Prenuptial Agreements Under UK LawPosted by Kim Rix on March 30th, 2010

Dear Bride and Groom,

We often read about our ‘celebrity peers’ drafting pre-nuptial agreements before they get married. In fact a lot of wealthy people would probably draft up this agreement in the event they were marrying a ‘poorer’ partner to quash any ‘marrying for money’ rumours.

But what actually are the benefits of a pre-nup?

The first, and very important, thing to say is that a Pre-Nuptial (or pre-marital) Agreement is not enforceable under UK law. Surprised? The fact is that the American and media view of the pre-nup is not reflective of the fact. If your marriage does end in divorce there is no reason for the judge to rule to the terms laid out in your pre-nup. It is their job to do their best by everyone and as they see fit, so if they choose to disregard it completely, then they can.

Ok. So that is a big con. But what are the positives?

In short marriages, or those where there are no children then a pre-nup can be useful in settling assets. It outlines the original terms and conditions of marriage and may give the judge some insight to the characters of the couple he is dealing with. They are more likely to take this into consideration and only make minor recommendations and enforcements.

Where children are involved in a divorce it is very unlikely that a pre-nup will be considered. The needs of all parties have changed during their time together and the judge must act in the best interest of all.

Most solicitors in the UK would agree that they are not worth the paper they are written on and would generally advise against it as an unnecessary expense and hassle. Although 5% of British couples are thought to have one written they are more common amongst the wealthy or the celebrities.  The simple fact is they might not actually do you much good.

If you had been thinking about a pre-nuptial agreement and are now having second thoughts it would be worth speaking to your solicitor for their recommendation.

Kind regards,

Kim Rix

Your London Wedding Planner

“Freeing up your time”

British Weddings Vs American WeddingsPosted by Kim Rix on March 23rd, 2010

Dear Bride and Groom,

Britain and the USA have a great relationship. Both countries are heavily influenced by each other. As Brits we love the American confidence, glamour, sunshine and positivity. Americans love the British accent, the romance, history and tradition.

Much like in the UK the USA is seeing a decline in marriage rates. The couples that do get married are also marrying much older.

In the UK the average age of the first time bride is 29 and in the US it is 26. These have been slowly rising over the past few decades. For most men in the UK they would expect to be in their early thirties before getting married and in the US they wouldn’t be too far off at 28. Only a few decades ago your mother would have been giving you worried glances if you were unmarried in your late twenties, now you will be seen as a young bride or groom!

We are both equally extravagant in the amount we spend on our weddings too. The average bill in the USA comes to around $30k (just over £19k at the current exchange) and in the UK we spend a little more at around £22k ($33k). The Brits are also eager to marry with the average engagement being 18 months to America’s 19.

There are no huge differences in the wedding ceremonies and celebrations themselves. Many of our traditions have been amalgamated and mixed in with other cultures and country’s traditions. Indeed what is legal and expected in England is different to that in Scotland and so on. As long as the legal vows are said and the certificate is signed, all is well!

One thing I did enjoy at a recent American wedding was a rather extravagant ‘Groom’s Cake’. Although I didn’t much care for them stuffing it into each other’s mouths…can’t comment if that is necessarily traditional though!

Happy planning!

Kind regards,

Kim Rix

Your London Wedding Planner

Brides, are you keeping your maiden name?Posted by Kim Rix on March 17th, 2010

Dear Bride,

Just when you think you’ve thought of everything, another question comes along! And this is quite a big one. Brides, are you keeping your maiden name or taking your married surname?

There is no legal obligation for the bride to take her husband’s surname upon marriage. It is a tradition that has been carried out for centuries and was for a long time seen as the norm. More women are making careful choices about whether they will take their husband’s name, whether to keep their own or even opting for the double-barreled surname. 

If you decide to take your husband’s surname then there are a number of things you will have to do in order to change your documents and formalize your identity.

The best advice I can give is to get several Marriage Certificates in order to send to all the parties who request them. Remembering this early will save you a lot of time and hassle. The Marriage Certificate legally entitles you to change your name and is all the evidence you need of this.

For most places you will be expected to send in a copy (or original) of your marriage certificate with an accompanying letter explaining your name change request. Some institutions may have a separate form for you to fill out – but this shouldn’t be too complicated.

