A wedding is a significant event in anyone’s life, and you deserve to make the occasion the day you’ve always dreamed of. However, it’s no secret that wedding-related costs can be eye-watering, and this can put a strain on your plans and your finances.
While taking out a wedding loan could help to make costs more manageable, it’s vital to understand exactly how a loan works and how your credit score could be affected.
What is a wedding loan?
A wedding loan is money borrowed from a lender which is then used to pay for one or more wedding expenses, such as the dress, flowers, or cake.
In 2025, the average cost of a wedding in the UK is reported to be a staggering £25,625. This figure is unrealistic for many people, however, even if they’re fortunate enough to have savings or help from family and friends.
In the event that your budget falls short of your big day plans, a wedding loan could help to bridge the gap, but there are several things to bear in mind first.
Things to think about before searching for a wedding loan
- Make a ‘wedding priority list’. Which elements of your day are non-negotiable, and which could you be flexible with? For example, you might be adamant about a flower arch, but on the fence when it comes to singing waiters. If you do need to make some financial compromises, start by scrapping the ideas on the ‘low priority’ list, and work towards ticking as many high priority items off as possible.
- Reflect on your plans. When planning a wedding, it can be easy to get swept along in everybody else’s ideas and demands. Your mother-in-law might mean well, but if you had no intention of hiring a cheese fondue before she suggested it, consider removing it from your list of expenses. Remember, this is your money and your day. Of course, you want everyone to have a good time, but it shouldn’t be at the cost of your finances and preferences.
- Consider a wedding loan alternative. A wedding loan isn’t necessarily the best choice for everyone. Could friends and family help out? Could you perhaps suggest that the family help fund a specific cost, rather than buying you a wedding present? Your aunt and uncle might be pleased to put some money towards your flowers, rather than splashing out on a gift they’re not even sure that you’ll like.
You may wish to do some research into different types of credit cards as a wedding loan alternative. For example, a 0% purchase credit card typically comes with a set period of low or no interest spending. - If you do decide that a wedding loan is a suitable option for you, you should be realistic about how much money you can afford to repay. You should never apply to borrow more money than you need.
What can I use a wedding loan for?
You can use a wedding loan to help fund wedding-related costs, including:
- Rings
- Venue
- Catering
- Photographer
- Flowers
You should always spend responsibly, and you should never apply to borrow more money than you need or can afford to repay.
How do wedding loans work?
Wedding loans work in the same way as other types of short-term loans.
1. Apply to borrow the amount of money you need.
2. If your application is approved, the lender will send the money to your bank account.
3. Once received, you can use the money to pay for your expenses.
4. Your wedding loan will be repaid in monthly instalments throughout your chosen loan term. Your monthly repayments will include interest.
Wedding loans: how much money can I apply to borrow, and how long can I borrow it for?
With CashLady, you can search for a wedding loan between £100 and £10,000, with a repayment term from 3 to 60 months. The repayment terms available to you will depend on the amount of money you apply to borrow.
Why choose CashLady to help you search for a wedding loan?
- You can trust us. CashLady is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA).
- We’re here for you. CashLady understands that financial emergencies and wedding cost dilemmas don’t just occur during the day. Our website and online form are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
- We get it: every little helps. We don’t charge any fees for our service.
- We understand you. You’re planning the biggest day of your life – the last thing you want is to have to jump through hoops. Our online form is straightforward and takes just five minutes to complete.
- We’re inclusive. Any credit history is considered.
Who can apply for a wedding loan?
You can search for a wedding loan with CashLady if you:
- Are over the age of 18;
- Are a UK resident;
- Have a UK bank account and a valid debit card; and
- Have a regular source of income paid into your bank account.
Could I get a wedding loan with bad credit?
You could still search for a wedding loan even with bad credit.
CashLady works with several direct lenders who specialise in bad credit loans and could be willing to consider your application.
A bad credit wedding loan could come with a higher rate of interest, so it’s important to factor this in when thinking about your monthly repayments and the overall cost of borrowing.
How can I get a wedding loan?
CashLady is a credit broker, and we could help you search for a wedding loan to suit your situation.
Complete our five-minute online form, and we’ll try to find the best possible match based on the information you provide.
