Getting married

So you're getting married – congratulations!

Marriage is one of the biggest events in our lives, a celebration of love and commitment. It's also a time when many people take the opportunity to review where they're headed and what they want out of life.

Your wedding
To some, their dream wedding may be the biggest, flashiest reception they can (or can't) afford followed by first class tickets around the world. Others are happy to nip down to the local registry for a small and informal exchange of vows. For most people, the perfect day falls somewhere in between. Weddings can cause tension. Your partner might want an entirely different sort of wedding to you but with marriage being all about compromise you'll hopefully find some middle ground. Wedding tension is often caused by others. You may find yourself needing to cut numbers and debating who deserves to stay on the list. No later than one month before your wedding, you're legally required to lodge a ‘notice of intended marriage' with the person who'll be performing the ceremony. You can download a form at from the Attorney Generals Department. As for the actual ceremony, you've got three basic choices. You can be married at: A registry office By a civil celebrant Or at church. You'll need proof of identification and, if you've been married before, you'll need to show proof that you're no longer married. After the wedding your celebrant will send the marriage paperwork to the registry office. Your marriage will be registered and you can then apply for your standard or commemorative marriage certificate. You can access your relevant department of Births, Deaths and Marriages at: SA ACT NT NSW VIC QLD WA TAS Remember, whatever your plans, even if they're relatively modest, there'll be costs involved. Make sure you set a wedding budget and consider factoring in the following: Accommodation Wedding cake Transport Catering Celebrants and church expenses Dress and accessories Entertainment, music Flowers Gifts for the bridal party Hair and make-up Invitations Photography and video Rings Reception Honeymoon Wedding planner. Decide what you really need or want, then get quotes before finalising the various service providers. One helpful resource is Wedding Central, which is a portal providing contact details for every imaginable service. You can navigate on a state-by-state basis and the site also has an online forum plus articles on a range of issues. It's wise to chose your suppliers and make bookings well in advance to avoid two things – being rushed, or perhaps being disappointed about missing out on your dream venue. Paying for the wedding and honeymoon Whether the reception is for 20 or 220 people, someone is going to have to pay for it. In the past this cost was borne by the bride's parents but increasingly the bride and groom and their families are sharing this responsibility. And there's the honeymoon to pay for. Now would be a good time for you and your partner to establish a daily budget and savings plan. Back to top

Your wedding

To some, their dream wedding may be the biggest, flashiest reception they can (or can't) afford followed by first class tickets around the world. Others are happy to nip down to the local registry for a small and informal exchange of vows.

For most people, the perfect day falls somewhere in between.

Weddings can cause tension. Your partner might want an entirely different sort of wedding to you but with marriage being all about compromise you'll hopefully find some middle ground.

Wedding tension is often caused by others. You may find yourself needing to cut numbers and debating who deserves to stay on the list.

No later than one month before your wedding, you're legally required to lodge a ‘notice of intended marriage' with the person who'll be performing the ceremony. You can download a form at from the Attorney Generals Department.

As for the actual ceremony, you've got three basic choices. You can be married at:

A registry office
By a civil celebrant
Or at church.

You'll need proof of identification and, if you've been married before, you'll need to show proof that you're no longer married.

After the wedding your celebrant will send the marriage paperwork to the registry office. Your marriage will be registered and you can then apply for your standard or commemorative marriage certificate.

You can access your relevant department of Births, Deaths and Marriages at:

Remember, whatever your plans, even if they're relatively modest, there'll be costs involved.

Make sure you set a wedding budget and consider factoring in the following:

Accommodation
Wedding cake
Transport
Catering
Celebrants and church expenses
Dress and accessories
Entertainment, music
Flowers
Gifts for the bridal party
Hair and make-up
Invitations
Photography and video
Rings
Reception
Honeymoon
Wedding planner.

Decide what you really need or want, then get quotes before finalising the various service providers.

One helpful resource is Wedding Central, which is a portal providing contact details for every imaginable service. You can navigate on a state-by-state basis and the site also has an online forum plus articles on a range of issues.

It's wise to chose your suppliers and make bookings well in advance to avoid two things – being rushed, or perhaps being disappointed about missing out on your dream venue.

Paying for the wedding and honeymoon
Whether the reception is for 20 or 220 people, someone is going to have to pay for it. In the past this cost was borne by the bride's parents but increasingly the bride and groom and their families are sharing this responsibility.

And there's the honeymoon to pay for.

Now would be a good time for you and your partner to establish a daily budget and savings plan.

