DANCING QUEEN The dancefloor sets the tone for the entire day, so I’ve perfected the formula for turning shy guests into all-night dancers! One of our top recommendations is to install a designated dancefloor, and here’s the secret: keep it small! A compact dancefloor creates an intimate, high-energy vibe where guests feel encouraged to join. Keeping it cosy will avoid empty space and ensure the dancefloor looks lively. Quality entertainment is key! Instead of opting for a cheap band, which might not live up to your expectations, consider hiring a good DJ with live elements, such as a saxophonist. For the same cost as a small band, you can create a more dynamic experience that keeps the energy high and the dancefloor packed. DJs with live performers often bring more versatility and engagement, ensuring guests stay entertained all night. To maintain the party atmosphere, position the bar close to the dancefloor and don’t have too many rooms. Having separate areas for drinks and dancing can split up the crowd and reduce the overall energy. When guests don’t have to wander off for a drink, they’ll likely stay involved in the fun. Rebecca Brennan-Brown | Get Wed | www.wearegetwed.com BUDGET FRIENDLY The average wedding in 2023 costs £20,700, up 12.5 per cent from 2022, so it’s understandable that you may feel overwhelmed or stressed when you begin planning. With many already feeling the impact and financial pressures of the cost-of-living crisis, having realistic expectations, and putting a strict budget in place have never been more important. For anyone planning their big day, start by having the conversation early on with your partner and any other family members who may be contributing. This will help you to establish your budget and, therefore, help guide decision-making early on. It can be easy to get carried away so setting boundaries with a budget is key. As with all life events, the sooner you start saving and putting money aside, the better. Communication is key. Discuss whether you and your partner want to set up a separate or joint bank account to provide a clear look at your savings and goals. Ensure that you openly discuss individual saving pots and whether you’ll each contribute a portion to your wedding fund. Note that after the wedding, if a surname is changed, there will be additional costs to update passports and other documentation. Weddings are a jigsaw, with various aspects to plan for and pull together. Start by creating a checklist for all the essentials you’ll need to spend money on and another for all the extra, nice but non-essential expenditures. Then, it is also worth conversing with your partner to establish what areas you’d like to prioritise your spending. If you agree on your priorities, you can then spend time shopping around and researching cost-effective options when organising those non-priority components. It may be the case that your nearest and dearest would like to offer a helping hand and contribute financially to your wedding. With these friends and relatives, it’s important not to shy away from discussing the logistics and the best way for all to approach such contributions. Gifts received from an individual within seven years of their passing may be subject to inheritance tax (IHT). However, gifts made in consideration of marriage or a civil partnership up to certain amounts are free from IHT. For example, if it is given to a child, it has to be worth £5,000 or less, to a grandchild or great-grandchild £2,500 or less, whilst if it is for another relative or friend, it must be worth £1,000 or less. Additionally, a £3,000 annual gift exemption is available to everyone and can be used with the marriage gift exemptions to immediately reduce your IHT bill. Whilst it’s easy to focus your attention solely on the short term, it’s important to remember that once you say your vows and swap rings, you and your partner have a whole future ahead of you. When planning the wedding, try not to shoot your future self in the foot by overlooking the need to plan financially and prioritise your postwedding life. Once the decorations are down and the honeymoon ends, you don’t want the start of your new life together to be characterised by financial stress and regret. In addition to your planning and discussion around wedding finances, it would be a good idea to think about your long-term financial goals and how you plan on achieving them together. Kindar Brown | Rathbones Group Plc | www.rathbones.com https://unsplash.com/@gettyimages https://unsplash.com/@digitalsofia 48
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