Best Wedding Loans in 2024

From rings to dresses to catering, a wedding loan can help you pay for your big day.

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LendingTree is compensated by companies on this site and this compensation may impact how and where offers appear on this site (such as the order). LendingTree does not include all lenders, savings products, or loan options available in the marketplace.

How Does LendingTree Get Paid?

LendingTree is compensated by companies on this site and this compensation may impact how and where offers appear on this site (such as the order). LendingTree does not include all lenders, savings products, or loan options available in the marketplace.
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Written by Carol Pope | Edited by Amanda Push | Reviewed September 5, 2024
Best for:
Co-applicants
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Best for:
Good credit
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Best for:
No fees
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Best for:
Fair credit
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Best for:
Large loans
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Best for:
Bad credit
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More Options

Best loans for weddings at a glance

Achieve: Best joint wedding loans

8.99% - 35.99%

24 to 60 months

$5,000 - $50,000

620

1.99% - 6.99%

Pros
  • Offers rate discounts, including one for adding a co-borrower
  • Can get help from a dedicated loan consultant during the application process (online or over the phone)
  • Free mobile app can help you manage your loan and includes personalized budgeting tools
Cons
  • Will keep 1.99% - 6.99% of your loan as an origination fee
  • Must borrow at least $5,000
  • Can take up to three business days to get your money

What to know

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Joint loans (or loans with two borrowers) can help make it easier to get approved. Plus, adding a co-borrower on an Achieve loan will get you a discount on your interest rate. You can also save by showing proof that you have a healthy retirement account, such as a 401(k) or Roth IRA.

Some lenders only charge origination fees if you have bad credit. Achieve charges them on every loan. Origination fees aren’t out of pocket. Instead, the lender deducts the fee from your loan before sending it to you.

Read our full Achieve personal loan review.

How to qualify

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Other than a credit score of at least 620, Achieve may ask you to provide the following documents and information:

  • Proof of income
  • Social Security number
  • Government-issued ID
  • Employment status

It will also review other aspects of your credit profile, such as your payment history and debt-to-income (DTI) ratio. Your DTI ratio measures how much you owe compared to how much you earn.

Discover: Best wedding loans for good credit

7.99% - 24.99%

36 to 84 months

$2,500 - $40,000

720

None

Pros
  • Competitive rates
  • No origination fees
  • Three financial assistance options if you need help during repayment
Cons
  • Won’t qualify with bad credit
  • Can’t include a second person on your loan
  • $39 late payment fee

What to know

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Discover offers online personal loans with low rates and unique perks. If you get laid off or have health issues or another hardship, Discover has three assistance options to get you on track. You could delay your past due balance, temporarily reduce your monthly payments or permanently extend your loan term.

However, Discover can be hard to qualify for. It requires strong credit (720) and has a relatively high annual income requirement ($40,000).

Read our full Discover personal loan review.

How to qualify

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You’ll need to meet these eligibility criteria to get a Discover loan:

  • Age: Be at least 18
  • Citizenship: Have a Social Security number
  • Administrative: Have a physical address, email address and internet access
  • Income: Minimum income of $40,000 (individually or as a household)
  • Credit score: 720

LightStream: Best wedding loans with no fees

8.99% - 25.49% (with autopay)

24 to 144 months

Loan Term Disclosure

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 $25,000 loan at 7.49% APR with a term of 3 years would result in 36 monthly payments of $777.54. © 2024 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.

$5,000 - $100,000

Not specified

None

Pros
  • Doesn’t charge any fees whatsoever
  • Will beat a competitor’s offer with Rate Beat program (stipulations apply)
  • If LightStream approves you by 2:30 p.m. EST on a business day, can get your loan the same day you apply
Cons
  • Can’t check rates without hurting your credit
  • You may have to rely on Rate Beat program to get a lower rate (assuming you have excellent credit)
  • No small loans

What to know

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Even if you pay late, LightStream won’t charge you a fee (although missed payments affect your credit score). And if you get a better offer from a competitor, LightStream may beat it by 0.10 percentage points through its Rate Beat program.

Unlike many lenders, LightStream doesn’t let you prequalify for a personal loan. In other words, you must go through the full application process and agree to a hard credit inquiry to see if you’re eligible.

Read our full LightStream personal loan review.

