Costs, risks, and other ways to borrow

Planning a wedding is stressful in many ways, and cost definitely plays a part.

Between the venue, catering, florals, photographer, entertainment, and more, wedding expenses can quickly grow beyond your expectations — even if you have savings already set aside for your big day.

In some cases, it may be useful to consider financing certain expenses. But interest rates for loans and credit lines can be steep. Before you decide, compare and find the most affordable option that works with your budget and long-term financial goals.

Here’s what to know about wedding costs and financing as you move through the planning process.

Wedding costs vary significantly and depend on several factors, including where you live, your guest count, and the vendors you hire for your big day. The timing of your wedding will also play a role. Scheduling your wedding on a Saturday or Sunday, for example, is often more expensive than having it on a Friday. The number of guests at your wedding can also greatly affect the total cost.

According to bridal website The Knot’s 2025 Real Weddings Survey, the average cost of a wedding in the United States is around $33,000. This cost varies widely by state, though, with New York City weddings costing approximately $87,000 on average, while weddings in Phoenix, Ariz., ring in at around $27,000.

High inflation has also increased wedding costs. Though they are about $2,000 less than last year’s average, total expenses have still increased by about $5,000 since 2019. For many couples, rising costs have made relying solely on savings to pay for a wedding increasingly unrealistic.

Read more: How to pay for an engagement ring: 4 financing options

Before financing your wedding, look for ways to reduce expenses first. That could mean choosing a smaller venue, inviting fewer guests, or DIY-ing some of your decor and invitations. Another alternative may be opting for a longer engagement so you have time to save for the celebration you really want.

If those options don’t work for you, there are a few different ways you can get financing help for your wedding. Just make sure you have a plan to pay back the money before you apply.

Many banks and credit unions offer wedding loans, which are a type of unsecured personal loan. Terms generally range from 12 to 84 months, and loan amounts can be as small as $500 or as large as $100,000.

For instance, Lightstream and SoFi offer personal loans up to $100,000, while Discover’s maximum wedding loan is $40,000. If approved, you’ll generally receive your loan funds in a lump sum within a few days.

The best personal loans have lower interest rates than credit cards, making them a cheaper option if you need to repay your balance over time.

Loan rates vary by lender, but according to the Federal Reserve, the average rate for a two-year personal loan was 11.65% at the end of 2025. To keep borrowing costs low, compare rates and choose a loan with a low or no origination fee and no prepayment penalty.

Qualifying requirements for wedding loans vary by lender, with many lenders requiring good or excellent credit for approval. That said, some lenders may be willing to work with you if you have fair credit, though your interest rate will likely be higher.

Credit cards can be a good option to help pay for (and potentially earn rewards on) everything from small expenses to big-ticket items.

They can also be expensive. If you don’t pay off your balance each month, you’ll accrue interest. Cards often have high APRs — 22.30% on average, according to recent Federal Reserve data.

Read more: Best credit cards for wedding expenses

That said, if you have good or excellent credit, you might qualify for a 0% APR credit card. These cards allow you to make purchases without interest over an introductory period (often between 12 and 21 months). That means you can finance some wedding costs and have a year or more to pay them off in full.

Many 0% APR credit cards also earn rewards, so you can get points and miles on spending to put toward a honeymoon or earn cash back to help offset expenses. Just remember to pay off your card’s balance before the intro period ends. Otherwise, you’ll accrue interest on any remaining balance at the regular interest rate.

Getting approved for a credit card generally happens fast, but you may need to wait up to 10 business days to receive your new card in the mail.

Read more: How to choose between a personal loan vs. a credit card

Websites such as Hitchd and Honeyfund crowdfund contributions from your family and friends to help offset your costs. Instead of a traditional wedding gift, your guests can easily send cash to offset wedding expenses, contribute to a honeymoon fund, or support another goal you have in mind.

While this can be a useful way to get some additional cash, you’ll need to request contributions from your guests. Transaction fees may also apply, so you might not receive the full amount your guests donated.

Still, thorny factors like creditworthiness, debt-to-income ratio, and monthly payments don’t apply. You can simply sign up, and any funds contributed will likely be accessible immediately.

Depending on the vendors you choose — like the venue, caterer, or even photographer — you might be able to set up payment plans for your wedding expenses. This can help you break up the largest costs into more manageable payments, but you’ll likely still need to pay in full by your wedding date.

It’s common to find venues that take an upfront deposit with additional payments leading up to the wedding. For example, you might pay 25% of the total cost when you book your venue with two more 25% installments a few months apart and a final 25% payment just before your date. Some venues may also offer monthly payment plans, which can add even more flexibility to your payments.

Check with each of your vendors about plans they may offer, too. Photographers, DJs, and others may commonly ask for an upfront deposit with the remaining amount due later, but you may be able to work out a different payment schedule. Before you agree to any payment plan, make sure you read the contract and note any potential fees.

As an alternative, you can also create your own savings plan. Even without an official payment plan from your vendors, you can set up automatic transfers to your savings account each month to set aside the money you’ll owe each vendor as your wedding date approaches.

As you consider different financing options for your wedding expenses, consider how much you’d like to borrow, current interest rates, your credit score, and borrowing requirements.

These factors will all help you choose a financing option that best aligns with your situation. Borrowers with bad credit will have different considerations, for example, than those with solid credit who might qualify for a rate discount with an online lender.

The application process will vary. If you opt for a personal loan or a credit card, many financial companies let you apply online. You’ll likely need to provide the following information as part of the application process:

Personal information: Your full name, birthdate, email, address, and Social Security number.
Financial information: Your annual income, current debts, bank account statements, and more.

As part of the approval process, your lender or card issuer will also do a hard credit check to review your credit history and determine if you qualify for financing. A credit check isn’t required for a 401(k) loan or wedding fund website, and the information you need to provide may differ.

This article was edited by Alicia Hahn.