Home Equity Loan for a Wedding

Are you thinking of using home equity to pay for a wedding?

I don’t like the idea of using a home equity loan to finance a wedding. While providing cash, borrowing money presents unnecessary risk. Late payments could impact your credit score, and defaulting could mean losing your home. Proverbs 21:5 reads: “The plans of the diligent lead to profit as surely as haste leads to poverty.” A strategic repayment plan is necessary, or the same need for cash could arise in the future. Borrowing money for debt or luxuries can simply compound your spending problem. Consider a cash-out refinance. Rates are beginning to rise, but they may be lower than a current mortgage. Consult several lenders, know all the costs involved, and pray for wisdom to determine if you should proceed. Seek counsel from those who understand the pros and cons.

Frugal weddings are nothing to be ashamed of. Years ago, I read a survey that weddings featuring low cost but a high number of guests produced longer-lasting marriages than high-cost weddings with fewer guests. Choose to have a God-glorifying celebration that ignores the world’s expensive productions. Ask friends to help you crowdsource flowers. Use your church or find inexpensive venues to rent. Recruit volunteers for music, pictures, and food for the rehearsal or reception. Pray for patience while trusting God to grant you the desires of your heart. A wedding lasts a few hours, but a marriage lasts a lifetime. So set an example. Avoid a home equity loan.

And if you want to get married but credit card debt is holding you back, I recommend Christian Credit Counselors. For more information call the Crown Helpline: 800-722-1976 or visit online at crown.org/ccc.