How can I pay for a wedding with no money?

It’s very difficult to get wedding grants. Two companies that advertise them are Wish Upon a Wedding and SwanLuv. The former is for people who have serious health issues. And it’s unclear whether the latter is even accepting applicants anymore. Its terms also have a big catch: You have to pay the money back if you divorce. Two other ways to get grants for a wedding are by entering contests and receiving a sponsorship. There are no government grants for weddings.... read full answer

Wish Upon a Wedding is a nonprofit organization that helps couples experiencing life-threatening or life-altering health problems afford to get married. Their website says they have “granted 141 wishes” since 2010. Each wish package includes a venue, photography and videography, cake, flowers, music, officiation, stationary, DJ/music, catering for up to 50 guests and more. This organization works with couples in all 50 states. You can see if you are eligible for a grant, and learn more about what expenses are included, on Wish Upon a Wedding’s website.

Another company that reportedly gives wedding grants is SwanLuv. This company says it will provide up to $10,000 to couples who are planning to be married in the next two years. This money is a free grant that you don’t have to pay back – if you stay together. If you get divorced, you’ll have to pay back the $10,000 plus interest. The interest rate is set by the company after you apply (they don’t disclose an overall range). However, there doesn’t actually appear to be a place to apply on SwanLuv’s website at the moment. And news reports from 2016, along with statements on the company’s Facebook page, suggest they were planning to rebrand into a crowdfunding website. The current website still shows all the original information, though.

Unfortunately, there don’t appear to be any government grants for a wedding. The government does have something called the Healthy Marriage and Responsible Fatherhood (HMRF) initiative. But that gives grants to organizations that help promote “healthy marriage and relationship education, responsible fatherhood, and reentry services for currently or formerly incarcerated fathers.” It isn’t something people can apply for individually, and it doesn’t help finance weddings.

You may be able to get a grant of sorts from a wedding contest/giveaway. Certain companies and organizations offer sweepstakes with the chance to win free honeymoons, wedding dresses and more. For example, the magazine Bridal Guide has a few sweepstakes going on that feature honeymoons and bridal gowns.

Lastly, you could get a grant through a sponsorship with a wedding company. In this arrangement, a couple gets certain aspects of their wedding (like catering, venue rental, or flowers) for free or at a reduced cost in return for advertising the provider through the invitations, programs, signs and/or other ways. This option is really only available to couples with a strong social media following, as the thought is that you will influence your audience to purchase from the company.

One of the best ways to get money for a wedding fast is to take out a personal loan from LightStream. They offer same-day approval and funding in many cases, and usually won’t take more than 2 business days from when you apply. LightStream offers loans specifically for wedding financing with APRs ranging from 5.95% to 17.29%. You’ll reportedly need to have a credit score of at least 660 to qualify. Other lenders with fast approval times include Best Egg, Rocket Loans and Marcus.... read full answer

Another way to get money for a wedding fast is to use a credit card. You’ll be able to make a purchase instantly and pay it off over time. Given how high credit card interest rates can be, however, the best approach is to plan a couple weeks ahead and apply online for a 0% APR credit card. It will give you an opportunity to pay off your purchases interest-free during the introductory period. Plus, there’s usually a chance for instant approval when you apply online for a credit card. Although it generally takes 7-10 business days to receive a card after you’re approved, many companies allow you to expedite delivery to 1-3 business days for a small fee or even for free. You’ll need a credit score of at least 700 to qualify for a good 0% APR card.

If you have some valuable possessions that you’re not overly attached to, you could also sell them to make some extra money. Sites like Craigslist usually lead to fast responses from interested buyers. Finally, one other major place you can get money for a wedding fast is from family or friends. Whether you’re borrowing the money or receiving it as a gift, you won’t have to go through any kind of approval process. So you can get the money as soon as the person writes you a check.

That said, it’s best not to rush your wedding purchases, if possible. Taking your time to shop around can ensure you get the best deals and save as much money as possible.