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Will + Marriage = No Valid Will by Nicole Porima, Senior Solicitor, Gallie Miles

Did you know that if you make a Will prior to getting married, this Will becomes null and void once you “tie the knot”?! The only way to prevent your Will from becoming null and void upon marriage (or civil union), is if you add a special clause to your Will that stipulates you have made your Will “in contemplation” of marriage to your partner. If you do not add in this clause, at the time you sign your Will, you will no longer have a legally binding Will after your m...

When I get married, I want to look amazing by Nina Fountain, Style Gorgeous

The first wedding dress I bought was a ‘fail’ - literally an online shopping disaster. It was a Vera Wang-style creation that was much more like an imitation than a Vera Wang. It was embarrassing. Unwearable. We still laugh about it. With only a week to go before my wedding, we set out to buy dress #2. This time, I wasn’t going to let the same thing happen. I wanted to look amazing on my wedding day.  Anyone would think that with a week to go, I really shouldn’t be fussy. The best a...

Do we have to write our own vows?

Short answer, no, but many couples do. During a marriage ceremony, the couple must exchange marriage vows. That is each person must say the words, “I AB, take you CD, to be my legal wife/husband/partner” to each other– or words to similar effect.  This can be done by repeating the words after the celebrant, followed by your personal vows or you can choose to include it in your personally written vows.   Many people take the opportunity to write their own vows to express thei...

What is a Marriage Licence?

This is a ‘must have’, it confirms it’s legal for you to marry. You need to apply for your licence at least 3 working days before you get married. It expires after 3 months, so don’t be too efficient and order it too early. Only one of you needs to complete the application, however, you will need information about both of you. Apply online, whether you are in New Zealand or overseas - https://bit.ly/3ncR3oT If you’re not a fan of doing things online, you can use the paper form ins...