- How we met. Once we know some key information about you, we’ll complete a soft credit check on your financial history. A soft credit check will not harm your credit score.*
- It only takes a minute. The result of our soft credit check will help us begin our search for a suitable wedding loan for you. We’ll get to work scanning our panel of lenders. This stage should take around 60 seconds.
- It’s a match. If you’ve been matched with a wedding loan, you’ll be redirected to the lender’s website. If you’d like to go ahead and make a full application, the lender will complete a creditworthiness assessment.
- Say ‘I do.’ If the lender is satisfied with the outcome of their checks, you will be officially offered the wedding loan. Your lender will let you know when your money could be sent.
At some point during your journey with the lender, you’ll be sent a credit agreement. You should take your time in reading through this carefully before deciding whether the loan is right for you. Pay particular attention to your repayment terms and the interest rate.
I was approved for a wedding loan after using CashLady’s credit broking service, and I have a question: who should I contact?
If you have a question about the initial loan search carried out with CashLady, please don’t hesitate to reach out to our team. They’re available Monday to Friday, between the hours of 9am and 5pm.
If you have any enquiries about the wedding loan you were approved for, please contact your lender. You can find a list of our direct lenders and their contact details here.
How will a wedding loan affect my credit score?
Any type of loan will affect your credit score.
When you apply for a wedding loan directly with a lender, a creditworthiness assessment will be completed, and this could involve a hard search. Undergoing multiple hard searches within a short period will cause your credit score to decline, which is why you should try to limit the number of direct lender applications you make.
One way to do this is by using a credit broker, such as CashLady.
Your credit score will also be impacted by how you manage your monthly repayments. Making your repayments in full and on time each month, alongside handling any existing credit commitments in a similar way, could lead to an improvement in your credit score.
A late or missed repayment will harm your credit score.
If you’re struggling to repay your wedding loan…
If, while repaying your wedding loan, your situation changes and you find yourself unable to make your monthly repayments, you should contact your lender as soon as you can.
Whether an unplanned dentistry bill has burned a hole in your monthly budget or you’ve been made redundant, your lender will understand that unexpected events happen.
They will be keen to work with you to decide the next steps and come up with a plan to help reduce the pressure of your monthly repayments.
Do you need help with debt?
Don’t let money or debt worries rule your life; reach out and get the help you deserve today.
The charities and organisations listed below offer free, confidential and impartial financial advice:
Wedding money-saving tips
Fortunately, there are several ways you could save money on your wedding.
- Explore your options. It might feel like you only have to mention the word ‘wedding’ and an extra zero is suddenly added to the price tag.
Be savvy and shop around. Research different companies and compare prices. Ask family and friends for recommendations or see if they can help you out. If you have a cousin who’s a bit of a star baker, why not ask her if she’d consider making your cake? She may ask for less money than a professional cake maker or even offer to gift it to you for free. - Stay strong at wedding fairs! Swept up in the magic of the day, it can be so easy to book something on a whim and regret it later. If you see a product or service you like, take a business card, discuss it at length with your partner, and sleep on it before you decide.
Don’t fall for ‘scaremongering’ tactics, such as ‘we can’t guarantee that we’ll still be available for your date if you don’t book now’. - Reduce the guest list. With family feuds and plus-ones to consider, putting the guest list together can turn into quite a conundrum for many couples! Perhaps you and your partner could come up with a rule; for example, if you haven’t seen someone for three years (without a good reason), they don’t make the list.
Don’t be afraid to stick to your guns. You have to be cruel to be kind… to your finances. - Rent bridal wear and suits. For the main bridal party, wedding attire will likely be a one-wear affair. Renting could work out as a more cost-effective choice.
*If you’re matched with a loan through CashLady’s credit broking services and you make a full application directly with the lender, a creditworthiness assessment will be carried out. A creditworthiness assessment will include a hard search or Open Banking. A hard search will remain on your credit file for up to 12 months. Multiple hard searches in a short period will be harmful to your credit score.
Open Banking is a safe and secure procedure carried out by authorised third parties, such as lenders. With your consent, Open Banking allows your chosen lender to access your online bank account. This enables them to view your recent financial activity, which could provide them with a more accurate representation of your financial habits, rather than relying on your credit score alone.