Marriage
There's a wealth of information and support available for people getting married and living in relationships. There are many major issues to discuss together, including the following: Are your core values and beliefs similar? If not, how will you work through the differences? Do you want children? If you have children from previous relationships, do you want to have children together? Where will you live? This list could go on and on. Then there are the day-to-day issues that play such an important role in a marriage. How will you share housework? Who'll do the grocery shopping? Who prepares meals? Who controls the remote? A sometimes pressure-filled decision for the bride is whether to change her name. Again, this is a personal decision. You may choose to hyphenate both names. If you keep your name and plan to have children, what name will they use? For support or information try the following Relationships Australia PREPARE-enrich Back to top

Marriage

There's a wealth of information and support available for people getting married and living in relationships.

There are many major issues to discuss together, including the following:

Are your core values and beliefs similar? If not, how will you work through the differences?
Do you want children?
If you have children from previous relationships, do you want to have children together?
Where will you live?

This list could go on and on. Then there are the day-to-day issues that play such an important role in a marriage.

How will you share housework?
Who'll do the grocery shopping?
Who prepares meals?
Who controls the remote?

A sometimes pressure-filled decision for the bride is whether to change her name. Again, this is a personal decision. You may choose to hyphenate both names. If you keep your name and plan to have children, what name will they use?

For support or information try the following

Stepfamily
If there are children from previous relationships this may bring special challenges. You may find some helpful support and advice at the Stepfamily Association or at Stepfamilies Australia. Both provide practical information to help stepfamilies. If it's not your first marriage and there are dependents or even prospective heirs from your previous relationships, you may need to make some sort of provision in your financial planning. Back to top

Stepfamily

If there are children from previous relationships this may bring special challenges. You may find some helpful support and advice at the Stepfamily Association or at Stepfamilies Australia. Both provide practical information to help stepfamilies.

If it's not your first marriage and there are dependents or even prospective heirs from your previous relationships, you may need to make some sort of provision in your financial planning.

Financial considerations
Apart from budgeting for your wedding and honeymoon, there are a number of financial issues to be considered as you begin to build a life together. Take the time to discuss how you'll manage your finances as a married couple. While major decisions can be made together it's often best for the day-to-day budget control to be in the hands of one partner. It can be a good idea to rotate this task, not just so both partners share the burden, but also so both understand how difficult it can be. Now's an ideal time to seek professional advice to ensure you're not only securing your future, but also taking advantage of any potential tax savings. There are many issues to consider. How do you intend to make major financial decisions? Is it prudent to create joint savings and investment accounts? If you're remarrying, are there any special issues to consider? Should you link your credit cards? Do you need to make or update a Will? What sort of insurance do you need? How can you legally minimise your tax? These questions are important and shouldn't be worked through alone. If you don't already have an accountant and a financial adviser you need to look at choosing those professionals. For licensing and regulations regarding marriage: SA ACT NT NSW VIC QLD WA TAS Back to top

Financial considerations

Apart from budgeting for your wedding and honeymoon, there are a number of financial issues to be considered as you begin to build a life together.

Take the time to discuss how you'll manage your finances as a married couple. While major decisions can be made together it's often best for the day-to-day budget control to be in the hands of one partner. It can be a good idea to rotate this task, not just so both partners share the burden, but also so both understand how difficult it can be.

Now's an ideal time to seek professional advice to ensure you're not only securing your future, but also taking advantage of any potential tax savings. There are many issues to consider.

How do you intend to make major financial decisions?
Is it prudent to create joint savings and investment accounts?
If you're remarrying, are there any special issues to consider?
Should you link your credit cards?
Do you need to make or update a Will?
What sort of insurance do you need?
How can you legally minimise your tax?

These questions are important and shouldn't be worked through alone. If you don't already have an accountant and a financial adviser you need to look at choosing those professionals.

For licensing and regulations regarding marriage:

