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When making your wedding arrangements, you should understand that your wedding day will not be the most important day of your life. It might be the most important day up until then, but the following day will be more important and the day after that more important still and the next day that little bit more. In fact, every day throughout your married life should be treated as more important than the last. If you adopt this philosophy, your marriage will last your lifetime, which is what you will be promising each other on your wedding day.

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Getting married is not just about your wedding day, it is about the marriage and the lifetime commitment that you are making to each other. You should bear this in mind when making your marriage arrangements. It is just one day and whilst you may want it to be special, you should not focus on the arrangements as being the basis of a good marriage.

Just put the whole day into perspective. Your partner has chosen you to be their lifetime partner. This commitment should come without strings and provisos. If something in your wedding arrangements is not achievable, whether it is the limousine or main course at the reception, does it really matter and will it change your decision to get married.

Sit down together and decide what you want, what your budget is and what is most likely to be achievable within the budget. Draw up a wish list; decide what is important, essential and what you can do without. You can add romantic touches with a little more organisation and imagination without adding to the budget. The most important thing is that you both turn up at the alter.

Some people spend fortunes on their wedding day and end up in the divorce courts very soon afterwards. Other couples get married on a shoe string and remain in love for the rest of their lives. Please get your priorities right.

If your parents or parents in law are paying or contributing to the wedding costs, listen to their concerns, consider their wallets but remember that it is your wedding. They should bear this in mind too. Things can go awry when a parent is too interfering, even with the best of intentions. Don't fall out with your future parents-in-law before you tie the knot. There will be plenty of opportunities afterwards.

If you are not using a wedding planner and doing all the organising yourselves be prepared to delegate responsibilities. The Best Man and the Maid of Honour, the Ushers and both sets of parents can all take on certain responsibilities. It is most important that you monitor progress and ensure that they provide feedback at all times.

Timing is of the essence. If you are planning a big wedding, the longer you will need to make your wedding plans. In fact, the bigger the wedding, the longer you will need and the more notice you will have to give everyone. The more time you give yourself to arrange your wedding, the greater your choice of options. Venues, hotels and limousines get booked up well in advance. The earlier you book everything, the fewer the disappointments and choices.

If you leave everything to the last minute, you could end up disappointed with your list of options as the best places get booked up and also finding that some guests are unable to attend due to prior arrangements.

So give everyone plenty of notice and make sure you time and coordinate all your marriage plans.