The flowers

But where to begin? It's not just the bride's bouquet. There's the bridesmaids, buttonholes, decorating the church, decorating the reception, decorating the tables . . .

And then there's the colour scheme, silk or the real thing, the costs - where do you begin?

Well, start with a professional florist and start planning with a professional florist early. Even it you are a whizz at flower arranging, it'll be one less thing to worry about on the day. Whatever your budget, a good florist, too, will be able to work within it.

Talk to your florist in the same way as you'd talk to your hairdresser about what you want. Scan magazines, flower books and even the internet for inspiration and illustrations so you can demonstrate exactly what you have in mind.

Keep a note of exactly what you want, right from the buttonholes to, if that's what you're after, garlands for staircases. If you have a colour scheme in mind, discuss that too; the florist can advise whether the flowers which are in season will fit or match that theme. You don't have to have the flowers in season, but it will have a marked bearing on the cost.

And those costs really do add up very quickly - but with a bit of inventiveness you can ease the strain on the purse strings. Why not let the bridesmaids carry a single stunning long bloom, instead of a bouquet?

Be flexible. Remember, the florist is the expert and if he/she doesn't think your ideas will work you'll need to know. But there'll be alternatives you can agree on.

For a spring or summer wedding, pale colours work well, becoming more vibrant as the weather warms up. Equally, hues of rust, burgandy and amber lend themselves beautifully to autumn and, of course for crisp cold winters, white, silvers and evergreens.

Whatever you go for, take your florist a sample of your dress fabric, and that of the bridesmaids. You'll need to ensure the flowers work well with it. If you can take the dress itself, even better as its design can have a direct effect on the bouquet style to ensure they complement each other.

If you can't take the dress, be certain your florist has a clear picture of the finished result. While you may love flowers, it's important to keep the size of your bouquet in proportion to the rest of you - if not and you're rather petite, you could end up being overwhelmed by flora and you want people to remember you not the flowers!

Many brides opt for blooms with some personal meaning or history. Many have a special meaning. Flowers generally symbolise fertility and children and white flowers represent innocence. Orange blossom used to be worn to signify virginity and, because it's an evergreen, it also symbolised everlasting love. Herbs also used to be carried as it was believed they warded off evil spirits.

Think of your bridal bouquet as the day's ultimate accessory - and look after it. Ensure the flowers stay fresh by keeping them in a cool place and as untouched as possible before the ceremony.

If you want to keep your bouquet, rather than "tossing" it to an awaiting crowd, why not ask your florist to make up one for the purpose?