Jill Hassall - Your Dream Wedding: A Wonderful Aid For All Couples Planning Their Big Day

Your Dream Wedding

Published by:
Greatest Guides Limited, Woodstock, Bridge End, Warwick
CV34 6PD, United Kingdom

www.greatestguides.com

Copyright by Greatest Guides Limited 2012. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without prior written permission from the publisher, except for the inclusion of brief quotations in a review.

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ISBN 978-1-907906-55-8

To Colin with all my love.

Without you,
none of this would have been possible.

My thanks for help and advice go to:

Jennifer Baker Photography

Harewood Cars

Belair Video

Prudence Gowns

Marldon Marquees

Celebration Balloons

Amanda Dow, Beauty Therapist

Kelly Williams at Toni and Guy

Su Kopil, Una Westney, Janine White (USA)

Sandra Beswetherick, Kathy Burrough, Elizabeth von Aderkas (Canada)

Claire Bennett (Australia)

So youve done it! Youve found the man of your dreams and have named the day. Note here that Im addressing the bride. More on the bridegroom later, but, be assured that, unless the man youve managed to get to propose to you is a real New Man, the rest of the wedding will fall on your shoulders. He might tag along to wedding fairs and make suitable noises in the background, but the decisions will undoubtedly be all yours. The best you can hope for is that he will turn up, suitably dressed, on the day.

There are two things youve got to be prepared for when planning a wedding. The first is the cost. Forget the amount you first thought of the final cost will be at least four times that. But hopefully this book will help you save money while still having the wedding of your dreams.

The second thing is that there will be rows and arguments. Big, fiery fights, or small smoldering resentments, there has probably never yet been a wedding without them. You might smile and say it couldnt happen to you but dont believe it. It could be the choice of venue, the bridesmaids, or the guest list, but arguments there will be! After 10 years of running a wedding business, Ive seen it all!

So this book is intended to guide you through the minefield of planning your wedding, so that you can walk down the aisle on your big day, confident that everything will go well because everything that could possibly go wrong has been neatly avoided.

Chapter 1

Legally Binding

Youre engaged! Youve named the day!

Wherever you live in the world, when you decide that you want to get married, weddings are special occasions. Although there are bound to be differences in traditions and customs throughout the world, even within different areas of individual countries, everyone wants their wedding to be the same a happy, joyous occasion that flows without anything going wrong. This book aims to take you through all the preparations for your special day, so that you can enjoy it without stress.

It is based on mainstream church and civil ceremonies within the legal systems of the USA, UK, Canada and Australia, but couples from any country and members of other faiths will also find it invaluable.

I havent given prices and fees as they vary so much throughout the world and change from year to year. However, there are plenty of money-saving ideas for everyone, so you can keep within your budget.

In addition, I have included some of the traditions and superstitions connected with weddings.

The law

Before you start planning your wedding, you need to know if you are legally able to marry and what types of wedding are available to you, so lets get the formalities out of the way first.

USA

Marriage laws vary from state to state within the USA, so it is vital that you check the requirements with your local marriage license office or county clerk. However, every couple will need to obtain a license before the marriage can take place. To obtain the license, you may need to apply in person, and you will need to provide proof of identity. The license is only valid for a certain length of time; again, this varies from state to state.

Many states require proof that you are medically fit to marry, and that you are free from certain diseases, although most no longer specify an actual medical test.

You can have a religious ceremony carried out by an official of that religion, such as a priest, minister or rabbi. Civil weddings are carried out by judges or JPs.

UK

All weddings in England, Wales and Northern Ireland must take place in an Anglican church, or any other religious building registered for the solemnization of marriage, a Register Office, or a building approved for civil marriage.

If you want to get married in a Church of England or Church in Wales, you should speak to the vicar of the parish. You would not also normally need to see the Registrar of your district.

For other religious buildings, you need to speak to the person in charge of marriages first of all. You will need to give notice at the Register Office(s) of the district(s) in which you live. Some faiths will also require you to book the services of a Registrar in order to register the marriage (see how to do this in the section).

Scotland has different laws to England and Wales and details are given in the chapters.

Canada

You will need to obtain a marriage license from your local municipal clerks office a few weeks before your wedding. For this, you will need proof of both your identity and your age.

Marriages can also be solemnized under the authority of banns in a church, where both parties worship at that church. You must speak to the minister about this before booking any dates.

Weddings in Canada are carried out by either a minister or member of the clergy registered under the Marriage Act, or by a judge or JP.

Australia

The person who conducts a wedding in Australia is known as the Celebrant. Bride and groom plus their celebrant must sign and lodge a Notice of Intended Marriage from one month and one day before the wedding date. Proof of ID will be required. They also need to make a statutory declaration that they know of no impediment to the marriage. You can have a religious or civil ceremony.

Second time around wherever you live

If you have been married before, you will need to produce evidence that you are free to remarry. This will either be a divorce certificate (Decree Absolute in the UK) in the case of a divorced person or a Death Certificate if the person has been widowed.