10 finalists in the running to win a free winter wedding in the New Forest

To celebrate their 1000th wedding, Balmer Lawn Hotel and Spa is offering one lucky couple a free winter wedding - vote now! 

Ten couples are within touching distance of winning their dream winter wedding having shared their stories behind their most meaningful love songs, following an inundation of entries from across the UK to win a national competition.

The four star Balmer Lawn Hotel & Spa, nestled in the heart of the ancient New Forest, is offering one lucky couple a free winter wedding to celebrate the venue’s 1,000th wedding – provided they get the backing of the public, having been shortlisted amongst the top ten.

Some of the back stories of those who’ve entered include:

• A shared first kiss at five that was rekindled 36 years later when the two finally got together as a couple
• A couple whose romance epitomises winter, having met when switching on Epsom’s Christmas lights
• A Danny & Sandy relationship in a school production of Grease that never stopped
• A romantic proposal that re-enacted the work colleague turned lovers’ first date rock climbing
• A DJ who is hoping to celebrate the tenth anniversary with his better half by finally tying the knot

Vote now! 

A voting system will now determine the competition’s final trio and members of the public can read about each couple’s backstory – and their favourite love songs – as well as vote for their preferred choice here: https://www.balmerlawncomps.com/winterwedding/

1000 magical weddings at the Balmer Lawn, iconic New Forest hotel

Located at the edge of Brockenhurst, the iconic Balmer Lawn hotel's tasteful blend of contemporary and traditional décor ensures the perfect combination of old-fashioned values with a modern twist - it is a truely magical and luxurious setting for a wedding. Add to that the award-winning service provided by the friendly and professional staff throughout the hotel (the Balmer Lawn team scooped two major awards at the recent New Forest Brilliance in Business awards, including Business of the Year!) and there's little wonder that the hotel's competition has drawn so much interest nationally!

Michael Clitheroe, General Manager at the Balmer Lawn, said: “Winter in the New Forest is a spectacular time of year. With ice encrusted trees and swathes of frost covered grass, it turns into a magical winter wonderland – the perfect setting for a winter wedding.

He continued: “We wanted to offer up a free wedding to celebrate our 1,000th, but we also wanted to ensure whoever won it was suitably deserving. Having heard a little bit about each couple, we’re now sharing the best entries with the public to help us make a final decision.”

The hotel invited couples to use 1,000 characters to outline why they should win, a bit of their back story and their favourite song as a couple (along with the meaning behind it) to help present their case. Extra points were awarded to those who submitted a Marryoke effort as part of their entry!

Once the public have had their say as to who should be top three, the winner with the most votes (along with second and third) will be announced.

Michael concluded: “We’re really excited about giving away a wedding and can’t wait to see who ends up as the eventual winner! It will be interesting to see who catches the eye of the public, and we’d like to wish all of the finalists the best of luck.”

The voting closes at midnight on Friday 24th January, before the lucky winners are announced on the week commencing Monday 27th January. For the couples who come second and third they also win a prize – a £1,000 discount off their wedding at Balmer Lawn Hotel if they were to book with the hotel this year.

For more information on Balmer Lawn Hotel & Spa, please visit https://www.balmerlawnhotel.com/

Find out more information about the Balmer Lawn Hotel, Spa and 2AA Rosette Beresfords Restaurant here.

Montagu Arms introduces spectacular new Gourmet Wedding for foodies.

Wedding package with bespoke seven-course banquet at award-winning New Forest Hotel. 

Couples who love fine dining can indulge in a fabulously foodie wedding at The Montagu Arms in the New Forest.

The romantic 17th century country manor house in the picturesque village of Beaulieu has introduced a Gourmet Wedding package that features a bespoke seven-course banquet.

Head chef Matthew Whitfield, who has previously worked at the three Michelin-star Eleven Madison Park in New York – a former No1 on the World’s Best Restaurant List – will create a signature tasting menu using the freshest local ingredients from across the New Forest and his own kitchen garden.

Beautiful starters include smoked mackerel with pickled cucumber and caviar or cucumber and lettuce gazpacho with smoked salmon and crème fraiche; and there are delicious main courses of pan-fried chicken breast with potato terrine, smoked bacon and onion, or fillet of cod with braised lentils, curry and yogurt.

Puddings include caramelised lemon tartlet with blackcurrant sorbet or dark chocolate crémeux with malt ice cream and a cocoa tuile.

Wines will be expertly chosen to complement the dishes by head sommelier Sergio dos Santos.

