The Bride

As the bride, your wedding day will be one of the most, if not THE most, important days of your life. You'll probably take on most of the organisation and planning, making just about every decision from the dress to the flowers, the cake, the date and type of ceremony - and much more!

On the day itself, you should:

• Plan to have your hair and make-up finished at least an hour before leaving for the ceremony
• Dress calmly and pose for any pre-ceremony photographs
• Travel to the ceremony with your father, or whoever is giving you away

At the ceremony, you will:

• Enter on your father's right arm and walk up the aisle followed by the bridesmaids
• Arrive at the front of the pews, where your father will drop back behind you, and the groom will move to your right side
• Hand your bouquet to your chief bridesmaid, who will lift your veil if necessary
• Sign the register with the groom
• Leave the ceremony, with the groom on your right, to begin the formal photographs
• Travel with your new husband to the reception

At the reception, you should:

• Stand in the receiving line and greet the guests – you are expected to introduce your new husband to friends and relatives who have not previously met him
• Cut the cake with your husband
• Take the floor with your new husband for the first dance of the evening
• Join your husband for the traditional send-off - this is where you might decide to throw your bouquet to the hopeful single girls amongst the guests

You'll normally pay for:

• The bridesmaids' dresses and gifts
• The groom's ring and gift
• The hen party