The wedding plan

Firstly, all future brides should buy a notebook to record their ideas. In here you can list favourite websites, wedding dress shop locations, venue prices, guest lists and also stick magazine cuttings of floral arrangements, wedding cakes, favours etc that have taken your fancy. This is a great way of getting some of your ideas out of your head and onto paper to refer to at a later date. Even though it may feel like you have stepped into a the proverbial minefield, you have already started selecting and making decisions about your big day, so look on the bright side!

Once you have chosen the dress and venue you are well on your way to having a 'theme.' You now need to ensure that everything else from here on in, complements this theme. So, if you are having a lavish castle wedding, with a traditional bodice and full skirt gown, then thrones for seats and a string quartet are a prerequisite!

When it comes to colours, you are best to go for traditional burgundies, golds, creams and ivories. Keep wedding flowers arrangements classy - deep roses or soft lilies will suit this type of wedding perfectly.

Ensure that favours are not too modern; stick to organza bags or boxes filled with almonds or dragees and finished with co-ordinating ribbon.

Bomboniere nets would be perfect at long regal looking reception tables. Also, scatter tables with rose petals to give your wedding reception a feeling of opulence.

Perhaps you are having a modern wedding?

Again, the theme will be very much determined by your choice of dress and your venue. If you are opting for a garden party type of wedding, no doubt your dress will be plain but elegant and your bridesmaids in soft pastel shades. Hydrangeas and sweet peas will look fabulous in bridal bouquets if the bridesmaids are in lavender or mint green dresses. Keep everything floral and light in this instance and you can't go wrong with wedding flower arrangements.

You could be more adventurous when it comes to favours; go for a soft candle favour for your guests or decorate a favour box with a gentle lilac butterfly. Maintain this summer feel by giving guests strawberries and cream for dessert; perfect with champagne!

Maybe you are of those many brides jetting to warmer climes to tie the knot overseas. Fast becoming a very popular way to wed, marrying abroad is a much more cost effective way of sealing your partnership. Think carefully when choosing a dress though - many British made gowns are heavy and will not travel well. Ask your boutique when choosing a dress about the best type of wedding dress and ensure that your venue has a pressing service available. Don't let your groom overheat either; maybe he would be more comfortable just in a shirt rather than a full suit.

Choose local flowers for your bridal bouquet and remember to choose a pair of shoes that won't sink into the sand!!!

When it comes to favours when having a wedding abroad, check import legislation, as some countries will not allow confectionery in. Be different and be unique when it comes to gifts for your guests.

Why not go for a photo album favour? Guests can then put a picture of the happy couple in their album and treasure it always!

Remember, it is your day and your choice how you want to spend it. Be guided by your venue and your dress and the rest should slot in to place by itself. Don't be put off by others; they have had their day or have theirs to come but this is YOUR day so enjoy it! If you want to do something completely crazy and wacky on your wedding day, what better day to do it. It's probably the only day in your life that you will get away with it, so revel in that fact.

Above all, don't let it be a chore; savour every moment of the planning. And, don't leave it too late as the big day will be here quicker than you can slip on your garter!

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