With people’s lifestyles becoming more and more demanding we’re all looking for quicker and more convenient ways to get things done; and with the amount of time it can take to plan the perfect wedding (sometimes up to and beyond 250 hours) more and more couples are turning to professionals like me to help them with their planning so they can focus on the more important things about getting married and also so they can stay relaxed in the countdown to their big day. I also like to be an ambassador for us Wedding Planners in spreading the word that good Wedding Planners don’t have to be costly, in fact, hiring a professional can help to make sure your event stays within budget and if (like me) they have good database of suppliers that they can approach they can sometimes save you money too, as they are in better position to negotiate a discount for you.

But for those who don’t mind dealing with the pressures and are confident they won’t be driven mad by the difficulty of finding a good supplier then let me help you by I sharing with you a few of my golden wedding planning tips!

1. Stick to a Style

Don’t keep changing your colour scheme or have more than four base colours. I recommend picking two or three base colours as it means you can mix and match and also it’s easier to match with your wedding party attire and more importantly your flowers.

2. Find a Good Supplier

I cannot stress the importance of research in this area! There are a lot of choices in every category, especially where weddings are concerned, so don’t rush into securing your booking (unless you have confirmed they are reputable and get booked up quickly) wedding exhibitions like the London Excel are a great place to find your wedding suppliers because you can meet them face-to-face and they will be of a certain standard and quality.

3. Choosing Your Dress

Buy your dress at your current size is always my advice to clients. You can always have it altered if you lose or gain weight. My top tip in this area is always look for something that seems to naturally fit your body shape, this is such a wonderful look when a bride has got it right. Also please remember your wedding fashion style is very different to your everyday fashion sense, so what you think you will like, you will be surprised that the dress you end up choosing is sometimes totally different!

4. Choosing your Venue

Many venues these days come with an onsite coordinator, some people get confused and think this is an onsite wedding planner, they are not, so make sure you are clear on how they can assist you. It will mostly be with catering and they will tend to use their own but if this is not your style of food then you need to make sure you negotiate this before you sign any contracts.

5. What about the Kids

I have been to many a weddings lately where children have been (which is a beautiful thing) but to ensure that things can run smoothly and on time I would always consider hiring a professional crèche or nanny to be onsite, this avoids any loud crying or tantrums spoiling your key moments. Or perhaps just invite children to the wedding breakfast and reception and not the ceremony itself (they really won’t mind, trust me!)

Sabrina Cohen from Very Important Planning will be exhibiting at The London ExCeL Wedding Show from 31st January 2015 - 1st February 2015, you can find her on Stand 244.