This romantic country house with gleaming parquet floors and oak-panelled walls is the perfect setting for a sumptuous wedding with gorgeous flowers, rich colours, tall candles and elegant table settings. The hotel’s charming English country garden is the picture-perfect backdrop for luxury canapes and a signature cocktail created especially for your wedding day.

When the day is done, the bride and groom can retire to one of two elegant Hayloft Suites, offering luxurious modern comforts in a converted 1820s barn in the hotel grounds. Guests can relax in comfort and privacy in the main house, which has a choice of luxurious bedrooms and suites.

The Gourmet Wedding Package includes:

• A Hayloft Garden Suite for the night of your wedding
• A signature cocktail designed specifically for your wedding day and four luxury canapés per person for your drinks reception
• A seven-course signature tasting menu designed for you by head chef Matthew Whitfield for your wedding breakfast
• Wine pairing to accompany your wedding breakfast expertly selected by Head Sommelier Sergio dos Santos
• A Glass of Taittinger Champagne for the toast
• Still and sparkling water for the tables
• Personalised floral designs for the room and the table
• Personalised table plan and table menus
• Your own dedicated wedding coordinator
• Master of Ceremonies to guide you through the day
• Private use of the Oakwood Room for your civil ceremony and wedding breakfast
• Use of the quintessential English gardens

This package for 24 people costs £6,200 for Monday to Thursday and £6,500 for Saturday. Additional guests can be catered for at £200 a head for up to 32 in total.

A Petite Gourmet Wedding Package for four includes private use of the Paris Room for a civil ceremony and wedding breakfast, and costs £1,700 for Friday and Sunday, and £1,900 for Saturday. Additional guests can be catered for at £200 a head for up to 10 in total. 

Find out more about the Montagu Arms Hotel in Beaulieu

The perfect location for an intimate New Forest Wedding 

The Montagu Arms Hotel is situated in the picturesque village of Beaulieu in the heart of the New Forest. A romantic country house dating back to the 17th century, it is the perfect setting for an exclusive, luxury wedding. The building is full of original features, such as beautiful dark beams, oak flooring, old brick fireplaces and paneled rooms; the feeling of authenticity you get when you’re inside is spine tingling.

Renowed for its world class cuisine and charming English gardens, the hotel combines elegance with world class service to make your special day as perfect as possible. The hotel has over 22 luxurious bedrooms and suites, some of which include traditional and romantic ornate four poster beds, so you and your guests can relax in total comfort and privacy. The Montagu Arms Hotel pride themselves on giving world class service with the highest level of attention to detail. 

World class cuisine

With Michelin-starred chef Matt Tomkinson in charge the only difficulty is in deciding just what to serve for your wedding breakfast – a sumptuous buffet featuring classic favourites or exciting new flavours and dishes? Or a full-blown sit-down with as many courses as you’d like to eat? Whatever you decide the team will make sure it is made from the freshest and best local ingredients that the New Forest and his own kitchen garden can provide.

For brides and grooms with a passion for exceptional cuisine, you might like to consider the  Gourmet Petite: a seven course 3AA Rosette shared with your closest loved ones will be sure to satisfy your foodie desires. Find out more about the Gourmet Petite.

English country garden

The Montagu Arms Hotel has colourful, fragrant, quintessentially English gardens; the hotel grounds provide the perfect backdrop for wedding photography. Over the years, many famous guests have enjoyed the hotel and gardens - from France's General de Gaulle to the creator of Sherlock Holmes, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. The gardens have a multitude of little paths, hidden corners and beautiful blooms.

Bespoke weddings and exclusive use

The hotel is licensed for civil ceremonies for up to 90 guests. They can accommodate up to 90 people for your wedding breakfast and 150 guests for your evening reception. Wedding ceremonies and receptions can take place either in the grand Terrace Restaurant with views across the beautiful gardens or in the intimate and cosy Oakwood Room.

The Montagu Arms offer you one of the most precious benefits available in an increasingly hectic world: privacy. Invite your guests to the beautiful country house retreat and make the place completely your own. The doors will be closed to the public and the hotel will become your home for your wedding day, where only your closest friends and family will surround you. Find out more about exclusive private hire.

Perfect for small, intimate weddings

The intimate and cosy Oakwood Room boasts parquet flooring, oak paneling and open fireplace. Whatever the time of year, whatever the weather these timeless features mean that even in the depths of winter your wedding will be as beautiful as it is in the warmth of the summer. The setting is perfect for a small, intimate wedding of up to 32 guests. Find out about the small wedding package.. 

