Rose quartz and serenity go together better than PB + J, so it’s no surprise that Pantone has chosen this lovely pair to be together forever — well, for all of 2016, at least. If you’re obsessing with this duo the way we are, then you’re probably planning your wedding around it (who wouldn’t?). From signature drinks to wedding sweets and bridesmaid dresses, there are so many beautiful and thoughtful ways to add rose quartz and serenity to your special day. Not sure where to start? Here are 14 ways to include everyone’s favorite new colors and add a bit of whimsy and a feminine touch to your Wedding day.
Table Decor
For the tablescapes, add a chic and modern twist by mixing clear chairs with a smokey pale blue tablecloth and blush blooms. Go for peonies, roses and hydrangeas to add a totally gorgeous structure. The end result feels equal parts fresh, feminine and timeless. (via O’Malley Photographers / Style Me Pretty)
Centerpieces
Instead of traditional table numbers, try this gorgeous ampersand centerpiece in the prettiest rose quartz color. Pair it with a single peony (our favorite!) and serenity-colored vases for a totally adorable look. Want more? Swap the colors of the peonies and vase for a mix of colors. (via Julie Lim / Southern Weddings)
Invitations and Stationery
Whether you’re using stationery to ask your #squad to stand by your side, giving your guests deets to your nuptials or thanking them for sharing this special day with you, adding rose quartz and serenity to your paper goods is the ultimate way to add color to your wedding. (via Elegant Wedding Invites)
Reception Flowers
You can’t go wrong with a rose and blue flower combo to decorate throughout the reception area. The vibrant wash of pink will add a feminine touch to your reception while also keeping it super fresh. These blooms will create a picture-perfect backdrop you won’t regret. (via Joseba Sandoval / Style Me Pretty)
Plates and Napkins
This feminine and fabulous plate and napkin setting will be the punch of of the party! Add a bit of modern and brightness by using a bold color like orange on your forks and knives — something you can totally DIY. The end result will be a whole lot of fun. (via Braedon Flynn / Southern Weddings)
Wedding Cake
Though this watercolor cake might *almost* too pretty to eat, we are totally drawn to its ombre look. The colors are so serene and subtle, yet elegant and fun, which makes it totally wedding-worthy. Plus, the blush ranunculus topper is the icing on the cake — pun intended. (via Purple Tree / Style Me Pretty)
Bride’s Shoes
For your “something blue,” let these light blue cuties lead your way down the aisle. The streamlined and oh-so chic silhouette will look absolutely beautiful with a floor-length princess gown but can also be dressed down with a fun jumpsuit for the more modern bride. (via Isabelle Selby Photography / Style Me Pretty)
Groomsmen Wear
And who says the bride is the only one to be stylish? If you’re looking to shake things up, get the guys to pull out their seersucker suits for your special day. The light shades of blue will add a boost of color to your bridal party. (via Jessica Lorren / Southern Weddings)
Bridesmaid Dresses in Serenity
A relaxing, ethereal color, serenity will definitely be dominating the bridesmaids dresses this year. Your girls will fall in love with this gorgeous color and they’ll want to wear their dress over and over again. Use a blush bouquet to complete the look. (via Sylvie Gil Photography / Style Me Pretty)
Bridesmaid Dresses in Rose Quartz
For the blushing bride, we wouldn’t expect anything less than gorgeous gowns that are chock-full of color for her favorite gals. This refreshing color is not only flattering on any skin type, it’s also the perfect pop of pink for any spring wedding! (via Callie Davis Of Nancy Ray Photography / Style Me Pretty)
Ceremony Backdrop
Darker versions of Pantone’s colors of the year are perfect if you want something bolder and there’s no better place to add bold than on the ceremony backdrop. It’ll provide a soothing background for warm floral tones and create a whimsical and earthy wedding. (via Sarah McKenzie / Southern Weddings)
Wedding Favors
If you’re looking for a totally adorable but more subtle way to add the color of the year to your wedding, simply tie a bow on your wedding favors. You can go with just one color or mix and match ribbons for a color combo. (via Amy Arrington Photography / Southern Weddings)
Dessert
Macarons are a favorite at any event, so it’s no surprise that we’re including them here. Request your favorite baker to make them in pretty pink and blues to make your wedding dessert table Pantone-filled. And if you’re in the mood to give these a try yourself, we have quite a few macaron recipes for you. (via White Loft Studio / Style Me Pretty)
Paper Straws
Your signature drink isn’t the only place where you can add these beautiful colors. These charming paper straws add a colorful touch to your wedding bar, plus they are totally bio-degradable. (via Millie Holloman Photography / Southern Weddings)
Welcome to Selfmade Finance School, our new money series with Block Advisors to help small business owners with their tax, bookkeeping, and payroll needs year-round. This week, we explore the tax implications of bringing family members into your business.