I found this great list of places and people you should notify on Wedding Chaos at: http://www.weddingchaos.co.uk/changing-your-name.asp

·  Employer

·  Inland Revenue for tax and NI records (obtain your reference and tax office address from your employer)

·  Bank (mortgage and/or saving accounts)

·  Building Society (mortgage and/or saving accounts)

·  Credit card companies

·  Finance/loan companies

·  Local Authority (Council tax and register of electors)

·  Department of Work and Pensions (if you are entitled to any benefits)

·  Police (if you have any criminal actions against you or are on the Sex Offenders’ Registry)

·  HM Land Registry (if you own land or property)

·  Pension providers

·  Passport Office (apply for a name passport)

·  DVLA (apply for a new drivers license)

·  Motoring organisations (breakdown organisations)

·  Utility services (ie. Gas, electricity, water and sewerage providers)

·  Telephone provider

·  Internet provider

·  Mobile phone provider

·  Royal Mail

·  Insurance companies (buildings, life, motor, endowments, contents etc.)

·  Premium Bonds Office

·  Mail-order companies

·  Doctor

·  Dentist

·  Vets (if applicable)

·  TV license Office

·  School/college/university

·  Professional Institutes and bodies

·  Library

·  Clubs, societies and associations

·  Magazine subscriptions

·  If either or both of you have a will, this should be reviewed after you are married.

One very handy tip for you is that you can change your Passport in advance so that you can jet off on honeymoon with your new name! You can apply for the new passport up to 3 months before the wedding – but it won’t be valid until after the marriage. For more information on passports visit http://www.ips.gov.uk/cps/rde/xchg/ips_live/hs.xsl/index.htm

Kind regards,

Kim Rix

Your London Wedding Planner

About The UK Wedding LicensePosted by Kim Rix on March 9th, 2010

Dear Bride and Groom,

The most important thing you need to remember for your wedding day (apart from turning up of course) is the wedding license (marriage license). Without this document your marriage cannot go ahead or be seen as legal in the eyes of the law.

Obtaining a wedding license is not difficult. Although it may seem like there is a lot to it, it is actually very simple and easy to do.

Depending on where you live in the UK the formalities of obtaining your wedding license are slightly different. So although I am going to give you a basic outline please check http://www.direct.gov.uk for up to date information and links to your area.

In order to obtain a wedding license you must first give notice of your intention to wed. In England you must give notice in the registry office of the district that you live in – and you must have been living there for at least 7 days. If you live in a different area to your partner then you will still give notice to the registry that is local to you, even if you are not getting married there. (In Scotland you give notice in the district where you will be married and you do not need to be a resident)

The minimum notice period is 15 days before your wedding and the notice itself is valid for one year from submission. To complete the notice you will be required to provide your name, age (bring a birth certificate if you can), address, nationality, occupation, current marital status and the venue for your marriage. It is advisable to take any supporting documentation that you can to prove you are who you say you are!

Registering a marriage in the Church of England or Wales operates slightly differently again so it is always best to speak to your local registrar or officiant, or conduct research online before making any assumptions!

Kind regards,

Kim Rix

Your London Wedding Planner

The Importance of the Wedding Checklist and TimelinePosted by Kim Rix on March 3rd, 2010

Dear Bride and Groom,

So, how soon is it until your big day? Years? Months? DAYS!?

Do you know everything that you have to get done before then? And when it has to be done by?

Even if you feel like you are in control and on top of everything, I can promise you that the closer you get to your wedding, the more likely you are to drop the ball and miss something. There is a lot to consider, a lot to book and a lot to check.

I had an awful call one time from a bride who had suddenly realised they had forgotten to submit the Marriage Notice Forms to the registrar in time and were now in danger of not being able to be married at all! You would be surprised how often this does happen. 

This is why I cannot stress to you enough the important of creating (and sticking to!) a checklist and timeline for all aspects of your wedding. You can create this as far in advance as possible and just amend as you go. It also means if you have friends and family helping, they can have copies and make sure they are fulfilling their tasks in time, and support you in anything that you need. And that might just be a gentle reminder about setting an appointment or paying a second instalment etc.

How you create, or where you create your checklist is up to you! You might want to make an excel spreadsheet, perhaps you are happy logging tasks into your computer calendar or maybe it’s a paper diary, but you need something!

When you are putting in your tasks you want to work backwards from your wedding date (and even give yourself an extra week in there for breathing room). There are plenty of resources, calendars and advice available in books or online that can prompt you for things you might want to add. And don’t forget that friends or parents that have been through this have plenty of advice to give you – and you should listen to it too!

Kind regards,

Kim Rix

Your London Wedding Planner

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