1. Set your budget

It's most important to make sure you know right from the beginning how much money you have to play with. "Speak to family who might be helping and get them to commit to how much they are going to give to you at the start of the planning," says wedding planner Louise Perry. "Then allocate this budget to all the suppliers you will need for your wedding - this makes the sourcing of those suppliers much easier, as you know how much you can spend on each element of the day, and you are less likely to go over that budget." It goes without saying - as you're spending, make sure you're keeping track of everything on a spreadsheet.

2. Allocate your budget and stick to it

"Start by pinning down the big-ticket items; the venue, marquee and catering and then the band, photographer and filmmaker," says Anna McGregor, curator of The Wedding Gallery. "If you are having your wedding in a marquee think about all the things you will need in addition to the main structure – loos, generators, a tent for the kitchen and if you are in a dry-hire venue you will also need to think about lighting, equipment for the band, and a dancefloor," she adds. It's best not to get too carried away with the pretty accents and flowers until you have sorted out the main elements so that you aren't hit with any unexpected costs.

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Image by Jez Dickson courtesy of Louise Perry Weddings

2. But then add in a back-up overspend

"It's also helpful to make a list of all the figures you have been quoted by wedding suppliers and add a 10% contingency to the total budget," suggests Sophie Hale, senior wedding planner at Quintessentially. "Consider this already spent in the lead up to the wedding, and if any unexpected costs creep in, or you decide to splash out by upgrading any element of your wedding, you can use this reserve fund and won't feel that you've needed to raid the bank."

3. Stick to your guestlist

Once you've decided on your guest list, don't be tempted to change your mind. "You need to draw your line in the sand and stick to it," says Aaron Schlagman, owner & creative director of WHiTEPAPER Event. "If you're restricted by budget or venue capacity, then don't be shy in holding back some invites so that you can assess responses before extending additional invitations," he adds. "There is always the chance that the person you are inviting from overseas who you thought was a safe 'no' might surprise you, and you can't retract an invite!"

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Image by Marion H photography courtesy of Knot & Pop

3. Decide on a theme for your day

"Go back to basics and think about what brought you together as a couple," says Susie Young, founder of wedding planning company Knot & Pop. "Spend an evening sitting down with your partner and get into some serious reminiscing - your wedding inspiration should come directly from shared experiences and loves - if you have memories of dancing your summers away in fields together, why not have a free-spirited festival theme for your wedding?" she suggests. "Imagine having an outdoor ceremony with a marquee draped in fairy lights and log stools surrounding a big fire-pit; if the thought of that gets you both excited then you know you're onto a winner."

4. Sometimes less is more

If the endless options seem overwhelming, try and narrow down a few key items that you feel might be a starting point for your theme. "With so many visual research tools available it can be very easy to lose your way when it comes to creating your design concept," says Melanie Helen, wedding planner at Cranberry Blue. "Try to focus on one or two different ideas initially, and if you haven't chosen your venue yet then keep these relatively general, considering preferred colour palettes, overall style and mood," she says. "If you narrow things down too precisely, you may find that these ideas conflict with your preferred venue," she adds. "Your chosen wedding setting and 'look' need to work together so once you've decided on what this will be, try to stop looking at other ideas and stop adding to it as the design may start to look confused – sometimes less really is more!"

5. Keep it personal

"The best weddings are the most personal," says McGregor. "It may be that you love to dance, so having a great band is what will matter most and will make your guests really feel that your wedding reflects who you are." While your guests might not share your exact passions, they will appreciate that it's your day and it's important that you don't feel pressured to do what you think you 'should' do.

6.Veer away from anything too 'of the moment'

Do be careful to choose stylistic elements that aren't too easily dated over time, and err on the side of caution where anything too wild or 'out there' is concerned. "There is a fine balance to be had between style, sophistication and 'trying too hard," says Schlagman."There is, of course, great value in taking the time to ensure that thought is given to specific elements of any wedding, but these don't always have to be grand gestures of colour nor flowing reams of lace."

7. Manage your suppliers effectively

"If you're able to, detailed site visits are vital to ensure you have covered everything and to make attention to detail seamless," says Emma Gold, founder of GSP Events. "Follow up with consistent communication and meticulous detail so that your suppliers are getting the attention and information they need, as they can only return the favour on the big day if you have this relationship."

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Image by Holly Clark photography, courtesy of GSP Events

8. If you're getting married abroad, be prepared to work hard

"Managing suppliers from a far is really, really tough," adds Schlagman. "Not being present daily to keep tabs on what's being arranged on your behalf is, in some way, a leap of faith. In part therefore, the golden rule for using ANY overseas vendor is to do your homework." If you're planning a wedding abroad, it's important to add an extra layer of organisation and try to pre-empt any complicated situations - if it's a tricky process in the same country, be prepared for it to get even trickier over distance. It isn't unusual to add the best part of a month onto the planning process if you're getting married abroad. "We expect a delay in the time overseas suppliers take to return your calls and emails, so we bring the planning process forward by at least three weeks to allow for a buffer in response times," explains Hale.

9. Build relationships with your suppliers

"Take advice from local experts if you're marrying abroad and don't assume that what you see online is what you will get when you arrive," suggests McGregor. "Make sure you have meetings on site at the venue as well as over Skype or FaceTime so you know exactly who your contact is and can build up a rapport. And always try to embrace the local culture and bond with your suppliers – the more they like you the better the job they will do for you!"

10. Keep all your information organised

You will enjoy your day more if you don't feel the need to worry about your guests and whether they are being well catered to, and the key to this is making sure your caterers and planners have all the information they need. "Put all your guests' details onto one spreadsheet, including their relationship to the bride and groom," says Perry. "This way you can put them all onto the correct tables, the planners know which guests are especially important, and you can make sure you have all their dietary requirements so that your caterers know of any food allergies."

It's crucial to keep all of this information well organised. "The most useful tools for guest management are a wedding website or a dedicated email address that guests can direct any questions to," adds Hale. "If you are particularly busy with work etc. nominate your wedding planner or a trusted member of the bridal party to update the website with key information, or manage this email account." This should avoid you receiving hundreds of text messages asking the same thing, and minimise your stress.