Consider what is most important

What is most important to you about your wedding day? Do you see it as romantic and beautiful? Do you want it to involve all your family and friends? Are you happy to go with the flow or do you need an hour by hour run down of events? Are flowers so important that you are willing to leave out a bridesmaid to pay for them? Or is a videographer a must? Consider how you will make these desires come true. A well­ planned wedding should be able to fulfil at least some of what is most important to you: take a moment to reflect on what these are. and then use them as guidelines for planning your wedding.

Do some research if going abroad

If you're planning to get married abroad, do some background research on local customs. This is especially important if you plan to have a religious ceremony. For example, if you plan to have a church wedding in Greece, likely, your priest will not be available for pre-wedding meetings - he might not even speak English! If you run into problems during your first consultation with him, come prepared with as much information about Greek customs and traditions as possible. This is the same for any country you go to.

Pick a venue and check their policies

Finding a location is probably one of your biggest tasks. but it can also be one of your easiest. If you have an outdoor wedding, it's important to find a venue that allows for that. Also, check if there are any prohibited items on-site - some places don't allow candles or lanterns because they're fire hazards. Setting aside some time to visit venues before you book is always a good idea!

Attend a wedding fair

Weddings fairs are a wonderful way to get to meet suppliers and venues face to face. Come prepared for specific things you need out of the fair. Bring cash for deposits (there will be great deals had on the day) and spend time chatting to differ­ent vendors. The Munster Wedding Extravaganza, run by this publication is on twice a year and always has close to 100 vendors so it's an ideal time to meet everyone. You may even discover things you never knew you needed!

Choose an invitation that works for everyone

Save yourself some time and stress by choosing an invitation that everyone can agree on. Remember, you're writing a wedding invitation, not a political speech. It doesn't matter if it's your mom or future mother-in-law who insists on having your address written out in script - just do it. You can get some unreal sleek and stylish invites now, the hard part is choosing the style you want. don't let it stress you out.

Have a back-up plan if it rains

You may have booked your wedding for the summer months in the hope that you might be able to have an outside ceremony, many do but we also have to realise this is Ireland we live in, and the chances of rain are high, let's be real here. Talk to your venue and plan for the outside ceremony of your dreams, but a back-up plan is essential. can the venue set up a room inside also just in case, at a moment's notice? Choose wisely.

Choose a dress that fits your body type

When it comes down to picking a dress that's your size, focus on what you like - not what other people do. If you're petite and want an illusion of length, try a gown with a mermaid skirt (i.e, one that mimics your hips and legs). Choose empire-waist dresses or styles with ruching at mid-bust and mid-thigh if you have wider hips. The dress shop you visit can guide you in the right direction here anyway, just go in with an open mind.

Make a schedule and stick to it

Create a wedding calendar once you've figured out what needs to be done. Make sure to include all of your wedding-day vendors so that you know where they need to be and when. Then, set deadlines for any tasks -make RSVP dates for sending out invitations: set up consultations for when you'll talk with florists and photographers about how much their services will cost. and make sure that you reserve venues at least 12-18 months in advance.

Be realistic about what is possible

If you're going to have an outdoor wedding, you might want to make a backup plan if it rains. If your wedding is taking place at 6 pm., make sure your photographer will be able to shoot during those hours (and potentially even after dark if you're having an evening affair) Try to identify potential issues before they become problems. A realistic timeline is a key to making sure that everything runs smoothly.