Wedding Loans:
6 things to consider when tying the knot

couple looking at their wedding photos

 Estimated read time: 3 Minutes

Getting married is considered by many to be one of life’s important milestones, so it’s no surprise that couples tend to spend a lot of money on the big day.

We explore some of the ways you can fund your wedding, and help you understand some important considerations if you’re going down the borrowing route. 

What is a 'wedding loan'? A wedding loan is simply a personal loan that you could apply for to cover the cost of your wedding. Wedding loans could assist you by borrowing a fixed sum of money on an unsecured basis for a short term. We offer personal loans with variable or fixed interest rates, and let you choose to make your repayments weekly, fortnightly or monthly.

What is a 'wedding loan'? 

A wedding loan is simply a personal loan that you could apply for to cover the cost of your wedding. Wedding loans could assist you by borrowing a fixed sum of money on an unsecured basis for a short term. We offer personal loans with variable or fixed interest rates, and let you choose to make your repayments weekly, fortnightly or monthly.

60% of surveyed couples used a personal loan to help finance their wedding.1

What to consider before taking on a wedding loan

Wedding loans are becoming an increasingly popular in Australia – a survey by MoneySmart showing that 60% of respondents used a personal loan as a way to finance their wedding.  

But before deciding to get a personal loan for your big day, there are some things you need to think about, including:

Serviceability

Serviceability is your ability to make repayments on a loan after all other expenses you pay each month are covered.

The factors that define serviceability vary but lenders like Pepper Money can use both a serviceability calculation as well as the debt service ratio to determine how desirable a borrower may be.

Credit score

Having a poor credit score doesn’t mean you can’t get a loan, but it may impact how desirable you are as a borrower to a lender.

Loan terms

Stretching your loan term means your regular repayment amount is a smaller dollar figure, but it’ll mean paying more interest overall and you’ll be in debt for longer.

Interest rates

A fixed rate means the interest won’t change over the course of your loan, while a variable rate means it could go up and down as market rates change.

Additional fees and charges

Lenders may charge other fees, such as early repayment fees or default fees. It’s a good idea to read the contract before proceeding with the loan to ensure you have a good understanding of the costs involved.

Supporting documentation

It’s often necessary to show documentation to help lenders assess your eligibility. This can include things like your bank statements, proof of identity and proof of income.

Potential benefits and disadvantages of using a personal loan to finance your wedding

Choosing to finance your wedding will ultimately depend on your circumstances and personal preferences. Wedding loans could be convenient if you don't have the savings to cover the wedding and would prefer to manage the cost over time.

Spreading the repayments out over time may mean you can afford more of the features you want for your wedding, and will hopefully reduce the stress that a tight budget can bring.

However, borrowing isn’t a solution for everyone. Some couples prefer to get the cost out of the way and avoid worrying about debt after the wedding.

Alternative ways to finance your wedding

Loans are not your only option. Here are a few alternative ways of obtaining the money you need to fund your big day:

Savings: 82% of couples tying the knot dipped into their savings to pay for their wedding1.

Credit cards: Depending on the amount you are looking to borrow, credit cards can also seem like a convenient option. However, you could be faced with substantially higher interest charges.

Borrowing from family: Another option is to see if there is a family member who could lend you some money.

Pushing back the wedding: It might sound drastic, but you could also consider pushing back the date of your wedding to allow more time to save.

We're here to help

If your dream day is on the horizon, and you don't have enough funds to cover the full cost of your wedding, applying for a personal loan may be an option.

To get you started, find out what your indicative interest rate and repayments might be before applying, without affecting your credit score. 

Got a question? Give us a call on 1300 108 794

Sources:
1 MoneySmart.gov.au Getting Married: https://moneysmart.gov.au/family-and-relationships/getting-married. 

Contributor | Vasè Marcevska, Head of Direct Sales – Mortgages and Personal Loans

Vasè has over 16 years of experience in the Banking and Finance sector, specifically within the Third Party and Consumer lending industry. Her expertise now focuses on enhancing our Customer program through a deep understanding of mortgage origination and service excellence across our Financial products.
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Information provided is factual information only and is not intended to imply any recommendation about any financial product(s) or constitute tax advice. If you require financial or tax advice you should consult a licensed financial or tax adviser.

All applications for credit are subject to credit assessment, eligibility criteria and lending limits. Terms, conditions, fees and charges apply. 

The results of the borrowing power calculator are based on information you have provided and is to be used as a guide only. The output of the calculator is subject to the assumptions provided in the calculator (see 'about this calculator') and are subject to change. It does not constitute a quote, pre-qualification, approval for credit or an offer for credit and you should not enter commitments based on it. The interest rates do not reflect true interest rates and the formula used for the purpose of calculating estimated borrowing power is based on the assumption that interest rates remain constant for the chosen loan term. Your borrowing power amount will be different if a full application is submitted and we complete responsible lending assessment. The results in the calculator do not take into account loan setup or establishment fees nor government, statutory or lenders fees, which may be applicable from time to time. Calculator by Widgetworks.

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