Tax tips for newlyweds

As April 15 draws near, it's time for many newlywed couples to file taxes together for the first time.

"It is important for married couples to know the advantages and disadvantages of filing jointly or filing separately," said Mike Trainor, president and CEO of Jackson Hewitt. "As a married couple, you have the choice to file married filing jointly or married filing separately. Before this decision is made, determine which status offers you the greatest tax advantage."

Married Filing Joint Return

• Couples find it most beneficial to file as "Married Filing Jointly."
  
• "Married Filing Jointly" will usually result in a lower tax liability.
  
• You may file a "Married Filing Jointly" return even if only one spouse has income.
  
• Couples report their combined income and deduct their combined allowable deductions.
  

Married Filing Separate Return

• If you and your spouse each have about the same income, as well as certain itemized deductions, "Married Filing Separately" may result in a lower tax liability.
  
• This status may be better if either spouse wants to be responsible only for his or her own tax liability.
  
• If the couple has been living apart during the last six months of the tax year, one spouse may qualify as head of household when certain conditions are met.
  

Divorced Persons

• State laws govern whether you are married, divorced, or legally separated under a decree of separate maintenance.
  
• If divorced under a final decree by the last day of the year, you are considered unmarried for the whole year.
  

Annulled Marriages

• You are considered unmarried for this and any previous tax years. You must amend your tax returns for all the tax years not affected by the statute of limitations to show this change in marital status.
  

New York tops list for expensive weddings locales

The New York metropolitan area is the nation's most expensive place to have a wedding, topping the national average by more than $ 10,000. The average cost of a wedding in the region (NY, NJ, CT) is a whopping $ 29,454 versus the U.S. average of $ 19,104.

The results are part of a national study conducted by BRIDE'S magazine on "American Marriage Today."

With wedding costs rising, it's no surprise that the father of the bride is no longer the sole financier of the wedding (19%). Most weddings (53%) are funded by both set of parents and the couple, with a significant number of nuptials (27%) paid for by the bride and groom themselves.

The study also found that contrary to popular belief, the month of May (10.3%) is equally as popular as June (10.3%) when it comes to getting married. Right behind are August (10.2%), July (10%), October (9.9%) and September (9.6%). The least popular month for nuptials is January (4.3%).

Here are additional results from BRIDE'S "American Marriage Today" study:

Marriage and Engagement

• There are 2.34 million marriages in the U.S. each year.
  
• The average length of engagement today is 13 months, an increase of two months since 1990.
  
• Men and women are marrying later. The average age of first-marriage brides in 1997 is 25.7; grooms is 27.7. In 1960, the average age of a bride was 20; groom was 22.
  
• More men are registering with their fiancees these days. Today, 78% of men get involved, compared to less than half (43%) in 1993.
  

Average Wedding Costs*

• - The Midwest (IL, MI, WI, IN) is the least expensive place to get married, costing couples an average of $ 16,195.
  
• A wedding in the Southeast (NC, SC, GA, FL TN, AL, MS, VA) costs an average of $ 16,293.
  
• A West Coast (CA, AZ, TX, NV) wedding is close to the national average at $ 18,918.
  
• Nationwide, the average cost of a wedding is $ 19,104, an increase of nearly $ 4,000 since 1990.
  

Couples are spending the largest portion of their wedding budget on the reception, which has gone up $ 1,735 to $ 7,635 for an average number of 200 guests. - Women spend an average of $ 823 on their wedding dress. The engagement rings grabs $ 3,044 of the wedding budget.

Dual-earner couples

• Today's newlyweds are more likely to be dual-earner couples. In 1984, only 53% of brides and 79% of grooms were employed. Today, 83% of brides and 89% of grooms are working.
  
• A whopping 97% of brides will return to work after walking down the aisle, though with a different name; 90% plan to take their husband's.
  

The Honeymoon

• The average amount spent on a honeymoon is $ 3,657 for an eight day trip.
  
• Most honeymoons are paid for by the couple themselves (70%).
  
• The most popular honeymoon travel destinations are: the Caribbean (27%); Hawaii (18%); Florida (17%); Mexico (10%); Bahamas/Nassau (9%); and Europe (8%).
  

A questionnaire was mailed to a random sample of 3,500 engaged/newlywed readers across the country. A total of 1,001 completed surveys were returned garnering a response rate of 29%. Karli Enterprises performed all tabulations.

(*) The categories used in compiling the average cost of a wedding include: invitations, announcements, thank-you's; flowers; photography and videography; music; clergy, church, chapel, synagogue fee; limousine; attendants' gifts; wedding rings; engagement ring; rehearsal dinner; wedding dress; headpiece/veil; brides attendant' apparel, mother of the bride apparel; groom's formalwear; men's formal wear; and wedding reception.

