How to navigate getting married in the modern-day

• Searches for ‘best date to get married in 2022’ have gone up by +556% in the last 12 months and ‘what to discuss before marriage’ by +127% giving the impression many couples are looking to plan their big day
• With so much to know before your say “I do” experts reveal tips on how to navigate getting married for the first time in the modern-day

Over the past 12 months¹ searches for ‘best date to get married in 2022’ (+556%) and ‘what to discuss before marriage’ (+127%) have increased, suggesting with Covid restrictions easing more couples are looking forward to planning their big day.

For those getting hitched for the first time, understanding the preparation post-wedding can be tricky to navigate. To help, life insurance broker, Reassured has teamed up with various experts to offer insight on some of the important factors newlyweds to-be need to know including whether or not you should take his or her last name, joint bank accounts, and life insurance.  

Changing your last name

The latest National Wedding Survey revealed that a whopping 20% of couples who married in 2021 decided to keep their name. While that shows the overwhelming majority are keeping the tradition alive and well, there is a strong group here bucking the trend. In the UK you can change your name anytime once you’ve received your marriage certificate.²

Zoe Burke, Editor at Hitched, says: “Whether you do or don’t, or take a hybrid approach (hyphenating, taking your partner’s name as your middle name a la Brooklyn Beckham, or completely creating a new surname for the two of you), make sure you update your name legally if you do change it.”

Notify all the relevant places such as your local GP, DVLA

Sadly, it’s not just as simple as changing the name legally, though. You do need to then tell a bunch of places that you’ve done this. This includes (but isn’t limited to!): your bank and credit card company, any insurers, and contracts you have, utilities and local council (for tax and voting purposes), your local GP, the DVLA as they will want to update your license – same with your passport.

In general, you will need to inform the authorities as soon as possible of your name change. You are, however, able to apply for a new passport three months before your wedding, but the new passport will only be valid after the ceremony.³

Joint bank accounts

“Should or shouldn’t we have a joint bank account?” often gets brought up during conversations. So, what should couples do?

Jonathan Sidlin, Financial Planner and Managing Director of HSC Financial Advisers, says: “Possibly one of the most important financial decisions a newly married couple will make is whether to have a joint account or retain financial independence. As with everything, there are pros and cons.

“A joint account does enable a couple to plan their finances together, making sure they share the same desires for the future and taking the steps that will help them to achieve those goals. Furthermore, the Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS) will cover a joint account for up to £170,000.

“On the other hand, borrowing capacity may be affected if one of the couple has a poor credit rating, potentially restricting the options available to the couple. And, if the individuals have a different attitude towards money, for example, one liking to save and the other preferring to spend, it can be a cause for tension!

“If a couple does decide to open a joint account, they should remember that they are both jointly accountable for their finances – so in the same way that they have decided to tie their lives together, balancing out how their individual personalities complement each other, so the same decision needs to be taken regarding tying their finances together. Seeking financial advice at an early stage will help couples to make the decision.”

Life Insurance

There are many different options for Life Cover, depending on the cover couples are looking for. It is important to understand all your options before taking out cover. In general, it is best to take out cover as early as possible, most people do this when getting married, taking out a mortgage, or when the first child is due. Life insurance provides peace of mind when you’re settling down with a loved one and thinking of starting a family as it ensures that any potential debt is paid off should you pass, mortgages are paid off and dependants have a financially stable future.

Send thank-you notes to guests

So, the big day is over, but now you’ll finally have the time to open your gifts and take stock of what you’ve been given. Make sure you keep track of who’s sent what so that your thank you cards are as accurate as possible! Wedding gifts are not always expected, so it’s only polite to send your guests a little something to show how much you appreciate them thinking of you and your new husband or wife!

Have your outfits professionally cleaned

There will be nothing worse than getting to that day in the future when you want to get your dress or suit out for a little reminiscence of the big day, only for it to still bear the red wine and grass stains from the day in question. Wedding outfits often take one of the biggest chunks of the wedding budget, so while the wedding is fresh in your mind, get them professionally cleaned so you can look back on the outfit itself with happy memories when that time comes.

Phil Jeynes, Director of Corporate Strategy at Reassured comments further: “A wedding is an important and exciting next step for any couple, but often the chores after the big day are forgotten about. A list of to-dos may help newlyweds keep track and as the biggest life insurance broker in the UK, we have made it our goal to provide accurate, quick and easily accessible information to ensure you and your partner find the most suitable policy to meet your unique needs.”

To find out more about Reassured click here: https://www.reassured.co.uk/