With the average wedding costing between £15,000 and £20,000 it's no surprise that many people struggle to save up for their big day and turn to a loan for help. If your big day is fast approaching – finding the right loan could be a real weight off your mind.

What should you look for in a loan?

If you're thinking of taking out a loan for all those items still on your wedding checklist, be sure to think about these questions:

• What can you comfortably pay back every month? It's important to know what you can realistically afford every month. This will help you decide how much you can borrow – and over what period.
• What is the interest rate – and is it fixed? Be mindful of interest rates that aren't fixed as they can go up – meaning you'll end up paying back more every month than you planned on.
• Can you choose the repayment period to suit your budget? Or is it set by the bank? Once you know the interest rate and what you can afford, the period over which you pay it back will determine what you pay every month. A bank loan that lets you set the repayment period means you can choose to repay the loan over a longer time span – which will keep your monthly costs down, but may mean you pay more in the long term.

Doing the numbers

Of course, using a loans calculator takes the hassle out of doing the numbers. All you do is enter the amount you want to borrow, the period over which you'd like to pay it back – and it can tell you what the monthly cost will be. You can then decide what you can realistically afford.

Still need to cut costs?

There are plenty of ways you can save money on your wedding. Have you thought about avoiding the high season of May to October? Or if you've already set the date, you could consider a daytime reception – since most places charge more to have them in the evening.

And there's a big saving to be made on invites. Try to keep to a single sheet and avoid separate enclosure cards. It saves on both paper and postage. And of course, you could always email out wedding invites – or if you have the time, pick up the phone and tell everyone the good news.

Simple cost saving ideas – and the right loan – could go a long way to make your wedding day affordable. And when the money worries are out of the way, you can focus on enjoying your special day.