Pick your date wisely

Pick your date wisely. It may seem like a fun idea to get married on the August bank holiday weekend because it falls during the summer months but consider holiday traffic and travel plans that people may already have made. The last thing you want is for your guests to miss your special day because they have their annual week away to Spain booked for the same weekend.

Summer wedding dresses

Dressing for a summer wedding can give you so much options, although white is traditional it's not a must - blush pink or champagne, perhaps! In fact. you should feel free to break with tradition and choose a flattering, seasonally appropriate dress that suits your body type. If anything, looking at all of your options will help you figure out what kind of styles work best for you - we advise trying on a number of different styles and listening to the bridal consultant at the wedding dress shop as they are experts in what they do.

Create a signature drink

Before you have the bar stocked at your wedding venue, consider ways to make your signature drink. Not only is this fun for guests, but it makes them feel special and gives your wedding a distinct touch. Serve an appetizer that goes with the drink - or make a small snack a part of the signature drink. Make sure there's plenty of water around. A great way to do this is to have signs near the bar or beverage stations that say "help yourself" and show what's available

Bright and colourful florals

Flowers are an inexpensive and beau­tiful way to add vibrancy to your big day. Make sure you use bright colour­ed flowers and ones in season: not only will they be cheaper, but they will also help everything else in your dé­cor pop even more. Also, try making them as natural looking as possible: save those giant flower arrangements for another occasion. You can always opt for silk flowers if real ones are out of your budget range or aren't available. Remember, anything that will sit on a table should be minimized. You want your guests to be able to see each other across the table.

Create a fun invitation

Fun, whimsical invites are a great way to add some personality to your summer wedding. If you want to be known for doing things differently, then there's no better way than putting some thought into your invites. For example, how about having guests reply by text or challenge them with a riddle? And don't forget: People will love getting something you chose just for them. The more personal it is, the better! Think hard about the theme of your wedding and tie in your invite to with that. Colour is important but if it's a summer wedding, we advise bright and bold colours to give the fun, easy-going vibe.

Have a great photographer

Make sure you hire a professional photographer to take your wedding pictures. All too often we hear of friends taking pictures for the wedding and the happy couple don't end up so happy with the end result. Remember you are paying a professional for their equipment, talent, time and experience. The perfect ones will become your new profile pies and permanent addition to your walls at home. If possible, hire someone who's comfortable taking candid shots - these can be invaluable if something goes wrong (like rain!). Your photographer will also have experience dealing with different lights and backdrops - use them to find an ideal location for your ceremony. When it comes to picking out a photographer that's right for you, consider whether they prefer natural or posed pictures (most can do both) and which photo editing software they use.