot suggests these tipping amounts for wedding vendors based on the quality of the service:
| Wedding planner | 10% to 20% up to $500, or a nice gift |
| Hairstylist and makeup artist | 15% to 25% per person |
| Setup and delivery help | $5 to $10 per person |
| Ceremony officiant | $50 to $100 |
| Church or synagogue | $100 to $500 donation |
| Musicians | $15 to $20 per musician |
| Photographer and videographer | $50 to $200 per vendor |
| Alteration pros | $20 to $30 per person |
| Wedding reception staff |
|
| Wedding reception attendants |
|
| Band and DJ |
|
| Transportation company | 15% to 20% of the total bill |
| Cake baker, florist, stationer | $50 to $100, or a small gift |
You can put cash envelopes and choose someone to distribute the tips at the wedding — so you can focus on having fun. For reception attendants, consider tipping before the reception to help ensure great service.
While every lender is different, these are the general eligibility requirements for a personal loan:
Joint loans consider both applicants’ income and credit score in the underwriting process. So, if your partner has a higher income or credit score, you could snag a lower interest rate and qualify for a higher amount. However, some lenders may still use the lower credit score to determine rates. And if one of you can’t make repayments, the other person becomes solely responsible for paying the loan.
Not all lenders accept joint loans, but you can find lenders that accept joint loan applications.
Here are the main pros and cons of wedding loans to keep in mind:
You’ll want to time your application to coincide with the date you need funds. Depending on the lender, funding can happen as quickly as the same day or up to seven business days after approval.
Here are the typical approval and funding times for different lenders:
Here’s a list of 5 factors to consider before you apply:
Personal loans aren’t the only forms of wedding financing. Here are more options to help pay for your special day:
"I’m not the kind of person who thought much about weddings until I got engaged, so I was shocked by how much even the lowest-key wedding costs in New York City. Eventually, we found a few areas where we could cut back.
First, we halved our venue cost by going for a DIY space that offered a tent, seating and little else. We also bought flowers in bulk from a local farm and hired our favorite (inexpensive) neighborhood restaurant to cater. And we leaned on our close friends’ skills, getting our cake, officiation and transport as a gift. Since I love vintage clothes, I bought my dress from a consignment shop for $100.
But there were some areas where splurging was necessary. Hiring a coordinator for the day of, for example, meant that we could actually enjoy the ceremony and party. Getting my dress tailored ensured that it fit like a glove, even if the tailoring cost twice as much as the dress.
What we ended up with was a wedding that was unabashedly us — and cost about $25,000. But even with an unlimited budget, I’d do it this way again."
Statistics show that couples spend an average of $4,800 on their honeymoons. While it’s best to pay for this expense from savings, it’s not always possible. The good news is financing options for weddings and honeymoons are similar.
Like weddings, you can use a personal loan to cover your honeymoon expenses. Some lenders, like Uplift, let you take out a loan while you’re still planning your trip. But in most cases, you’ll want to secure the loan beforehand so you book your trip without worry.
See our vacation loans guide to compare lenders and learn other ways to finance your honeymoon, like layaway programs and personal lines of credit.
Choice Financial promises loan matching, but is it trustworthy? Read our review to find out.
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Hello,
I’m Democratic Republic of Congo,I want à loan for my business that can help me to have money for my wedding.
In my country business going good but the problem is how to get initial funds.
Please,help me to go forward.
Hi Joyce,
Thanks for your question.
Unfortunately, the lenders we feature on our website only offer loans to American citizen or residents.
You may want to get in touch with a local lender in your country for your borrowing needs.
Cheers,
Anndy