PLANNING a wedding is not something you can leave until the last minute! The following countdown should give you a good idea to what needs to be done when and the next few pages give you a chance to schedule in your own notes.

UP TO 24 MONTHS TO GO Decide date and place of the wedding See church minister Book reception venue Book caterers Book photographer Book videographer Book reception entertainment Order transport Decide number of guests and make list Book honeymoon Book register office and give notice to the registrar

NINE MONTHS Choose bridesmaids, best man and ushers Choose wedding dress to hire or buy Order cake Compile wedding list.

THREE MONTHS Order invitations Confirm church arrangements, including the banns Buy wedding shoes, head-dress, veil etc Buy bridesmaids' dresses and accessories Order flowers Choose rings Arrange outfits for mothers Apply for passports If catering at home, make arrangements for food, drink etc Groom, best man, fathers and ushers should arrange hire of suits.

SIX WEEKS TO GO Send out invites Arrange beauty appointments/ hairdressing Choose hymns and music and get minister to approve Order the Order of Service sheets from printer Choose bridesmaids' presents Confirm travel and hotel bookings.

TEN-SEVEN DAYS Take head-dress to hairdresser to decide style Meet best man, bridesmaids and ushers to finalise arrangements. Give best man money for fees and tipping Give Order of Service sheets to ushers with two copies to minister Start packing for honeymoon.

24 HOURS Delegate as much as possible Have beauty treatment Final honeymoon packing Lay out wedding and going away ensembles.

WEDDING DAY Bride's timetable assuming a 2pm wedding. 8am: Shower or relaxing bath, 8.30am: A good breakfast, 9am: Polish nails, 9.30am: Hairdresser, 11am: Best man arrives to collect luggage/ greeting cards, 11.30am: bridesmaids/pageboys arrive, noon: Make-up, 12.30pm: Bride and bridesmaids dress, 1pm: Photographer arrives, 1.30pm: First car takes mother and bridesmaids to church. 1.45pm Wait in porch and line bridesmaids up behind you. 2pm The ceremony.