Visit the Montagu Arms Hotel

Montagu Arms Hotel - Wedding Brochure

The 'Rich Blooms' wedding at the Montagu Arms Hotel

Luxury New Forest hotel predicts opulent weddings with dramatic flowers in 2019

Wedding trends can be hard to follow – is it fashionable to go rustic, vintage or futuristic? Should you choose soft pastels or jewel brights?

Luxury New Forest hotel the Montagu Arms, whose timeless English country garden and romantic sense of history make it a favourite wedding venue, is predicting 2019 will be all about opulence, with rich colours and dramatic floral arrangements.

The setting

The ivy-clad 17th-century country house in the picturesque village or Beaulieu is perfect for a Rich Blooms wedding. Gleaming parquet floors, oak-panelled walls, sumptuous velvet fabrics and gorgeous, fragrant gardens create the perfect backdrop for bold flowers, lush foliage and rich colour palettes. Add in a magnificent sweeping oak staircase, comfortable lounges with roaring fires in winter and doors leading onto a charming English country garden for champagne on the lawn in summer, and you have all the ingredients for the perfect opulent wedding. When the day is done, guests can retire to a beautiful suite in the main house or one of two new Hayloft Suites, offering luxurious modern comforts in a converted 1820s barn in the hotel grounds.

The flowers

The Rich Blooms wedding is all about the flowers, which should be bold and dramatic, with blousy blooms accentuated by trailing foliage. Statement pieces make a wedding instantly Instagrammable - think grand arches or a wall packed with flowers for something a little different to the popular photo booth. Jewelled colours reflect the rich, warm tones of the Montagu Arms – deep burgundy roses and dahlias, viburnum berries and striking Amaranthus work perfectly with ferns, eucalyptus, ruscus and delicate trailing foliage. In winter, add figs and candles for extra romance. Emeralds, rubies, sapphires and amethysts can all be replicated by using jewel-coloured blooms and berries to create stunning hair combs, wrist corsages and brooches.

The signage

Wedding signs are on trend, and beautiful, flowing calligraphy can be enhanced by bringing the outdoors in and incorporating signs into statement floral designs.

Hair & make-up

Taking inspiration from royal weddings, the Montagu Arms predicts 2019 brides will choose the timeless, elegant look. Wearing the hair loose with a Hollywood wave is the epitome of glamour, and tucking hair behind the ears accentuates the cheekbones. Balance soft, smoky eyes with a bold lip and bring that inner radiance out by using a silky primer, light foundation and shimmer highlights.

The cake

Create a super chic look by choosing a ‘semi-naked’ cake and adding a dramatic ‘drip’ glaze, fresh flowers, berries and seasonal fruit to complement the floral arrangements.

The food

The Montagu Arms is home to the award-winning Terrace restaurant, run by head chef and Roux Scholar Matthew Tomkinson. Whether it’s a sumptuous buffet or an elegant sit-down dinner, Matt will create delicious dishes using the freshest local ingredients from across the New Forest and his own kitchen garden.

Find out more about weddings at The Montagu Arms Hotel.

Transform your New Forest wedding into something extraordinary 

Unbelievably special wedding package offer at the Montagu Arms Hotel - book before 31 August 2018

Imagine inviting your wedding guests to your romantic 17th century manor house, with its timeless English country garden and an award-winning chef on hand to create a fabulous wedding banquet.

Show them to their beautiful suite with its four-poster bed, chat to them over Champagne and canapes in grounds fragrant with honeysuckle and roses, and let the Master of Ceremonies guide you effortlessly through the day.

"Dream come true" New Forest wedding opportunity

This wonderful dream could come true with an Exclusive Use wedding package at the Montagu Arms Hotel in the picturesque New Forest village of Beaulieu, where weddings are transformed into something extraordinary.

The hotel’s doors are closed to the public, and the country house retreat becomes yours for the day, with only your closest friends and family around you.

With flawless service and renowned 3AA Rosette dining, the bride and groom can completely relax, knowing everything will be taken care of.

Booking your Exclusive Use wedding before August 31 could include savings of up to £1,650 on selected dates until May 2019.

