That said, if (and only if) you have the cash to pay for your wedding, a credit card can be a good option. Here’s why: Using credit can protect your money from fraud and earn you points for flights and even hotels (hello, honeymoon https://rapidloan.net/installment-loans-il/!). Just try not to pay for wedding things with money you don’t have yet, and you’ll be fine

Ding, ding! This is the way to go. Avoid wedding loans and take some time to create a wedding budget and truly save up for the things you want. There’s no harm in a long engagement. Many times, venues are already booked more than a year in advance anyway. Having one will allow you to have enough time to truly plan the wedding and save up for the items that are nonnegotiable, and even splurge on a few things you’ve always hoped to have. “I would rather have you postpone your engagement six months to a year to save money,” says Lyons Cole. “Paying forward by saving is much better than paying backwards with debt.

Anything above 700 is usually considered a good credit score

Personal loans can range from anywhere between $1,000 and $50,000. The same goes for online companies like Upstart. “Upstart offers three and five year loans, with no prepayment penalty. You can ount and term length you and your partner are most comfortable with,” says Byun

At the risk of sounding like a broken record, getting a wedding loan may not be the best idea out there. But if you’re still reading and you’ve made up your mind, here’s everything you’ll need to get a personal loan to cover wedding costs

If you’re looking to get a wedding loan, you’ll have to ensure your financials are in order. The biggest factor, traditionally, is your credit score. However, you can still get a loan with a lower score. At lending website Upstart, you’ll still need a score of 620 or higher to qualify for a loan, says Byun. To figure out your credit score, there are a number of free credit score sites. (We trust CreditKarma to easily figure out your credit score.)

This makes applying for a loan incredibly simple and fast

Beyond the credit score, your institution will want to take a look at your proof of income, bank statements and any other debt you might have (student loans, mortgages, etc.). You’ll have to check with your institution to find out what specific documents and qualifications you’ll need. In other words, online wedding loans require many of the same types of documentation as any other loan. “At Upstart, we’ve worked hard to automate much of our process. Our customer service team is also available to help every step of the way,” says Byun.But again, don’t feel like you have to turn to a wedding loan to pay for your big day. There are lots of ways to save and cut wedding costs. We know budgeting for the wedding can be arduous, and there are just some things out there that are too cool not to have, but we simply have to impress upon you that starting your future in debt is not a good way to kick off your marriage. Need a basic rundown of a simple wedding budget? Looking for expensive wedding dates to avoid? Or need simple planning advice to get a handle on the whole process? We’ve got you completely covered, below.

• You’ll improve your credit score. Couples looking to build or improve their credit can boost their score by successfully paying their marriage loan. Make sure not to miss payments or make late payments. A higher credit score will make it easier to get loans in the future and keep your interest rates low.

We should warn you that most financial advisers are wary of credit cards and lines of credit when it comes to alternative ways to pay for your wedding. For Lyons Cole, this is one of the fastest ways to get into deep debt. “Obviously, as a financial planner, my advice would always be to create a budget and only pay for things you can afford,” says Lyons Cole. “Don’t go into credit card debt for a wedding.”