Wedding Season Is Back: Here’s How To Finance Yours

Personal loans are ideally suited to cover the expense of a wedding because you can use the money for anything. Other types of loans might have restrictions on what you can use the money for. And, many different lenders offer personal loans. Aside from banks and credit unions, online lenders are also offering personal loans. That means you’ll be able to shop around for a good rate. And, even if you don’t have the best credit, you should still be able to get approved. You might have to pay the loan back at a higher interest rate, but the rate is still likely to be lower than credit card interest rates.

A personal loan is an unsecured loan. That means that the lender is taking a risk approving an individual for a loan because the person is not putting up any collateral. If you have a good credit score, the lender considers you to be less of a risk. Subsequently, you’ll also benefit from getting the loan at a lower interest rate.

The terms and interest rates of personal loans will vary from lender to lender. How much you want to borrow will also determine the terms and interest rate. So, before you go seeking a loan, you should try to estimate how much your wedding will cost.

You’ll need to start getting quotes from all the vendors you plan to use. These might include the catering hall, the DJ or band, the florist, the photographer and others. Once you’ve gathered all your quotes, you should start to get a general idea of how much the wedding might cost. You’ll need to account for a few extras as well, such as the wedding dress, wedding rings, etc. Plan on spending more than what you initially estimate. This way, you’ll be sure to get a loan that covers everything, instead of being short.

Again, the amount you can borrow will vary from lender to lender. Your credit score will also be a determining factor. Other criteria that affect the loan amount include your debt-to-income ratio and whether or not you have a co-signer on the loan. Loan amounts can range anywhere from $1,000 to $1000,000. It’s very important to keep in mind that you’ll need to be able to make your monthly payments to repay the loan.

Now that you know that a personal loan is a potential option for how to pay for a wedding, consider the following to ensure it is the right choice for you.

Check Your Credit Score

As mentioned earlier, your credit score will play a big role in getting approved for a loan and the terms of the loan. You can pull your credit report for free from any of the major credit reporting bureaus. Check to make sure everything seems accurate. There may be some older bad marks to remove. If your credit score needs improving, you should have time to do so before the wedding date.

Consider Getting Prequalified

If you aren’t quite sure what type of personal loan you’ll be able to get, you can try getting prequalified. This entails simply sitting down with a lender and going over a few things. The lender will ask a few questions about your finances. With this information, the lender can give you a general idea of the loan terms you qualify for.

Do Your Due Diligence

Weddings can cost quite a bit. That means you might want a loan for a significant amount of money. And that means you’ll want the most favorable terms you can get. With your credit score and the information from the pre-qualification discussion, you’ll be able to compare different lenders. This is an important step in determining how to pay for a wedding with a personal loan. You’ll want to compare interest rates and loan terms, as well as any fees. Many personal loans come with origination fees, while some have prepayment penalties.

When you are trying to decide how to pay for a wedding, there are many reasons why a personal loan might be a good idea. For starters, you can get the cash pretty quickly. In most cases, you can have the money in just a few days and often even quicker. Additionally, personal loans don’t require collateral. And a loan with a low interest rate and no prepayment penalties is definitely a plus.

However, there are a few cons to using a personal loan to pay for a wedding. The first is that you will begin your marriage with a fair amount of debt. This can affect you negatively if you then wanted to get a car loan or a mortgage. You’ll also be paying interest over the term of the loan. That means your wedding will actually cost you much more than you planned for in the long run.

If you aren’t certain about financing your wedding with a personal loan, there are a few other alternatives for how to pay for a wedding. The best alternative is to simply start saving early. Then, hopefully, you’ll have the cash you need when the wedding day comes and you can avoid debt. Another option is a home equity line of credit. This is only feasible if you already own a home. No matter which option you ultimately choose, remember to enjoy your wedding day!