The question for today is this: Does hiring your family members make sense for your business? Let me be clear. This is not a piece about whether hiring your family members makes sense for your relationships with those family members. As someone who is part of a family business, I could fill up a lot more than 600 words on my opinions about that. For today's purposes, we focus on whether it makes sense from an overall "good business and tax implication" perspective. As it turns out, there is a decent amount of tax nuance when it comes to employing your family. Let's break it down based on relationship to the employee:
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Spouses Who Are In Business Together
Personally, if I had to be in business with my husband, it would not go well. However, many couples build viable, strong businesses together and I say, good for them! Depending on how you have your business entity structured, it will make a big difference on the tax treatment of you and your spouse working as partners. Because a business jointly owned and operated by a married couple is generally treated as a partnership for Federal tax purposes, the spouses must comply with filing and record keeping requirements imposed on partnerships and their partners. The election to file two Schedule C (Form 1040) forms, (one for each spouse) permits certain married co-owners to avoid filing partnership returns, provided that each spouse separately reports a share of all the businesses' items of income, gain, loss, deduction, and credit. Under the election, both spouses will be subject to self-employment tax and on net earnings from self-employment and receive credit for Social Security earnings.
One Spouse Employs Another
If you have a dynamic where your spouse is an employee of your business, then your spouse's wages are subject to income tax withholding, Social Security and Medicare taxes. If you are self-employed (not a corporation or a partnership), your spouse's pay does not have to be included in your federal unemployment tax account (FUTA) contributions and payments. However, if your business is a corporation or a partnership you must include that spouse's pay in your unemployment tax contribution calculation.
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You Employ Your Child
First, let's be clear. I work in my family business, but I am an adult, so I am treated just like a normal employee. However, if you, for example, run a family restaurant and want to hire your children under 18 to work for you, there are some tax benefits. But first, you should check with your state for rules on how many hours minors can work (in non-agricultural jobs) and reference the Fair Labor Standards Act for information on limitations on the kinds of work children can perform.
"This is an often overlooked or under-utilized strategy. Paying your children for true services they provide in your business can be a powerful tax-saving tool," says Cathi Reed, Block Advisors Regional Director. "If you are a sole-proprietorship or single member LLC, and the child is less than 18 years of age, the business is not required to withhold FICA or payroll taxes. The child can use his or her standard deduction against income you pay."
You Hire Your Parent
Oh dear. If you are brave enough to do this, know that you will need to pay Social Security and Medicare taxes on your parent's wages and make the appropriate withholdings, but you don't have to pay unemployment taxes. Now all you have to do is convince your parent that you are the boss. Have fun with that!
Is Hiring Family Members Worth It For The Tax Benefits?
"There are some positive tax advantages to hiring family members. It's important to treat a family member like any other employee. Hiring your children can result in substantial savings for businesses. Make sure your child has real, age-appropriate work to do and a reasonable pay rate, comparable to other employees. Consult with a Block Advisors small business certified tax pro to ensure that you are complying with all requirements," advises Reed. "Block Advisors, a team within H&R Block, is dedicated to meeting the tax, bookkeeping and payroll needs of small business owners year-round. To start working with the tax experts at Block Advisors, visit blockadvisors.com."
In my opinion, you should not hire a family member solely because of the tax benefits. You should always hire based on whether that person is right for the job and keep in mind how this hire could materially impact your relationship with that person and others in your family. Finally, as I mentioned, make sure you have a tax professional on your team when making these determinations. As you can see, things can get a little tricky!
*All details were sourced from IRS.gov and blockadvisors.com
The opinions expressed in this commentary are those of the author and may not necessarily reflect those held by Kestra Investment Services, LLC or Kestra Advisory Services, LLC. This is for general information only and is not intended to provide specific investment advice or recommendations for any individual. It is suggested that you consult your financial professional, attorney, or tax advisor with regards to your individual situation. Comments concerning the past performance are not intended to be forward looking and should not be viewed as an indication of future results. Securities offered through Kestra Investment Services, LLC (Kestra IS), member FINRA/SIPC. Investment advisory services offered through Kestra Advisory Services, LLC (Kestra AS), an affiliate of Kestra IS. O'Keeffe Financial Partners and any other entity listed herein is not affiliated with Kestra IS or Kestra AS Investor Disclosures: https://bit.ly/KF-Disclosures