Start off by making a list. Then take all the help you can get!

Do you want to bring in a wedding planner who will take a lot of the load off your shoulders? Or are you keen to do it yourselves? Are you planning a church wedding in the village where your grandparents got married, a civil ceremony in the local register office or a romantic exchange of vows on a tropical beach? Whatever the venue there are some rules that have to be obeyed - and some ideas that it would be good to consider.

If you're doing it yourself try and delegate  responsibility to willing helpers. Someone will have to be in overall charge, collating all the information and motivating everyone to keep to the schedule, but it doesn't have to be run like a military operation.

Once you've spread the good news and celebrated your engagement, it's down to work.

Will it be a formal or casual wedding; religious or secular? Do you favour having a wedding theme or want to stick to certain colours which will help pull together the style, look, and feel of the occasion?

The budget - who is going to pay for it? Is it down to the two of you or will your parents cover all or some of it? If so, how will expenses be split?

Select the date and time but have backup dates in mind, in case a key element is unavailable. Sit down together (preferably over a nice glass of wine) choose bridesmaids, best man and ushers - and make a guest list.

Decide on a venue and who is to officiate at the wedding. Meet with florists, caterers, and musicians or DJ; book their services and sign contracts that you have personally read through and approved. Select and confirm your wedding photographer and videographer, if you're using one.

Look into wedding insurance and decide if it's a good option for you - fingers crossed nothing goes wrong but you never know...! Cheer yourselves up by planning your honeymoon.

Shop for and order your wedding dress and any accessories.

Settle on bridesmaids' dresses, meet with wedding cake designers or bakers and arrange for a tasting (yum!).

Besides cakes, there's also cars or whatever transport you're going to need. And no wedding could go ahead without a ring so if you haven't already chosen the one (or ones) you love, chop, chop!

Invitations need to go out along with a gift list if you so wish. And while you've got presents in mind, think about the ones you need to buy for the people who are giving you extra special help.

In the excitement of the choosing a wedding dress, don't forget that he's going to have to look pretty special too. But to buy or to hire? Only you know what is right at your wedding.

Give a list of 'must take' photographs to your wedding photographer, meet with your officiant to discuss the wedding ceremony in particular what wedding vows you intend to make, the music you want played and any readings or poems that you particularly love.

Think about your wedding hair and makeup - if you're doing your own, try out hairstyles, purchase any extra makeup and practise first.

If you are going to a professional, book your hairstylist and/or makeup artist and meet with each of them to experiment with styles and colors

In the final run-up to your big day there's just a few more very important things to do.

Apply for your marriage license. The kind you need will depend on the particular circumstances of your wedding.

Have your final gown fitting. It's helpful to have somebody with you to learn how to bustle your train if you have one and fasten any tricky buttons (and help you go to the loo if you've got a particularly big wedding dress!)

Check that all the other leading players have got their wedding outfits, confirm arrival times and answer any last minute questions

Contact your service providers (such as florists, caterers etc) to confirm arrival and delivery times.

Write and print your wedding programme if you are having one and while you've got your pen out, write thank you cards as you receive wedding gifts - it will save an awful lot of time later.

Ask your right -hand man or woman to contact any guests who have not RSVP'd - and there will be some!

If you are having a sit-diwn do, arrange the seating plan for the wedding breakfast and write place cards. Give your final head count to your caterer, and confirm any last minute details.

Try on your wedding shoes, and wear them on carpeted surfaces around the house. Pick up your wedding dress - you wouldn't forget that now, would you?

If you haven't already done it, assign responsibilities to your wedding party (handing out corsages and button-holes, greeting and seating guests, checking on suppliers)

If you have followed all this good advice, the day before your wedding you can treat yourself to something really relaxing so that you wake up fresh and full of beans on the BIG DAY!