In order to help you plan your wedding, we include here a list of questions we are often asked.

Q: How do we begin the dancing?
A: When the band kicks in, the first on the dance floor should be the newly-weds. Lots of couples plan their first dance as man and wife very carefully and choose a song that means something special to them. The rest of the party can then join in. According to tradition, the groom dances with his new mother-in-law and the bride with her father, then the bride with her father-in-law and the groom with his mother. Finally, the groom should dance with the chief bridesmaid and the bride with the best man. However, if you feel uncomfortable about dancing in public, simply open the dance floor to everyone as soon as the music begins.

Q: Should the bride ever make a speech?
A: It always adds a nice touch when the bride makes a speech. However, bear in mind when planning speeches that this section should be kept to around 20 to 25 minutes at most or it can become something of an ordeal for the guests.

Q: What is the etiquette surrounding place cards?
A: This one is entirely up to you. With an informal buffet, guests will generally seat themselves. WIth a seated dinner, it's a good idea to organise a seating plan and tell guests where to sit. This gives you a chance to place guests next to people they already know.

With a big reception it is a good idea to have more than one board with the table plan on so there isn't a huge scrum of people finding out where they're supposed to be going. Alternatively, you could be a little more creative. For example, hand each guest a bag of sugared almonds with a card attached telling them which table they are on.

Q. Do I have to supply a sit-down meal for my guests or is it acceptable to provide a buffet?
A. There is no rule to say that the meal you serve has to be served hot. You may prefer to serve a cold buffet to your guests. This could comprise of salads, a selection of cold meats, fresh salmon, bread and dressings. You could follow this with fruit salad, pavlovas and pastries, cheese and biscuits. Alternatively, you might decide on a hot buffet or a pig roast, or even a cocktail party with substantial canapés.

Q: My fiancé and I are vegetarian and would like to have an all-vegetarian meal at the reception. Is this acceptable?
A: There is no reason you have to serve meat at your reception. However, if you are to serve a completely vegetarian meal, you need to spend some time organising a versatile menu. One idea might be to turn it into a themed wedding, perhaps even eco-style. You could have all the stationery printed on recycled paper, ask guests to plant trees as presents to you and serve a tasty organic vegetarian menu.