Where to begin planning

Where do I start? Every newly engaged bride will always ask herself this question, even if she's been planning her big day since she was a child!! My advice is to begin by putting together a scrapbook or mood board.

Buy all the good quality wedding magazines you can find and pore over them, cutting out any special details and ideas that inspire you, to make an inspiration board. It will help you to visualise your wedding and will help you to communicate your vision to your suppliers.

Think about what inspires you, what you're passionate about, what makes you happy and have a brainstorming session over a glass of wine with hubby to-be, jotting down ideas and thoughts to formulate the overall concept for your wedding.

There are endless ways of incorporating your passions so buy a pinboard or a big scrapbook and add sample card, fabric swatches, clippings and images, anything that conveys colour, feelings, a particular mood and you'll begin to see your celebration take shape.