The Exclusive Use wedding package includes:

• 24 bedrooms for you and your guests, including 17 guest bedrooms, four of which feature beautiful four-poster beds, and five individually-styled suites
• A dedicated wedding coordinator
• A red carpet welcome
• A Master of Ceremonies to guide you through the day
• Private use of all rooms for your civil ceremony and wedding breakfast
• Private use of the quintessentially English gardens, which feature a beautiful fountain designed by metalwork artist Giuseppe Lund, relaxing terrace area with comfortable loungers, croquet lawn and kitchen garden
• Colour co-ordinated floral arrangements for your tables
• A glass of Champagne or two house drinks and three Montagu canapes per person for the drinks reception
• Three-course meal from our selected wedding breakfast menu
• Half a bottle of house wine per person with the wedding breakfast
• Still and sparkling water for each table
• A glass of Champagne with the toast
• A personalised table plan and table menus
• Traditional silver cake stand and knife
• Room hire for the evening reception
• A delicious hot buffet of your choice for evening guests

And the price?  Cick here for details and contacts.

More information https://www.montaguarmshotel.co.uk/exclusively_yours.html

Festival weddings at Careys Manor

Tie the knot with a relaxed woodland wedding in the heart of the New Forest

Delicate floral crowns, silver birch arches, tealights twinkling as the sun goes down, and dancing under the stars. With the festival season in full swing, it’s easy to see how that laid-back festival vibe would work wonderfully for a relaxed woodland wedding.

With more celebrities like Kate Moss and Matthew McConaughey opting for bohemian-style weddings, Careys Manor hotel in the beautiful New Forest has pulled together a few ideas for couples wanting a festival wedding full of charm and personality. 

1 A woodland setting

The magical world of the New Forest is perfect for a ceremony that celebrates the beauty of nature, and Careys Manor in Brockenhurst has made the most of its fantastic location to create a fun, informal wedding in the peaceful rural setting of the Bridge Farm field next door.

The hotel’s Festival Wedding package features hay bale sofas and rustic benches sitting on faded Persian rugs, soft white fairy lights strung between white Bell tents, and firepits filled with flowers during the day and lit for toasting marshmallows over at night.

Southcoast Marquees will provide a traditional marquee with beautiful cream canvas and wooden poles, creating a relaxed, elegant space for your wedding day.

2 Dine simply on local produce

Keep things fun and simple. Careys Manor’s barbecue invites you to ‘build your own’ hot dogs – with local sausages from Chris Watson butchers, soft brioche buns, caramelised onions and a selection of sauces, served with homemade slaw, salads and dips.

Encourage guests to create their own prosecco cocktails, with fresh berries, purees and fruit liqueurs. Prosecco buckets on old oak barrels with a hand-written chalk instruction sign completes the look.

Wicker baskets filled with fresh homemade bread, cupcakes or madeleines adds to the laid-back festival food vibe.

3 Gorgeous signage & stationery

It’s a festival wedding, so quirky, creative signs are a must. Megan Hodgson from Wilson and Lionel creates bespoke signage using vintage chalk boards and beautiful flowing calligraphy, and gorgeous wedding invitations and thank you cards with rustic woodland and delicate floral designs can be designed for you by Dot England.

4 Delicate flowers

Floral sculptor Owen Lavin’s rustic style fits perfectly with a festival-style wedding. Think pink hydrangeas and wild daisies in glass jars, soft moss table dividers, white hydrangeas in wooden crates and lush green foliage wound around silver birch arches.

5 Chill out zones

Wooden crates and hay bales are perfect seats for a festival wedding. Rustic palettes can be used for low tables, and faded Persian rugs add comfort and vintage chic. Firepits will keep guests toasty as the evening draws in, and flickering tea light chandeliers can take over when the sun dips below the treeline.

6 Glamping

It really wouldn’t be a festival without tents, and from a bridal suite for two to a Bell tent village, South Coast Glamping provides beautiful Bell tents complete with fluffy pillows, tea light chandeliers, and chic wooden furniture for a magical night under the stars.

7 Photography

Your wedding photography should be as relaxed as your day, so look for a photographer who will reflect your magical, informal day. 

8 What if it rains?

Now, that would really add to the festival vibe! Make the most of a rainy wedding day with fun floral umbrellas and comfy wellies in pretty prints to ramp up your festival style.

To find out more about the Festival Wedding package, visit https://www.careysmanor.com/Field_Wedding_Package.html

Find out more about Careys Manor 

Why you do want it to rain on your wedding day!

Wedding considerations from Careys Manor Hotel in the New Forest

As you get ready for your big day with your family sat around you, sip your sweet champagne and look outside the window. There is always that huge fear on your wedding day that the heavens will open and your photos, wedding dress, groomsmen suits and worst of all your hair will be ruined and your big day will be remembered for the wrong reasons.

