Saying ‘i do’ to debt is the new reality for many young couples.
The tradition of a parent’s generation footing the entire bill for a wedding is rapidly fading into the past. In 2025, Gen Z couples are taking on the financial responsibility for their own big day, and they are doing so in an era of high costs and high expectations. To achieve the wedding they’ve envisioned, many are turning to financing.
From personal loans to “buy now, pay later” services, debt is becoming a common, if unglamorous, part of the modern wedding budget.
1. The venue rental fee.
This is almost always the first and largest check a couple has to write. Securing a dream venue, whether it’s a rustic barn here in California or a chic industrial loft, can cost tens of thousands of dollars, and a hefty, non-refundable deposit is required upfront to lock in the date. For most young couples, this amount is not sitting in their checking account. As a result, a small personal loan specifically to cover the venue deposit and final payment is becoming increasingly common. It’s the foundational expense that everything else is built upon.
2. The photographer and videographer package.
For the most online generation in history, if it isn’t beautifully documented, it didn’t happen. Gen Z places an enormous value on high-quality, professional photography and videography. They want a cinematic highlight reel and a gallery of “Instagram-worthy” images. Top-tier creative professionals who can deliver this aesthetic command high prices, often ranging from $5,000 to well over $10,000. This is seen as a non-negotiable investment, and many vendors now offer payment plans or partner with “buy now, pay later” services to make their packages more accessible to young couples.
3. The engagement ring and wedding bands.
The tradition of a diamond engagement ring is still very much alive, and it’s one of the first major expenses a couple faces. Even with the rise of more affordable lab-grown diamonds and alternative stones, a quality ring is a significant purchase that can easily run into the thousands of dollars. This is a classic item for financing, often through a store’s specific credit card or a payment plan. Many jewelers heavily promote these financing options, offering “zero interest” deals that are appealing to young buyers, making the total for jewelry an expense that is often paid off long after the ceremony.
4. The “content creator” for social media.
A uniquely Gen Z expense, many couples are now hiring a “wedding content creator” in addition to their traditional photographer and videographer. This person’s sole job is to capture behind-the-scenes moments on a smartphone and create trendy, edited TikToks and Instagram Reels in real-time for immediate posting. This instant social media gratification comes at a price, often costing a thousand dollars or more. As a new and specialized service, it’s an extra cost that is frequently put on a credit card, deemed essential for a generation that lives their lives online.
5. The honeymoon is booked now and paid for later.
Instead of waiting months or years to save up for a dream honeymoon, many Gen Z couples want that instant gratification. They are booking lavish trips to Bali, Italy, or the Maldives to take place immediately after the wedding. They are able to do this by using “buy now, pay later” services like Affirm and Klarna, which are now fully integrated into many airline and travel booking websites. This allows them to lock in the trip of a lifetime with a small initial payment, adding the cost of their vacation to the growing list of monthly payments they’ll be making as newlyweds.
6. The high-end “guest experience”.
Gen Z couples are highly focused on making sure their guests have an amazing and memorable time. This often translates into expensive “guest experience” upgrades. They are choosing a live band over a DJ, offering a premium open bar with signature cocktails, or hiring unique entertainment like a live painter, a magician, or a mobile photo booth. These are the “wow” factors that make a wedding stand out on social media. Each of these add-ons can cost thousands of dollars, and their cumulative cost is an expense that is frequently financed as part of the overall wedding loan.
7. The multi-day destination bachelor/bachelorette party.
The one-night bachelor or bachelorette party is a thing of the past. The current trend is a multi-day destination extravaganza, often in a high-cost location like Las Vegas, Miami, or even an international spot like Cabo San Lucas. While guests are expected to cover their own travel, the couple, particularly the bride or groom, often feels pressured to pay for a lavish Airbnb, a boat rental, or other group activities. These weekend-long parties can add thousands to the personal debt a couple takes on before they even walk down the aisle.
8. Elaborate floral and decor installations.
Driven by the aesthetics of Pinterest and Instagram, wedding decor has become much more elaborate. Gen Z couples are not content with simple table centerpieces. They are opting for massive floral arches, hanging floral installations over the dance floor, and custom-built backdrops that create dramatic photo opportunities. These large-scale decorations require specialized designers and a huge quantity of flowers, making them one of the most surprisingly expensive parts of a modern wedding. The cost for these “Instagrammable” moments is often rolled into a larger wedding loan, seen as essential for creating the right vibe.
9. The wedding attire for the entire weekend.
It’s no longer just about the one wedding dress or the one tuxedo. A modern wedding is often a multi-day affair that requires a full wardrobe. There’s the rehearsal dinner outfit, the getting-ready outfit, the ceremony outfit, the reception outfit, and the morning-after brunch outfit. For a generation focused on personal style and photo ops, each of these looks is carefully planned and purchased. Many bridal boutiques offer financing plans for the main dress, while the rest of these expensive outfits are typically purchased with credit cards, contributing to the overall debt of the event.
10. A full-service wedding planner.
With weddings becoming more complex, multi-day events with numerous vendors and a specific aesthetic vision, many Gen Z couples feel that a wedding planner is an absolute necessity, not a luxury. A full-service planner who can manage the logistics and execute their vision can cost 15-20% of the entire wedding budget, a significant fee that can easily be $10,000 or more. This professional fee is one of the first things a couple will budget for, and it is often financed as part of the initial personal loan they take out to begin the planning process.
11. The catering and open bar bill.
After the venue, food and alcohol are the biggest line items in any wedding budget. The per-person cost for a catered meal and a full open bar can easily be $150-$250 or more, especially in a high-cost area like California. For a wedding with 100 guests, this bill can quickly climb to over $20,000. This is a massive expense that most young couples cannot pay for out of their savings. It is almost always the largest component of a wedding loan, a necessary cost for hosting the kind of celebratory party they want to share with their friends and family.