Planning a wedding can be a stressful time but here at Hampshire Brides we have gathered resources from all over Hampshire so that our wedding guide will make planning your "perfect wedding day" easier.

We have created a timeline for some of the most important elements of your wedding planning process with links to suppliers that will help you achieve your dreams.

One year before your wedding

• The first task will be to set the special date and time with the priest, minister or registrar. You will need to discuss in full detail your plans with the person who will be performing the ceremony.
  
• Set yourselves a budget for your wedding and stick to it.
  
• Remember to suit the ceremony, venue and reception to your budget, and to both your personal likes and dislikes.
  
• Consider having a talk with a bridal consultant or wedding coordinator
  
• Choose your type of ceremony, make a list of whom and how many guests will be attending and decide on the theme for your reception.
  
• Decide on your venue and arrange a meeting with the people in charge. This goes for hotels, caterers, musicians (for the ceremony and the reception) toastmasters etc.
  
• Decide on your type of wedding cake, the type of wedding car hire , style of photography and the flowers.
  
• Think about wedding clothes, particularly your wedding dress, the colours, fabrics and accessories, and the grooms wear. You will probably want a colour scheme and a style that carries throughout the day so talk your plans through with your dressmaker, florist, venue dresser and caterer.
  
• Find out what wedding fayres (fairs) are in the area and plan on attending as many of these as you can as they will give you many ideas and are an introduction to the people you may be using.
  
• You will need to book many of the suppliers well in advance to ensure you get your preferred choice for your chosen date, so book your wedding photographer, your videographer, caterer (if necessary) the entertainment for your ceremony and reception, your florist, venue and wedding cars.
  
• Start shopping for your bridal wear and headpiece, and set a date for fittings and delivery. Select your bridesmaids' dresses and accessories and Mother of the Bride outfits.
  
• Consider wedding insurance just in case.
• Start thinking about your honeymoon.

Six months before the wedding

• Order the wedding stationery and favours (favors).
  
• Having decided on the content, discuss the order of the service with the person performing the ceremony.
  
• Go through the wedding menus with your caterer or venue.
  
• Decide on your wedding present list.
  
• Shop together for your wedding rings.
  
• Plan inoculations for your honeymoon if necessary and organise visas, passports etc.
  
• Think about your 'going away' attire and clothes for your honeymoon

Three months before the wedding

• Check that you have all the appropriate pre-marriage documents and certificates.
  
• Finalise the details of your colour scheme for your decorations, and the bouquets, buttonholes with the florist.
  
• Finalise the wedding guest list and have the invitations sent and do remember to keep a track of the replies.
  
• Choose the gifts for the best man, bridesmaids and your attendants.
  
• You may need to arrange accommodation for attendants and guests.

A month before the wedding

• Organise the final fittings for your wedding dress and for the bridesmaids. On the day of your final fittings make sure that all the bridesmaids are wearing the same shoes that they intend to wear on the big day.
  
• Finalise fittings for the groom and best man.
  
• Have a hair and make-up rehearsal. On the day of the hair and make-up rehearsal remember to bring the head-dress with you for the expert's opinion.
  
• Finalise your seating arrangements for the church and wedding reception.
  
• Plan the wedding rehearsal with the priest, minister or registrar.
  

Two weeks to go

• Arrange your honeymoon and going away clothes, including passports, tickets and visas. Now is also the time to arrange travellers' cheques, insurance, car hire and any other documentation.
  
• Give advice to the venue of the approximate number of quests for the reception, and plan the table settings, place cards and linen etc.
  
• Finalise details with the florist, photographer, videographer, caterers etc.
  
• Try all your wedding clothes on and make sure all fits correctly and all is comfortable.

One week to go

• Arrange a wedding rehearsal.
  
• Nominate someone to look after the wedding dress and the groom's outfit after the wedding.
  
• Wrap all the gifts for the bridesmaids, best man and attendants.
  
• Arrange all fees for the church or registrar, musicians (best man should do these).
  
• Do one last check on all documentation required including passports for the honeymoon.
  
• Give all documentation to the best man for safe keeping.

Two days before the wedding

• Confirm your final guest list to your venue.
  
• Make sure the wedding cake is fine and all the transport arrangements are in place.

The day before

• Relax, have a long hot bath and an early night

The Big Day

• Have a good breakfast.
  
• Get your hair and make up done.
  
• Give yourself plenty of time to reach the church or registrar and always allow for the last minute hiccup.

Above all - enjoy your day