How to qualify

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LightStream doesn’t specify its exact credit score requirements, but you must have good to excellent credit to qualify. Most of the applicants that LightStream approves have the following in common:

  • At least five years of on-time payments under a variety of accounts (credit cards, auto loans, etc.)
  • Stable income and the ability to handle paying their current debt obligations
  • Savings, whether in a bank account, an investment account or a retirement account

Prosper: Best wedding loans for fair credit

8.99% - 35.99%

24 to 60 months

$2,000 - $50,000

560

1.00% - 9.99%

Pros
  • Don’t need perfect credit to qualify
  • Doesn’t require a certain number of years of credit history, and income requirements are easy to meet
  • May change your due date once each year with no additional fee
Cons
  • Can take up to 14 days to get your loan funded
  • Could have a high origination fee
  • Charges a late fee of $15 or 5.00% of the amount due (whichever is higher)

What to know

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If you’re having a hard time getting a wedding loan, give Prosper a try. Prosper is a peer-to-peer lender. That means individual investors fund your loan instead of a bank. Generally, peer-to-peer loans have easier eligibility requirements than traditional personal loans.

There is a downside to peer-to-peer lending, and that’s time. You’ll have to wait for the investors to fund your loan (think GoFundMe). Although it usually only takes one to five days, you’ll have up to 14 days to get at least 70% of your loan funded. Otherwise, Prosper will cancel your loan and you’ll have to start again.

Read our full Prosper personal loan review.

How to qualify

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To get a loan through Prosper, you must meet the following requirements:

  • Age: Be at least 18
  • Administrative: Have a U.S. bank account and Social Security number
  • Residency: Not live in Iowa, West Virginia or U.S. territories
  • Credit score: 560
  • Other credit-related factors: No minimum credit history; must make at least some annual income (but no minimum); DTI ratio below 50% (not including mortgage)

SoFi: Best for big wedding loans

8.99% to 29.99% (with discounts)

Pricing Disclosure

Fixed rates from 8.99% APR to 29.99% APR reflect the 0.25% autopay interest rate discount and a 0.25% direct deposit interest rate discount. SoFi rate ranges are current as of 02/06/2024 and are subject to change without notice. The average of SoFi Personal Loans funded in 2022 was around $30K. 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 and will depend on the term you select, evaluation of your creditworthiness, income, and a variety of 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 0%-7%, which 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. Direct Deposit Discount: To be eligible to potentially receive an additional (0.25%) interest rate reduction for setting up direct deposit with a SoFi Checking and Savings account offered by SoFi Bank, N.A. or eligible cash management account offered by SoFi Securities, LLC (“Direct Deposit Account”), you must have an open Direct Deposit Account within 30 days of the funding of your Loan. Once eligible, you will receive this discount during periods in which you have enabled payroll direct deposits of at least $1,000/month to a Direct Deposit Account in accordance with SoFi’s reasonable procedures and requirements to be determined at SoFi’s sole discretion. This discount will be lost during periods in which SoFi determines you have turned off direct deposits to your Direct Deposit Account. You are not required to enroll in direct deposits to receive a Loan.

24 to 84 months

$5,000 - $100,000

680

0.00% - 7.00% (optional)

Pros
  • Can borrow up to $100,000
  • Offers member benefits like free financial planning
  • Most approved applicants get same-day funds
Cons
  • Have to pay an optional origination fee to get the lowest rates
  • Can’t borrow less than $5,000
  • Requires good credit

What to know

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SoFi offers big loans with big benefits to match. One of these is its free financial planning. Now that you’re combining incomes with your future spouse, this could be the perfect time to look at your budget and goals.

SoFi loans don’t have any required fees, but you can pay an origination fee in exchange for a lower rate. Compare offers that both do and don’t include an origination fee to see which direction makes the most sense for you.

Read our full SoFi personal loan review.

How to qualify

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You must meet the requirements below in order to get a loan from SoFi:

  • Age: Be the age of majority in your state (typically 18)
  • Citizenship: Be a U.S. citizen, an eligible permanent resident or a non-permanent resident (a DACA recipient or asylum-seeker, for instance)
  • Employment: Have a job or job offer with a start date within 90 days, or have regular income from another source
  • Credit score: 680

Upstart: Best wedding loans for bad credit

7.80% - 35.99%

36 or 60 months

$1,000 - $50,000

300

0.00% - 12.00%

Pros
  • Can still qualify with a credit score as low as 300
  • Some college students and grads don’t need a credit score at all
  • Can borrow as little as $1,000
Cons
  • Might be on the hook for an expensive origination fee
  • Can't add a second person to your loan
  • Only two repayment terms available

What to know

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Upstart is a loan marketplace that connects borrowers to lenders. It considers factors like your education and employment alongside your credit score. This helps it approve people who other lenders deny.

