• Start your wedding plans as early as possible - some ceremony dates, reception venues and professionals can get booked up over a year in advance. If you are planning a wedding within a short space of time try to opt for the less traditional days and dates.

• If you feel that you do not have the time to plan your own wedding, now is the time to visit a Wedding Consultant who will help to organise your special day with you. Otherwise, if you are doing it yourself, start as early as possible.

• Get a diary (one or two year to cope with length of planning period) not only for appointments, addresses and bookings but for recording your thoughts, hints and tips for the perfect day. Also keep a folder or scrapbook for storing your collection of picture ideas, colour samples, material swatches and cuttings.

• As well as the portable wedding planners, start a wedding planner on the computer. Use your PC to create a supplier contact list or database; a spreadsheet to help with budgeting; an email folder for group mailing; a scheduler for remembering appointments and build (if you can) a personal website to post information and pictures for your friends and guests to see online. Most email accounts offer some free web space for you to upload your own website.

• Depending on how organised you are, it is not always wise to rely on only one method of storing information - diaries can be lost and computers can crash. Buy a diary that is easily portable in a handbag but not small enough to mislay. Also back up your computer based planner onto a CD or floppy whenever you update it and keep at least one backup in a safe place!

• Keep a record of everything! Don't try to remember important information in your head. If you are definitely the forgetful type, get a mini dictaphone for your handbag and record your thoughts when they come along. This will cut down dramatically on the stress element of planning your wedding.

• You probably have some idea of the type and scale of wedding that you would like, but do some hard thinking before you start. Planning a wedding can be very expensive - establish your budget and who is paying for what. Decide what the priorities will be and allocate funds accordingly. Don't let it run away with you! Otherwise you will eat into the honeymoon or new home budgets. And remember - a happy and enjoyable family wedding is possible on a tight budget.

• Plan your style, theme, colour scheme and size of wedding. Do you want fun, formal, traditional or period wedding? A big party reception or gourmet luncheon for close family only? Buffet or sit down wedding breakfast? Remember that this day should be happy, enjoyable and about you and your partner. However, making sure that the family and friends that you want to share the day with you are also happy and relaxed will make the occasion one to remember. Therefore discuss your plans with your partner and all involved family members; being open minded and listening to good advice will bring wedding day dreams and financial reality together.

• Select two or three possible dates that could be suitable for the wedding and with these in mind, make arrangements for the ceremony and the reception.

• Decide on the type of wedding ceremony that you would BOTH like - i.e. religious, civil or mixed faith blessings. Make an appointment early to discuss your wedding plans with the registrar or officiant, particularly if you wish to incorporate your own vows. If you require a civil ceremony, choose between the local registry office or a venue offering civil ceremonies.

• Locate and visit possible venues for your reception. Some venues now offer both ceremony and reception facilities. Ask around with friends and family for reviews, references and criticisms. Word of mouth is still one of the best recommendations. Obtain prices, talk to the in-house catering and/or wedding consultants. Ask for sample menus, sizes of rooms, details of table settings and availability of co-ordinated decorations. Are there any special requirements you need, such as wheelchair access or children's creche area. What about photography venue - will you need to travel away from the reception for suitable shots? Do they offer overnight accommodation for guests or for your wedding night?

• When you have decided on reception and ceremony venues, book them in writing and obtain written confirmation back. Do not make bookings or changes to plans simply over the phone. With so many things to organise, the risk of human error can be too great!

• Set a date that is suitable for guests that are both local or may need to travel and stay overnight. Planning a mid-week wedding may mean that your ceremony and reception venues are more likely to be available but try to give your guests plenty of warning to book time off work or family commitments.

• Choose your assistants (bestman, bridesmaids, flowergirl, ring-bearer, ushers etc). Send out Save the Date reminders in the post or by email to key members of the wedding party. Ask them to RSVP - no excuses then! Post general information on your website where possible.

• Now you can start working around the location that you have chosen for your wedding and see how this may change or affect your plans or the style of wedding that you want. Start collecting (if you haven't already) magazines, pictures, leaflets, ideas and record them all. Visit a couple of local wedding fairs if it is the right time of year (usually held in Spring and Autumn). Talk to other brides and pick up hints and tips where possible.