Once the excitement of the proposal has calmed down slightly, you can begin to plan your dream wedding. Organising a wedding is not always the easiest task; you need to wrangle vendors, sort out tailoring appointments and do lots of visits to venues and wedding fairs.
Although those are considered to be the fun side of wedding planning, there are legal aspects you need to consider. Some of these even have time limits that you need to be aware of. Here are some things to remember before you walk down the aisle.
How do you finance a wedding?
Weddings can easily spiral out of control when it comes to the cost. It is easy to get swept up in wanting everything to be perfect whilst not considering the price tag.
Before you make any decisions, sit down with your soon-to-be spouse and work out a budget. Choosing to get married in five years gives you space to save and increase that budget.
Although talking about money can be a bit taboo for some families, you may find that some relatives want to contribute financially to your wedding planning. Add these contributions to your budget so you have a realistic idea of what you can afford.
How should you divide your assets?
It isn’t the most romantic topic to discuss, but you and your fiancé need to be clear about how you will divide your assets once married.
Nuptial agreements are becoming more common as both parties have more assets before embarking on marriage. These contracts provide security to protect your interests in the worst-case scenario of divorce.
Although thinking about divorce may seem like a bad omen, you need a plan for every possibility. Speak to legal experts to make sure both parties are satisfied and protected when drafting an agreement.
Where should you get married?
Where you get married largely depends on your ceremony style. For couples who are non-religious, a civil ceremony will be your best bet. These typically take place at a registry office or an approved venue. There are hundreds of stunning venues across the UK, so try to narrow down your preferred area before you start booking visits.
If a religious ceremony is important to you, then speak to your church, synagogue or mosque. They may have their own criteria for being able to get married in their space.
What documents are needed?
Before your big day, you will need to give notice of your intention to marry. This takes place in person at your local register office and is a legal requirement. You must do this at least 29 days before your ceremony, but it is best to contact them earlier in case of delays.
Remember to take any documentation requested with you. Typically, you need to provide proof of your name and any name changes as well as proof of your age, nationality and address – non-residents will need proof of entitlement to be in the UK. If you have been married before you will need evidence of a divorce or a death certificate if you are a widow.