How we can help
What an exciting time, but it can also be expensive. ANZ has a range of solutions and services that can assist people getting married. An A-Z Review^® - starting a new life together is an ideal time to review your banking arrangements. Not just in terms of opening joint accounts, sitting down with a personal banker to discus your plans and goals for the future can lead to a banking solution designed specifically for you. Request an A-Z Review^® at your nearest ANZ branch. An ANZ Financial Planner – why work hard to earn a living and support yourself and your family and not take the next step of having a tailored plan in place to help create wealth and secure your financial future? Your initial discussion is complimentary and without obligation. Book an appointment with an ANZ Financial Planner. An ANZ Home and Investment Lending Manager – planning a future together may also mean finding place to live or up-dating your current home. Our expert lenders can help you find the right home loan from our award winning range. Savings solutions – you may want to start a savings plan to help fund the wedding or honeymoon: ANZ Progress Saver – pays bonus interest¹ if you when you make one deposit of $10 or more in a month and no withdrawals or debits in that month. It also provides branch access. ANZ Online Saver – if you would rather bank online then this could be the savings account for you. It pays interest and gives you 24/7 online access to your money² via your linked ANZ account. You can even name your account after your goal – perhaps you'd like to call it your Holiday account! Personal loans - anyone who has ever got married knows what it costs. Even if you are planning to go to the registry and elope there will still be the expense of the honeymoon. If you need a little help talk to us. Find out more about ANZ Personal Loans. Insurance solutions – starting life together is a good time to reassess your insurance needs. Make sure that the two of you and your possessions, are protected. Find out more about ANZ Insurance. Terms and conditions are available on application. Fees and charges apply. Any advice does not take into account your personal needs and financial circumstances and you should consider whether it is appropriate for you. ANZ recommends you read the Terms and Conditions and the Financial Services Guide before acquiring the product. ^® A-Z Review is a registered trademark of Australia and New Zealand Banking Group Limited (ANZ) ABN 11 005 357 522. ¹ The ANZ Progress Saver account pays bonus interest in addition to the current base interest when you make a single deposit of $10 or more per month and make no withdrawals or debits in that same month. Month commences on account opening date. ² ANZ Online Saver is only open to customers who are the account holders of, or signatories to, eligible ANZ deposit accounts with ANZ Internet and/or Phone Banking access. Eligible accounts include ANZ Access Advantage, ANZ Access Select, ANZ Access Basic, ANZ Access Deeming, ANZ Progress Saver, ANZ V2 PLUS, ANZ Premium Cash Management Account and ANZ Everyday Visa Debit. Terms and conditions and fees and charges apply to the eligible account. ANZ Financial Planners are representatives of Australia and New Zealand Banking Group Limited, ABN 11 005 357 522, the holder of an Australian Financial Services licence. Back to top

How we can help

What an exciting time, but it can also be expensive. ANZ has a range of solutions and services that can assist people getting married.

An A-Z Review^® - starting a new life together is an ideal time to review your banking arrangements. Not just in terms of opening joint accounts, sitting down with a personal banker to discus your plans and goals for the future can lead to a banking solution designed specifically for you. Request an A-Z Review^® at your nearest ANZ branch.

An ANZ Financial Planner – why work hard to earn a living and support yourself and your family and not take the next step of having a tailored plan in place to help create wealth and secure your financial future? Your initial discussion is complimentary and without obligation. Book an appointment with an ANZ Financial Planner.

An ANZ Home and Investment Lending Manager – planning a future together may also mean finding place to live or up-dating your current home. Our expert lenders can help you find the right home loan from our award winning range.

Savings solutions – you may want to start a savings plan to help fund the wedding or honeymoon:

ANZ Progress Saver – pays bonus interest¹ if you when you make one deposit of $10 or more in a month and no withdrawals or debits in that month. It also provides branch access.
ANZ Online Saver – if you would rather bank online then this could be the savings account for you. It pays interest and gives you 24/7 online access to your money² via your linked ANZ account. You can even name your account after your goal – perhaps you'd like to call it your Holiday account!

Personal loans - anyone who has ever got married knows what it costs. Even if you are planning to go to the registry and elope there will still be the expense of the honeymoon. If you need a little help talk to us. Find out more about ANZ Personal Loans.

Insurance solutions – starting life together is a good time to reassess your insurance needs. Make sure that the two of you and your possessions, are protected. Find out more about ANZ Insurance.

Terms and conditions are available on application. Fees and charges apply.

Any advice does not take into account your personal needs and financial circumstances and you should consider whether it is appropriate for you. ANZ recommends you read the Terms and Conditions and the Financial Services Guide before acquiring the product.

^® A-Z Review is a registered trademark of Australia and New Zealand Banking
Group Limited (ANZ) ABN 11 005 357 522.
¹ The ANZ Progress Saver account pays bonus interest in addition to the current
base interest when you make a single deposit of $10 or more per month and make
no withdrawals or debits in that same month. Month commences on account
opening date.
² ANZ Online Saver is only open to customers who are the account holders of, or signatories to, eligible ANZ deposit accounts with ANZ Internet and/or Phone
Banking access. Eligible accounts include ANZ Access Advantage, ANZ Access
Select, ANZ Access Basic, ANZ Access Deeming, ANZ Progress Saver, ANZ V2 PLUS, ANZ Premium Cash Management Account and ANZ Everyday Visa Debit. Terms and conditions and fees and charges apply to the eligible account.

ANZ Financial Planners are representatives of Australia and New Zealand Banking Group Limited, ABN 11 005 357 522, the holder of an Australian Financial Services licence.

Getting married

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