UK Marriage laws
The laws are not complex, but they must be carefully followed for your marriage to be legal. It is a good idea just to check through the relevant marriage laws to make sure everything is correct, whether you are getting married in church, in a registry office or in a venue licensed for civil ceremonies. To get married in the UK you must both be single and at least 16 years old, or 18 years without parental consent. The marriage must be legally solemnised in a designated place between 8am and 6pm and at least two witnesses must be present at the wedding.
Wedding finance
Finance is the most common factor which causes stress during the journey of planning your wedding. While balancing so many different demands, it is easy to lose control of what money is going is where! It is an important day and you want to have the very best, so having everything in its correct place, as well as to budget, is quite a challenge and careful budget planning is crucial.
Wedding insurance
Unglamorous as it may seem on your budget sheet, wedding insurance is increasingly necessary as wedding costs spiral. Don’t assume that weddings only get cancelled because of a change of heart. The death of a close relative, a broken bone or an overseas posting can mean having to postpone your wedding, and wedding insurance can help you recover at least some of your costs. Managing your wedding finance is going to be tricky enough as it is but if your wedding is cancelled and you have no wedding insurance it is going to be a lot harder. Wedding insurance also covers unforeseen problems on the day such as damaged hired items, theft of wedding gifts and failure of a supplier.
Wedding supplier contracts
In the course of planning a wedding the average couple will sign contracts to the value of between £10,000 and £20,000, but how many actually read the small print unless something goes wrong? Many couples are surprised on cancelling a particular service that not only do they lose their deposit, but legally they are liable for the full costs. Make sure you check the wedding supplier contracts carefully!
Legal/Financial/Insurance FAQ
How do I make sure my marriage is legal?
To get married in the UK you must both be single and at least 16 years old, or 18 years without parental consent. The marriage must be legally solemnised in a designated place between 8am and 6pm and at least two witnesses must be present at the wedding.
Why do I need wedding insurance?
Wedding insurance is increasingly necessary as it protects you from losses that may happen due to various factors, such as unforeseen events causing damage or injury at your wedding or external events beyond your control that may prevent your wedding from occurring. Managing your wedding finance is tricky enough but if your wedding is cancelled and you have no wedding insurance, it is a lot harder.
What does wedding insurance cover?
All policies are different, but typically wedding insurance will cover the impact of accidents, illness or bereavement within the main wedding party, or if a supplier goes out of business. Most policies also cover loss or damage to the main wedding outfits; presents, rings; the cake and flowers; the price of having to retake photographs and video; failure of wedding cars; and personal liability and legal expenses. Wedding insurance can help you recover at least some of your costs if any one of these unfortunate events should occur.
When should I get wedding insurance?
Most policies allow you to take out wedding cover up to two years before the big day, but even if you have already paid out for the reception and other expenses you'll still be able to get insurance. This way, you'll know exactly how much to insure your wedding for. Some insurers will even allow you to buy cover up to the day before the wedding, providing you didn’t already have a reason to make a claim before you purchase your policy.
How much does wedding insurance cost?
It entirely depends on the level of cover you want to purchase in regards to how much you want to claim. For example, insurance can cost as little as £30, which can cover you for up to £5,000 but can go up to more than £200 for comprehensive cover, which can pay out up to £50,000.
