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Planning your big day  does not have to be stressful- take some advice from the experts By Jonathan Morrow

Wedding Couple on a Seychelles beach

If you are planning a wedding, your mind is probably whirring with questions. What venue? What menu? What band? Flowers, favours, rings, readings… the list seem endless, not to mention daunting. Fear not though: the national wedding show is here to provide you with some tips to make sure you dream day becomes reality.

Firstly, it is important to establish the budget. There is no point in starting your married life in debt when there are ways to create your wedding day without having to rob a bank.

Once you know what you have to spend, the next step is deciding where you want to be – do you want a stately home such as the Ladywood Estate, Oakham or a chic urban hotspot such Altitude London? When you have decided, get on the phone pronto as some venues are booked up two years in advance.

The next step is to buy the dress. The best approach to finding ‘the one’ is to make appointment with different designers and boutiques so you can explore a range of styles.

From the traditional glamour of celebrity favourite Ian Stuart through to the vintage-inspired designs of Candy Anthony, the perfect dress is out there.

Pelican Hill LA, Wedding Couple

Bridesmaid dresses are often a cause for concern but, again, be open to trying different styles. Coast by Appointment is a new service launched by high street occasionwear specialist Coast which provides a complimentary in-store style adviser for both personal and group consultations to ensure your special ladies get a look everyone is happy with. It is important to book a florist well in advance as good ones are in high demand. One way of ensuring your budget stretches as far as your imagination is to use seasonal flowers, as award winning designer florist Zita Elze suggests: “In spring, go for bulbs, fresh foliage and sprouting twinges. In summer, go for generous herbaceous border types of flowers that exude sumptuousness, and use a lot of tea lights and candles.”

Then, of course, there is the party. You may want to go for a jazz band such as Sax and Honey, who can adapt the style of their music to your taste.

If a disco is more your thing, there are some amazing wedding DJs to choose from, such as DJs Inc, who even supply their own LED-illuminated dance floor.

A little careful planning can ensure your honeymoon truly is a trip of life time. Honeymoon experts’ www.luxuryholidaysdirect.com recommend three top tips for successful trip.

Firstly, check the seasons and the weather conditions for your desired destination in advance.

Secondly, be prepared for the cost of incidentals, food and drink, and factor this amount into your budget. Finally, register your honeymoon in advance and give your friends and family the opportunity to contribute towards the cost as a wedding present.

Most importantly, though, enjoy planning your big day and do not get too stressed out.

Note: This Article – First Published in Metro (16-02-2010) (http://www.metro.co.uk/home/)