According to the Hindu religion it is symbolically said that if it rains on your wedding day it will cleanse and purify your relationship to prepare you for the rest of your lives together, so we believe that rain on your wedding day could actually be a blessing.

Here are 3 more reasons why you want rain on your wedding day:

1. Rain makes for unique wedding photos

Everyone hopes and prays for blue skies and beaming sunshine to make your wedding photos look beautiful. Step outside after the rain has fallen and inhale the fresh, clean air. With a little touch of creativity you could have some memorable wedding photos.

2. Rain keeps your wedding flowers fresh

Keeping your flowers hydrated is important so they don’t wilt. On a blistering hot day your flowers will dry out and may not last if you wanted to keep them on display at home afterwards, let alone the whole evening.

3. It’s soothing

There is nothing more heart-warming than the sound of the pitter patter of the rain on a cosy day in. Picture walking down the aisle as you prepare to say your “I do’s” and listen to soft sound of the comforting rain against the window glass in the background, whilst in the warmth of a cosy country manor house hotel surrounded by your family.

So don’t fret or worry about rain on your wedding day. Just remember that not only is it supposed to be good luck but ultimately your special day is about yourself and your significant other, whatever the weather.

Join us on the 13th November for our Wedding Open Day.

For more information on our wedding packages, call our wedding Coordinator Françoise Gysemans on 01590 625204.

Careys Manor Hotel, Brockenhurst

How to plan the perfect small wedding.

Intimate and romantic weddings with your closest friends and loved ones in the heart of the New Forest.

Romantic and unforgettable

There is something very special about a small wedding; the intimacy of spending your big day with your closest friends and loved ones. A small wedding allows you to freely choose who you would like to share it with,  with romance, intimacy and a level of privacy that is undeniable.

Share your vision of a small wedding

Once your decision for a small wedding is made, be sure to share your vision and ‘big’ day dreams with your friends and family, so they can understand what is most important to you. The more open and firm you are about your plans, the sooner they understand and support your decision, whether they agree or not.

Discuss the guest list with your family and friends, as they will inevitably enquire and have an opinion about it, gather their thoughts and suggestions, but remember at the end of the day, it is your wedding and it is okay not to invite EVERYONE. Make the decision at the start to only invite your nearest and dearest - and be firm - distant relatives, an unknown 'plus one' or an acquaintance should not be on the list.

Budget carefully

Be sure to have a budget. A smaller wedding isn't necessarily cheaper, plan your spending carefully and keep track of all spending along the way. There are lots of FREE wedding planning guides available online. On the other hand, with fewer guests, there may be extra budget, and you may want to splurge on other aspects of the day rather than guests.

Chose your venue wisely

A small venue means fewer people. Chose a wedding venue to fit the size of the intimate wedding you would like to choose. The Montagu Arms Hotel in the heart of the New Forest provides the perfect elegant setting for your intimate wedding for up to 30 guests.

Unlike larger groups where you need to cater to most tastes, with a smaller group of guests you can afford to be a little more extravagant with your menu choice for your wedding breakfast. Choose a menu full of the tastes of the New Forest and really whet the appetites of your guests.

Visit The Montagu Arms Hotel on their open day on 13 November 2016.

By The Montagu Arms Hotel.

For more information about planning your intimate wedding at The Montagu Arms Hotel, call 01590 612324.

Weddings at Careys Manor Hotel, Brockenhurst.

A wedding ceremony and wedding reception venue in the heart of the New Forest

Careys Manor is set in the leafy dream like world of the New Forest and provides the idyllic setting for a sophisticated and memorable wedding. The romantic Victorian country house hotel offers a delightful blend of traditional English charm and character with contemporary elegance.

Delicious cuisine, excellent service and quintessentially English gardens combine to make the perfect wedding. This luxury wedding venue is licensed for civil ceremonies for up to 100 guests and can accommodate up to 150 guests for your evening reception. 

Holding only one wedding a day, the team at Careys Manor ensure their undivided attention is on you and your guests, making sure your day is one to remember and cherish forever. With facilities to cater for all sizes, the Manor House lends itself perfectly to the classic glamour so often only dreamt of by many couples.

Dedicated wedding co-ordinator Françoise Gysemans has over 16 years of experience and is on hand to ensure your day is planned to the final details. To arrange a viewing or request more details please contact Françoise on 01590 625204 or enquire online.

