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The one thing you should remember about your wedding plans is that it is about the two of you and nobody else. Everybody else involved in any large or small part of your wedding arrangements has to fully understand this point.

Go to the start of this article about planning a wedding.

There are basically two options open to you when planning your wedding.

The first, depending on the size of your budget is to use a wedding planning service. Using a wedding planner means you only have to deal with one point of contact, provide them with your requirements and then let them deal with all the hassle and arrangements. Wedding planners are used to providing advice and help when the engaged couple may not be able to agree on a point and your planners will help you reach a compromise.

The second, is to organise everything yourselves. You can use our free wedding planning form to contact every service you may need in your area at the click of a button. You can then decide which services suit you best and fit within your budget. One thing you should consider is that a wedding planner may have contacts with services that they use on a regular basis and may be able to save you money on some services.

Some questions that will need to be answered before you do anything will include:

• Who is paying for the wedding and reception? Is it the brides' parents, both sets of parents, you and your partner or a combination of everyone?
  
  
• If money isn't an object, then lucky you. If, however, it is likely to put a financial strain on one or more of the parties contributing, it is a good idea to either set a budget or decide on who will be paying for what at outset.
  
  
• What is the total budget? If money is going to be the deciding factor, it is important to set a budget and try to keep within those limits as much as possible. Be prepared to make cuts and allowances wherever possible. Many a doting father has found himself deep in debt trying to please his darling daughter and many a newly married couple have found themselves starting married life in debt as a result of wedding plans that were allowed to run away in the excitement.

Our free wedding planning form will enable you to collect a number of quotes from which you can choose. There is the temptation to think that because this is a one off occasion, (hopefully) that you should ignore the expense and go all out for the big occasion. This is of course your decision but what is most important in the whole thing, the day or you and your partner? I don't think we need to answer that question for you.

Ensuring that the wedding day goes smoothly with tears of joy rather than frustration, making it a day you will remember for the right reasons and everyone being able to look back and say your wedding and reception was the best they had ever been to, without counting the costs, is the ultimate goal.

Our wedding planner will help you achieve this and the next page will help you focus on the important parts of your wedding arrangements.