But if you qualify for a bad credit loan with Upstart, don’t expect it to be cheap. Not only does it charge some borrowers a high origination fee, but you also could pay an annual percentage rate (APR) as high as 35.99%. You also can’t add a co-borrower (a common strategy to get a lower rate).

Read our full Upstart personal loan review.

How to qualify

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Upstart has transparent eligibility requirements, including:

  • Age: Be 18 or older
  • Administrative: Have a U.S. address, personal banking account, email address and Social Security number
  • Employment: Have a job or job offer that starts within six months, or have regular income
  • Credit-related factors: DTI ratio no higher than 50% (45% in Connecticut, Maryland, New York and Vermont), no bankruptcies within the last year, fewer than six inquiries on your credit report in the last six months and no current delinquencies
  • Credit score: 300

What is a wedding loan?

A wedding loan is an unsecured personal loan that you use toward wedding expenses. Unsecured loans don’t require collateral. Collateral is a valuable piece of property you’ll lose if you don’t repay what you borrow.

Personal loans come as a lump sum and have fixed interest rates. That means your rate will stay the same as you pay back what you borrowed. Also, if you have very good credit (740+), wedding loans typically have lower rates than credit cards.

You can use a personal loan to pay for nearly anything wedding related, including engagement ring financing, wedding dresses and venue rentals.

Wedding loan pros and cons

Taking out a wedding loan and starting your married life with debt isn’t an easy decision. Your wedding is important, but ultimately, it’s a one-time event. Ask yourself if years of debt is worth it, and if it is, borrow wisely.

How Does LendingTree Get Paid?
LendingTree is compensated by companies on this site and this compensation may impact how and where offers appear on this site (such as the order). LendingTree does not include all lenders, savings products, or loan options available in the marketplace.

How Does LendingTree Get Paid?

LendingTree is compensated by companies on this site and this compensation may impact how and where offers appear on this site (such as the order). LendingTree does not include all lenders, savings products, or loan options available in the marketplace.
ProsCons

  Lower rates for excellent credit. Wedding loans usually have lower rates than credit cards if you have solid credit.


  Easier budgeting. Loan repayments are the same each month, and a lump sum could help you avoid overspending.


  Can improve your credit. Making on-time payments can help boost your credit score (especially if you don’t have any other installment loans).

  Debt. It might not be the best idea to start your marriage by taking on a lot of debt.


  High rates for bad credit. If you have a credit score below 670, you could see a rate of 35.99% (or higher).


  No financial returns. Unlike taking out a mortgage for a house (which could appreciate in value), your wedding won’t help build your investment portfolio.

How much does a wedding loan cost?

The average wedding cost in 2023 was $35,000. With this in mind, we used internal LendingTree data to calculate the average monthly payments on wedding loans of different amounts, each with a five-year term.

Note that if your score is less than 680, lenders probably won’t approve you for a loan as big as the ones below.

How Does LendingTree Get Paid?
LendingTree is compensated by companies on this site and this compensation may impact how and where offers appear on this site (such as the order). LendingTree does not include all lenders, savings products, or loan options available in the marketplace.

How Does LendingTree Get Paid?

LendingTree is compensated by companies on this site and this compensation may impact how and where offers appear on this site (such as the order). LendingTree does not include all lenders, savings products, or loan options available in the marketplace.
Credit score range$5,000 wedding loan$8,750 wedding loan$17,500 wedding loan$35,000 wedding loan
720+$128.77$225.35$450.69$901.38
680-719$161.89$283.31$566.61$1,133.23
660-679$200.41$350.72$701.43$1,402.87
640-659$239.72$419.51$839.03$1,678.05
620-639$302.64$529.61$1,059.22$2,118.45
580-619$466.03$815.55$1,631.09$3,262.18
560-579$645.25$1,129.17$2,258.33$4,516.66
Less than 560$715.61$1,252.32$2,504.63$5,009.27

Note: Average APRs sourced from closed loans on the LendingTree marketplace in Q1 2024.