Wedding insurance dos and don'ts

First comes love, then comes marriage ... what's next?

With the average cost of a wedding rising almost 25 percent since 2000, couples will spend an average of $ 19,000 on their wedding. More newlyweds are now thinking of ways to "insure" their new life together, even if they can't ensure it.

There is a way to evaluate and plan for your financial future together before and after you walk down the aisle, according to the Western Insurance Information Service, a nonprofit consumer education organization.

Wedding insurance is offered in pre-set packages, or couples can tailor a policy to fit their specific needs. A standard package costs approximately $ 200 and covers the reception, photographs/video, special attire, medical, liability and other additional expenses.

Cancellation or postponement is covered up to $ 3,000, however, a change of heart is not covered. Many wedding insurance policies also cover jewelry in case the engagement or wedding rings are lost or stolen. After the wedding ceremony, as couples merge their lives together, they should also merge their insurance. Many insurers offer multipolicy discounts that can save couples money by combining auto insurance policies.

Since married couples are generally considered better driving risks than singles, they may also potentially save hundreds of dollars on their auto insurance policies. If a couple purchases homeowners insurance before the wedding, they get coverage not only for their new home, but also for their personal belongings and any wedding gifts they take on their honeymoon.

No matter what type of insurance policy a couple has, they need to update it to reflect a change in marital status to ensure they are not over- or underinsured.

June wedding showers? Give the gift of romance

Ah, the month of June. Four weeks. Four Saturdays ... which, for many, means four weddings. June is the most popular month for getting married, and it brings with it an endless round of parties, showers and receptions. In addition to powdered mints, the one thing all of these events have in common is the need for a gift. Traditionally this gift is something along the impersonal lines of a pan, a pillow case, or pair of serving tongs. This year, however, Romance Writers of America recommends adding a little fun and pizzazz to your right-off-the-registry gift: a romance novel.

Romance novels can be as insightful as any how-to book on love and passion, and a lot more fun than towels or juice glasses. Besides being great honeymoon reading, romance novels put and keep readers in the mood for a wedding celebration -- because so many of their plots, settings and characters feature that joyous wedding time. Weddings and brides are great inspiration for romance authors, and they inspire the reader in return.

"As a romance author, I've always found writing about brides, and those first few months of marriage, particularly appealing," says Day Leclaire, RWA member and author of 12 romance novels featuring brides. "There's an innate source of tension and conflict that comes from exploring the early days of married life. The give and take. The scary newness of the relationship. The gradual blending of strengths and weaknesses that comes when the love is real and the desire to commit runs deep."

But you don't have to be a bride yourself to enjoy a romance novel featuring a wedding. Anyone can celebrate the great wedding month of June simply by enjoying a fabulous bride or wedding romance novel. "Brides remind us of first love, of the intense passion we've all experienced when the intensity of our emotions were young and fresh," says Leclaire. "Brides, in particular, offer the image of innocence and new beginnings, of a burgeoning love we've all known and still hold dear, or which we long to recapture. A bride is at the start of her journey and even the most cynical among us can't help but hope that she succeeds where others have failed, that her life will be filled with happiness and a soul-deep, forever-after love. We know that this one story will end well, that this particular man and woman will triumph over adversity. Such a story rejuvenates us. It brightens the darkness that all too often can seep into our days," she says.

Romance Writers of America recommends these bride or wedding romances to brighten your June, or the wedding day of the bride on your gift list: "Scottish Brides" (Avon Books-June '99), "Holiday Honeymoons (Harlequin-June 99), "The Wedding Gamble by Julia Justiss (Harlequin-June '99) or the classic "Brides" trilogy from Catherine Coulter.

Paintball offers tame bachelor party alternative

It's 2007 and along with all the other changes our society is seeing, the age old bachelor party is moving away from strippers and poker games and into the realm of good old fashioned camaraderie. Paintball is offering the latest trend for pre-wedding jitters.

Over four million people play this outdoor version of "Capture the Flag" every year worldwide. Started back in 1981 in the woods of New Hampshire, the game has truly come into its own this past decade.

"It sure beats the saga of too much booze, too much 'skin', and too many cigars that bachelor parties have over-indulged in for the past few decades," commented Chris Soltesz, a recent groom himself.

More and more men are now booking the ultimate bachelor party for their best friends. Twenty-five or more participants come out for an afternoon of playing hide and seek and shoot'em up, then complete the event with a cookout and lots of war stories.

