1. Be creative with your flower vessels. You don't have to go for standard vases to display your floral arrangements. Try a conch shell for a beach-themed wedding or slimline vases with one long-stemmed flower for understated elegance.

2. If you're going for strong colours in your bouquets and floral arrangements, tie this in with your tables by using bold colours on overlays on top of white tablecloths

3. Look into your families' backgrounds to see whether there are any fun traditions that you can incorporate into your day. If you've got Brazilian roots, have a lambada competition. If you've got West Indian heritage, try the limbo!

4. If you use versatile decorations they can double up as favours to save you money. Try perspex hearts filled with pink and white marshmallows for example.

5. Use a string of battery-powered fairy lights to weave through your floral arrangements.

6. If you can't afford all the elements required to turn your decoration ideas into reality, consider hiring accessories such as chair covers, table linen, candelabras and vases. Some events companies have showrooms in which you can see exactly how each table would look.

7. Don't underestimate the impact that just one or two striking items can make on each table, especially if you use dramatic colours. Coloured glasses look great when contrasted with white linen.

8. Using tall centrepieces in a small function room will help you achieve the illusion of space.

9. Draping textured fabric over walls in a larger space helps to make the place look more cosy. Don't get carried away until you've run the idea past the venue though.

10. There are lots of things you could use for ice-breakers to help your guests gel; you can buy wedding trivia quizzes or, if you have time, make up your own based on your history together.

11. Make a marquee look distinctive by hiring silk linings in your colour theme to hang over the canvas.

12. Remember to factor in space for your cake table so that it doesn't end up squashed in the corner. You can decorate the stand with fruit if you don't fancy floral enhancements.

13. If you're not a big fan of flowers, hire sculptures to use as centrepieces. Or fill vases with multi-coloured glass pebbles or chocolates covered in multi-coloured metallic wrappers.

14. Flank your flowers with thin strands of fibre optic lights that change colour for a warm Christmassy feel.