Careys Manor, perfect venue for both Wedding Ceremony and Wedding Reception

Getting married outdoors has, over the years, been the dream of many brides but only now is this unique wedding venue possible in The New Forest. One of only a few Hampshire hotels licensed for outdoor wedding ceremonies, the Cedar Garden can accommodate up to 100 guests and is the perfect complement to your manor house wedding. The pavilion was built especially for weddings providing an ambient setting for a unique hotel wedding ceremony or celebration, both large and small.

Depending on your chosen wedding package there is also the Cedar Suite, Lounge and the Beech Room readily available.

The Cedar Suite

The elegant and luxuriously stylish Cedar Suite has a private entrance, large ornate windows offering an abundance of natural light and French doors opening onto a secluded walled garden. The Cedar Suite boasts its own servicing bar and adjacent quiet room. Holding up to 100 people seated for your civil ceremony, 80 people for your wedding breakfast and 150 people for your evening reception, the Cedar Suite provides the perfect setting for your wedding day.

The Cedar Garden

Amidst the tranquil manicured grounds of Careys Manor Hotel & SenSpa lies the hidden gem of the beautiful Cedar Garden, the perfect choice for an outside wedding ceremony. Surround yourself in our quintessential English walled garden with its evocative colours, floral scents and the romantic backdrop of the traditional handmade oak pavilion. The Cedar Garden can accommodate up to 100 people seated and is one of only a few venues in Hampshire licensed for outdoor wedding ceremonies and civil partnerships.

The Lounge

Located in the original Manor section of the hotel, the Lounge is full of traditional English character. Features include a high wood panelled ceiling with original oak beams and exposed brickwork. Along with the impressive Inglenook fireplace, the Lounge is a warm, relaxing haven, rich with natural textures and a relaxing ambiance, holding up to 100 people (60 seated) for your civil ceremony.

The Beech Room

The Beech room is perfect for a more intimate wedding. Licensed for up to 50 people seated for your civil ceremony the room benefits from an abundance of natural daylight and direct access to the Lounge.

Wedding Packages designed to suit your needs at Careys Manor Hotel

Careys Manor offer a range of wedding packages; from all inclusive packages providing everything you need for your special day to a Vintage Afternoon Tea theme.

Careys Manor is also the ideal venue for a winter wedding. Enjoy roaring open fires and mulled wine in a comfortable and romantic atmosphere. Find out about fantastic offers for weddings at Careys Manor.

For more information about Careys Manor wedding packages, call Françoise Gysemans on 01590 624467.

October 2019

A financial checklist for your wedding

Tax and pensions are probably the least romantic reasons for getting married, but tying the knot does bring financial advantages!

It has been said that getting married is the greatest tax planning strategy ever invented! Before you get married, discuss each other’s financial circumstances and the issues that you may face together. Here is a checklist for consideration alongside your wedding plans…

1) Update your Will

2) Property ownership

3) Wedding gifts can be free from Inheritance Tax

Wedding or civil partnership ceremony gifts are exempt from IHT, subject to certain limits:

- parents can each give £5,000 in cash or gifts

- grandparents & great grandparents can each give cash or gifts worth £2,500

- anyone else can give £1,000 in cash or gifts

The gift has to be made or promised on or shortly before the date of the wedding. If the ceremony is called off and the gift is still bestowed - or if the gift is given after the ceremony without having promised it first - this exemption won't apply.

4) Distribute wealth wisely

Married couples should cut their overall tax bill by distributing their wealth between them so that all personal allowances (CGT, IHT, income tax and ISAs) are used up and tax is paid at the lowest possible marginal rate.

Marriage Allowance lets you transfer £1,190 of your Personal Allowance to your husband, wife or civil partner - if they earn more than you. That is a fixed amount. The spouse making the transfer must have unused personal allowance, i.e. income less than £11,850 p.a. (2018/19) plus any other tax deduction allowances. This cannot be claimed when the receiving spouse is liable to tax at higher rates. Both spouses must be born after 6 April 1935.

Married Couples Allowance – if either spouse was born before 6 April 1935 there is an additional allowance available of between £336 and £869.50 a year as a reduction in tax. That can be claimed by either spouse. 

5) Review your pension

New Forest Tax Accountants have extensive experience in all areas of tax and accountancy. They can also recommend excellent local solicitors and IFAs. Book your free initial consultation today.

© New Forest Tax Accountants 2019.

This communication is intended to provide general guidance on matters of interest and you should not act or refrain from acting upon any information contained in it without seeking appropriate professional advice.