Should you get a wedding loan for bad credit?

As you can see in the table above, wedding loans can get expensive (and quick). Borrow as little as possible and if you have fair to bad credit, improve your credit score before applying.

To get a lower interest rate, you could get a joint loan.

A joint loan is a loan with two borrowers — yourself and a friend or family member. Your co-borrower acts as a sort of backup for the lender. They are as responsible for the loan as you are. Joint loans are easier to qualify for than single-person loans.

Depending on the lender, you might be able to get a secured loan.

A secured personal loan requires collateral, usually your car or savings account. If you don’t pay back your loan, the lender can seize your collateral. Secured loans are risky. Ask yourself if your wedding is worth putting something so valuable on the line.

Before you tie the knot, figure out how you both will manage your finances together. Money problems are a leading cause of divorce, so having a plan now can save you heartbreak later.

How to find a wedding loan through LendingTree

  1. Check your credit score. Get your credit score for free with Get your credit score for free with LendingTree Spring. Knowing where you stand before you shop can help you figure out if your loan offers are competitive.
  2. Get free offers. With just one form, you can get multiple offers by using LendingTree’s personal loan marketplace. We’ve got the nation’s largest network of lenders, our service is free and checking rates won’t impact your credit score.
  3. Compare and save. After you finish your form, we’ll show you what lenders you could qualify for. Comparing loans is like shopping for any other big-ticket item. You have to know what’s out there before you can find the best deal. If you find a loan you like, we can help you take the next steps.

Why do millions of Americans trust LendingTree?

25+ years in business. 110+ million Americans served. $260+ billion in funded loans.

SECURITY

Instead of sharing information with multiple lenders, fill out one simple, secure form in five minutes or less.

SAVINGS

We’ll match you with up to five lenders from our network of 300+ lenders who will call to compete for your business.

SUPPORT

We provide ongoing support with free credit monitoring, budgeting insights and personalized recommendations to help you save.

Alternatives to wedding loans

Save up and scale down

How much you spend on your wedding doesn’t reflect how much you love your partner. Focus on ways you can save money on your wedding. Instead of spending thousands renting a hall, a backyard barbeque might be more reasonable (but just as memorable).

0% APR credit card

A 0% APR credit comes with an introductory period that usually lasts between six and 21 months. During this time, you will have 0% interest. Still, be sure to pay your balance in full before your intro period ends. If you don’t, interest will start to accrue on what you owe.

Buy now, pay later

Buy now, pay later might be a good choice for smaller wedding purchases like linens, shoes and accessories. These apps let you split up retail purchases. You’ll likely have a few payment plans to choose from, but the most common is four interest-free payments split over six weeks.

How we chose the best wedding loans

We reviewed more than 28 lenders to determine the overall best six wedding loans. To make our list, lenders must offer wedding loans with competitive APRs. From there, we prioritize lenders based on the following factors:

  • Accessibility: Lenders are ranked higher if their personal loans are available to more people and require fewer conditions. This may include lower credit requirements, wider geographic availability, faster funding and easier and more transparent prequalification and application processes.
  • Rates and terms: We prioritize lenders with more competitive fixed rates, fewer fees and greater options for repayment terms, loan amounts and APR discounts.
  • Repayment experience: For starters, we consider each lender’s reputation and business practices. We also favor lenders that report to all major credit bureaus, offer reliable customer service and provide any unique perks to customers, like free wealth coaching.

According to our standardized rating system, the best wedding loans come from: Achieve, Discover, LightStream, Prosper, SoFi and Upstart.

Frequently asked questions

Yes, some people take out a personal loan for their wedding (also known as a wedding loan). Wedding loans come as a lump sum that you’ll pay off in equal monthly payments, plus interest.

If you have at least good credit and are planning on using a credit card to pay for some parts of your wedding, a wedding loan might save you money. Wedding loans usually carry lower interest rates than credit cards, as long as you have strong credit.

However, wedding loans have high rates if you have bad credit. It might be worth waiting until you improve your credit before borrowing. And regardless of your score, consider whether you want to take on debt as you start your new life with your spouse.

Upstart offers loans to people with scores as low as 300. But just because you qualify for a wedding loan for bad credit doesn’t mean it’s a good idea. Use a personal loan calculator to see how much your loan will cost you in total, including interest.