
It’s a once in a lifetime look, so attention must be paid when selecting a wedding dress. There are tons of different styles, shapes and designs that can make picking just one pretty hard. Do you want to go structured or free flowing? Do you want something dramatic or a little more toned down? Going for a classic or boho vibe? Decisions, decisions! We want you to look unforgettable on your big day, so we’ve complied a guide of sorts to help you navigate the Pinterest-crazed world that is wedding dresses. From A-lines to princess ball gowns, there’s something here for every bride.
1. Ball Gown: Totally. Timeless. No one will be able to take their eyes off you in an elegant princess ball gown. (Photos via Artography and Millie Batista Photography)
2. Tea Length: Keep it simple and chic in a mid-length dress. Plus, you can dance all night long without worrying about tripping or getting stepped on. It’s a win-win for everybody. (Photos via ModWedding and David’s Bridal)
3. Mermaid: This dress makes for a gorgeous train, and it helps you flaunt your assets, if you know what we mean. (Photos via Vera Wang and Wedding Indresses)
4. Trumpet: Hug your curves in all the right places on your big day. A trumpet gown will accentuate your figure so you feel both elegant and crazy sexy all at the same time. (Photos via Madame Bridal and David’s Bridal)
5. Modern A-line: A free-flowing A-line has so many possibilities. From various textures to different fabrics, it is a perfect silhouette for any bride. (Photos via Marchesa and Bridal Guide)
Necklines
1. Halter: A halter neckline is flattering choice for any woman no matter what size or shape. It highlights the waistline and works for women with varying bust sizes too. (Photos via MCV Photo and Bridal Musings)
2. Sweetheart: A classic wedding style, the sweetheart top can bring some lovely detail to your neckline. You can add an extra feminine touch with lace as well. (Photos via The Knot and Mod Wedding)
3. Strapless: This style is probably the most popular among brides, and it’s easy to see why. (Photos via Vera Wang and One Wed)
4. Boat Neck: A boat neckline has an effortless look about it. The best part? You don’t have to pull up your dress all night or mess with straps. (Photos via BHLDN and Halfpenny London)
Sleeves
1. Lace: This isn’t your grandma’s lace doily. Sheer and light lace sleeves are a great way to cover up while still looking sexy. (Photos via Ciara Richardson Photography and Elle)
2. Cap: A cap sleeve adds a sophistication to your dress, not to mention it’s a great opportunity to include some beaded detail in your gown. (Photos via Bonnie Tsang Photograph and The Knot)
3. Quarter Sleeve: It might seem like a conservative way to go, but a nice quarter-length-sleeved gown can actually be quite regal. It’s definitely a throwback worth trying. (Photos via Jenny Packham and Inspired Bride)
What styles are your favorite? Let us know in the comments!
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