When it come to following traditions, tying the knot can throw up a wealth of dilemmas.

If you don't go to church, hate the thought of a big white dress, or simply want to put a more original spin on your big day, perhaps a traditional white wedding just isn't for you.

"A lot of decisions depend on who's paying," says Kate Smallwood, editor of www.confetti.co.uk, the UK's top website for all things wedding-related.

"Today, people are getting married a little later in life and often paying for much of their own wedding.

"So unless your parents are paying - in which case they really should have a say - it really is your own decision."

The split between civil and religious ceremonies is currently half and half, according to Kate.

In the UK, a religious ceremony is conducted in a church, but a civil ceremony can be in a register office or - thanks to the 1994 Marriage Act - any venue that holds a civil ceremony licence.

This has opened up a wealth of weird and wonderful locations for non-traditional brides to be!

"You can get married on the London Eye, or at loads of football clubs, so if you've got a really big interest in something, you can probably try and work that into your ceremony," says Kate.

Another option is getting married abroad, with around 10% of British couples now tying the knot overseas.

"If you're getting married for the second or third time, marrying abroad means it's completely different, and often more intimate.

"It's also really easy - you can simply ring up, book it, and it's all there when you arrive."

Wherever you decide to get married, church, register office, town hall, hotel or castle, once the question's been popped and answered in the affirmative, you need to choose your venue and book a date quickly.

Many places can be fully booked up to 18 months in advance.

If you're not having a church wedding, contact the nearest register office for a list of approved premises.

Having chosen your venue, make a provisional booking and you will then be referred to the register office to arrange for the registrars to attend your ceremony.

Don't confirm your venue booking until this has been done.

"You can get married on the London Eye, or at loads of football clubs, so if you've got a really big interest in something, you can probably try and work that into your ceremony."