1. Delegate, delegate, delegate! This is the purpose of best men, ushers and bridal attendants! Not to mention parents of the happy couple (though admittedly they are sometimes the cause of stress itself!) If there is a task you can rely on someone else to do, ask them, they will be flattered to know you value their support and happy to help in your hour of need. Get other people to pick up the cake/flowers/suits/dresses, book the hairdresser appointments, help make invitations. Ask them to do a bit of ringing around for quotes and arm them with lists of questions you want answered by each potential supplier.

2. Keep a spreadsheet or list of 'to do' tasks. This will let you tick them off as they are done and keep track of what still needs organising and reassure you that you are on the way to having everything taken care of.

3. Start your planning early. This is crucial. The later you leave your planning, the less time you will have to put the planning into action. It's much easier to start early and slowly than to leave it late and end up in a mad panic. The sooner you book all the people that you need to help you on the day, the sooner everything will be organised and off your plate. Cramming for exams is one thing, you're unlikely to get another chance at your wedding day!

4. Be thorough. When speaking to each potential service provider, make sure you clarify exactly what they are offering and whether this meets your needs and that you are happy with the cost. Make sure they know precisely where and when they need to be on the day and that you have all the details set out in writing, to avoid any misunderstandings or last minute panics. Always document your decisions and provide your chosen suppliers some form of confirmation so that you both know what's been agreed.

5. Make time for your future spouse. It is easy to get distracted in all the planning and to feel like there isn't a moment to spare. Do make time for a romantic meal, or a shared bath, or just cuddling up on the sofa in front of your favourite TV programme. This is the person you want to spend the rest of your life with and the purpose of all your planning, so don't lose sight of that in the planning frenzy! Having a bit of time for yourselves and having fun is the best way to relax and keep everything else in perspective and down to size!

Whether or not you've any project management skills, you'll be amazed at just how good you feel when you know exactly where everything is, who's responsible for what and when things are supposed to happen. With preparation and attention to detail, there's no reason why you can't enjoy your wedding planning and have a wonderful wedding where everything falls into place like a jigsaw.