How to Finance Your Upcoming Wedding

Your wedding day is the most important day of your life. From the dress and tux to the flowers and decorations to the ceremony and the reception, the event is filled with memories. You want a wedding that reflects on you and your partner. You want your dream ceremony. Costs quickly rise, however. The bridal ensemble costs money, food costs money, DJs cost money — you get the idea. There are a number of ways you can finance your wedding, though. In fact, by the time you get done reading this, you'll have some great ideas for planning your ceremony!

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1. Save 'til You Drop

Back in the day, it was considered the status quo for the bride's family to pay for the wedding. That's cool and some still choose to do so, but a lot of couples choose to pay for their weddings themselves. If you start saving even just a year or two beforehand, you'll have plenty of time to save up the money you need for a great ceremony. You can start saving by:

• Putting aside a wedding savings account.
• Budgeting
• Cutting out some luxuries.

2. Get Yourself a Loan

A  wedding  is, ideally,  a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. You can  definitely  look  into personal installment loans to finance your big day. It's worth the effort when you need the money. Afterward, you'll have plenty of time to pay it off; doing so on time may even improve your credit rating. This is sometimes the best way to pay for your wedding, especially if no other outlets are available to you.

3. Request Cash Gifts

Believe it or not, it's becoming more and more acceptable to accept cash gifts from your guests. Asking for money instead of gifts can really help with the cost of putting together a wedding. You can send requests with your invitations or Save the Date cards. Of course, if that's not your cup of tea, there is another option...

4. Get Help from Your Loved Ones

You can also ask your family and friends for some financial help. Some couples ask for this kind of assistance in lieu of a wedding gift. That way, they might be able to afford what they would otherwise have to skip. Frequently, financial aid is the best gift a couple can receive.

5. Have a Sale

Finally, it might be a good time to sell some of the things you no longer use. Have a garage sale or a yard sale. Clean out your garage or empty out the attic. You can prepare for your new life by getting rid of old things you don't need anymore, and make money in the bargain.

There are lots of ways to finance your wedding. From saving to selling to getting a loan, there are plenty of avenues available to you. Are you saving up for your wedding? Please share any financial tips you have, too!

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