A is for Afters and Are they really a good idea? Inviting a gang of friends who all know each other to just the reception is fine, but remember that it can be alienating for people arriving on their own after the main event. Make sure there's someone to introduce them to the family, thank them for making the journey and offer them a drink.
B is for Bouquets and for "Blocking", which Jayne Morris advises is the latest big thing in bridal bouquets. Morris, who has just come home from England to her native Coleraine, to set up a shop offering a complete bridal service from flowers to tiaras, puts a mass of one flower such as roses, or a cluster of one colour together instead of dotting them through the bouquet. Jayne Morris Creations, 6 Blindgate Street, Coleraine, Northern Ireland. Tel: 0044-28-70327031.
C is for Cake, and who really likes fruit cake any way? Lindsay Stewart has won the hearts of chocoholic brides with her Belgian white chocolate wedding cakes. A chef herself, Lindsay invented a recipe for white chocolate fruit cake covered in ganache and pure Belgian chocolate, for her own wedding. Prices start at £250 for a single-tier cake. Lindsay Stewart can be contacted at 041-9823328 or 087-2319852.
D is for Dress and looking Divine on DDay. Sharon Hoey, who stocks a wide range of bridal dresses, including top English designer Amanda Wakeley, advises leaving yourself with plenty of time - about 16 weeks ideally. Unusually, she recommends doing a serious search on your own so you don't have to deal with someone else's ideas of what you should look like. Then bring a trusted adviser along to help you with your final decision. For summer, corsets teamed with big ballgown skirts are very popular, with lots of bias-cut dresses later on in the summer. If you're starting your search now for an autumn wedding, go for a warmer colour like champagne or ivory, or a crushed velvet Beverley Lister number complete with beading. Sharon Hoey, 19 Upper Mount Street, Dublin 2. (tel: 01 676 2772) After the big day, send it to a restoration service like that offered by Lyk-Nu in Donnybrook (tel: 01 2692609) to have it cleaned and ready for storage.
E is for Excess. There's always a pre-teen who drinks too much and gets sick.
F is for the First Dance. If you normally have two left feet why not take sneaky dancing lessons and stun the room with a perfect rhumba? The Beginners Dance Centre on Parnell Square (01-8304647) and the Flora Millar Dance Centres (01 2888455) both offer wedding waltz classes.
G is for Gifts and for giving something that is Genuine and not Generic. By all means use a wedding list, but do you really want to give your best friend four pieces of a 12 piece egg-cup set?
H is for Hats and for wearing them down on the forehead and not like a halo. Jim Brady at the Hat Studio on Clarendon Street also recommends going for a shade darker if you can't find a hat that exactly matches your outfit, or getting your hat dyed, a service available at the Hat Studio (016797988). Arnotts on Henry Street also have a great selection of hats, by designers including Victoria Ann and Frederick Fox, and the designer ranges at Debenhams in the Jervis Shopping Centre are also worth a look.
I is for Invites and finding something Individual. Check out Emma Eustace's Big Leap range of quirky wedding stationery (092-42122) or pay a visit to the handmade paper emporium, Daintree, on Dublin's Pleasant Place (01-4754641).
J is for Jewellery, and whatever you do, don't forget the rings.
K is for Kaos. There'll always be a certain amount of it on the day. Relax, it's all about being married, not getting married.
L is for Lingerie without Lace or Lumps. Susan Moylett of Susan Hunter Lingerie, in the Westbury Mall and Sandycove, recommends buying your lingerie before you get your dress made. Remember, too, that it should only play a supporting role on the day itself - change into your saucy undies when you put on your going away outfit. Fogal in the Hibernian Way also has a good selection.
M is for Mother of the Bride, with lilac and soft beige the key colours to remember this season. Occasion wear specialist Marian Gale of Donnybrook points out that mothers of September brides shouldn't chance waiting for the autumn collections; they may not arrive in time and the cashmeres and tweeds may be too heavy for an Indian summer's day. Also check out Hula-Bou on Maynooth's Main Street for mother of the bride outfits.
N is for Nosh and remembering that nobody likes going home when they're H for Hungry.
O is for Online and two great new internet services for Irish brides called www.WeddingsOnline.ie and www.weddings-ireland.com. WeddingsOnline is a magazinestyle site with a very comprehensive directory of wedding services and a useful panel of experts to answer your queries. Weddings-ireland is slightly less easy to follow but has a fun diary of founder Maria Curran's countdown to her own wedding day.
P is for Personal Service. Shop around because there are often great services available to brides. Clinique, for example, offers a wedding consultation which includes a skin-care consultancy, make-overs and bridal photography tips at all their stockists. Brown Thomas's I Do wedding consultancy will talk you through your wedding from the gift list to the outfits and offers a free makeover and a complimentary champagne breakfast on completion of the wedding list after the wedding.
Q is for the Quirky touches which make your day different.
R is for Relations - make sure that table plan is a masterpiece of modern democracy.
S is for Speeches, which should be kept short, and low on bawdy jokes. Use the ritual to good effect and thank people that really matter.
T is for Tiaras which hold your veil in place and make you feel like a princess. Get one custom-made to match your dress, your eyes or your finacee's team colours. Tahnee Morgan, who handmakes headpieces says pearls are particularly hot this summer. Phone 086-8778932.
U is for Umbrellas and remembering to bring a good supply on the day.
V is for Veils, which are as popular as ever. If your day is slightly cold and chilly, a veil can stop you looking too cold.
W is for the Weather, which you just can't control. Factor a light wrap into your wedding outfit and forget about it.
X is for X-citing, which is what your day should be; not X-hausting, X-orbitant or X-cessive.
Y is for Young people who should be left to their own devices on the dance floor at a certain time of the night.
Z is for Zzzzz, and a long honeymoon to get over the months of preparation.