It's the 21st century and time for even the rituals of bachelor parties to take on a new look. "Both men and women have had it with the bachelor parties of the past and are thrilled to have a viable option that appeals to everyone," says Debra Dion Krischke owner of Three Rivers Paintball in Pittsburgh.

"I'm on a one woman crusade to change bachelor parties forever and believe me it's an easy sell!" quotes Krischke.

Look for paintball magazines on the newsstands to find a location nearest you. Paintball games -- the newest approach to bachelor parties where "Survival" is the name of the game. "Isn't that what marriage is really all about?" asks Krischke.

Bridal showers everyone will love

Bridal showers have traditionally been dainty affairs celebrated by the bride-to-be and her closest female friends and relatives. And for some brides, this type of demure celebration is perfect. What bride doesn't enjoy an afternoon luncheon of salad and sweets, and gifts wrapped in silvery paper?

However, many of today's brides are also interested in something a bit more innovative and interactive. They (or their grooms) may yearn for power tools and garden hoses. They may want to include the groom in the festivities. Whatever type of shower you are craving, remember that there's not limit to the creativity.

TOOL Showers

Inform your guest that in order to show up at this fabulous party, they need to bring a tool Instead of serving a light luncheon featuring salad and petit fours, consider a menu featuring crab and beer at a tool shower. Gift ideas include screwdrivers, socket sets, wrenches, levels, a drill set, and hammers. Also popular is a Home Improvement 1-2-3, a fix-it book by Home
Depot experts.

STOCK THE BAR Showers

Invite guests to this evening celebration, and let the party begin. You may serve a variety of wines and cheeses, followed by an elegant fondue. Gift ideas include cork screws, bottles of wine, wine rack, party supplies, and chip and dish platters.

HONEYMOON Showers

Every bride and groom could benefit from a shower focused on their fabulous vacation after the wedding. The party could be in the afternoon or evening and feature food from the honeymoon destination -- Greek, Italian, Hawaiian, Caribbean, or All-American. Gift ideas include Waterproof cameras, maps and travel diaries.

KITCHEN Shower

Create a decorated recipe box. Each guest brings four favorite recipes on index cards, along with his or her gift, to the shower. The gift might be a utensil, pot or baking dish used to prepare the recipe. The recipe box will then become a joint shower gift.

TEA PARTY

Martha Stewart has some terrific ideas how to make an afternoon tea party into a memorable affair. Serve an assortment of tea sandwiches and sweets on elegant china. For place cards, she suggests removing the tags from tea bags and replacing them with small handwritten name tags, and put a tea bag into an empty cup at each guest's place. For a bride who already has everything, ask each guest to bring an interesting or antique teacup instead of a more traditional gift.

CAMPING Shower

Have an outdoor barbecue or social gathering for friends and relatives. At these events, the future bride and groom mingle to meet and introduce everyone. Gifts at this casual affair might include flash lights, camping chairs, first aid kit.

WORKPLACE Shower

Save time and convenience. These can come in the form of an extended lunch at an area restaurant. Usually the boss is invited, and co-workers treat the future bride to lunch. A collection can be taken up at the office for a cake and gift.

MULTICULTURAL Shower

The hostess assigns everyone a country and ask them to find a gift that represented that country.

AROUND THE HOUSE Shower

Assign a room of the house to each guest asking her to buy a gift for that room.

SEASONAL Shower

Guests are assigned a season and bring gifts that correspond.

CHRISTMAS ORNAMENT Shower

Display a Christmas tree. Each guest brings an ornament or other tree decoration as a shower gift; hang the ornaments on the tree as they are opened.

HEIRLOOM Shower

Display old wedding gowns. Have your guests dig out their old wedding gowns to put on display at the center of your party decor.

AROUND-THE-CLOCK Shower

Each gift should match the aligned time of day. "Morning gifts" can include a coffee maker or alarm clock, for example.

Just ask Martha Stewart

When it comes to what's appropriate and what's not in wedding flowers, you should definitely take a look Martha Stewart's web site (www.marthastewart.com) . The so-called high priestess of high priestess of "all that's tasteful, chic and "good," is largely responsible for many of today's bridal trends.

"Brides come in with pictures of the flowers they want," says Brad Higginson, a florist speaking on behalf of ASF, a North American florist's association. "Often, it's the blown rose in muted colors. That's the trend."

Stewart's website is full of exquisite pictures of bouquet arrangements with ideas ranging from an old-fashioned red-rose bouquet to a heart wreath. It's definitely worth the click.

For brides who are interested in knowing what flowers are appropriate for each season, you should check out her Seasonal Flower Chart. Martha's staff has divided the list by regions in the United State. For example, summer brides in the Eastern part of the US might choose an Asiatic lily or black-eyed Susan to feature in their bouquet.