Congratulations, you're getting married! Planning a wedding is both exciting and nerve-wracking. There are so many things to consider, but where do you start?

At Ecclesiastical, we have years of experience in insuring weddings and have supported our fair share of brides and grooms. To help plan your special day, we've spoken to real brides to find out the best tips and advice from their weddings.

Finding THE dress

You may already have an idea of exactly the type of dress you want, but wait until you try on a variety of styles...chances are you'll go for something completely different! Lucy, 33, found herself in this exact scenario: 'I thought I knew what dress I wanted, but it ended up looking awful on me! I tried on something I had never even thought of wearing and it looked amazing- it was the one.'

A wedding dress needn't cost a fortune either. There are plenty of quality high street options available, or even better, if you know anyone with a knack for sewing, call in a favour! Ally, 30, is having her dress made by her mum: 'what better way to have a completely unique dress and it'll be an amazing keepsake'.

You can also find a second hand dress for a fraction of the original price. Many brides decide not to keep their dresses after the big day, so have a look on ebay or wedding blogs to bag a bargain.

Give yourself time

Flowers, themes, colours, venues, catering...SO many things to choose from! Deciding on all the details can get very overwhelming. The main thing to focus on is what feels right for you and your partner. Flick through plenty of magazines and websites and take inspiration from the ones that suit your style.

'The best advice is to allow enough time to plan all the different aspects' said Ash, 28. 'Once I had looked through quite a few magazines I got an idea of what I liked and what type of venue would suit my kind of wedding. The colours and flowers just fell into place from there.'

Don't forget the groom!

Keep your partner involved in the planning process. He may not have much to comment on the colour scheme, but ask him to book your wedding night hotel and any other things you can entrust him with! Most men will want to be involved but don't know how to contribute.

Laura, 29, left the honeymoon for her fiancée to sort out and was thrilled with the outcome: '...he kept it secret until our wedding week when he let slip that we were off to Brazil for a three week adventure!' Guiding your man towards taking charge of an area will not only help you with the work load, but it will also allow you to share the planning experience together.

Budget issues

Weddings can be expensive, but they don't have to be. Costs can add up quickly and unless you're lucky enough to have a house deposit to spend on your big day, you need to be mindful of where you're spending.

If you are working to a limited budget, focus on one main WOW factor such as a fabulous band or other entertainment which your guests will remember long after the wedding. Hanna, 26, had Morris dancers entertain the guests while she and her husband were having their photos taken. 'It fitted in really well with our countryside theme and the guests loved it; children were taking part and everyone just had a bit of a laugh.'

The season and day of the week you choose your wedding to be on will affect the cost, with summer and weekends being the most popular and thus more expensive. Kate, 31, chose to have her special day on a Thursday, saving nearly half the price of a Saturday wedding. 'Another tip is to start your ceremony later in the afternoon so you only need to feed your guests once...and do a barbeque or hog roast- these more informal options will save you a fortune!'

Picking flowers that are in season and making your own invites will go a long way to saving the pennies. Try to source local produce for your catering- this will cut travel costs and be more environmentally friendly as well!

Once you start spending money on suppliers, do invest in wedding insurance to protect your big day. 'It was the best money we ever spent', said Maria, 29, as their catering company went into administration after they had already paid a hefty £1,000 deposit. 'Not having much money to spend on the wedding to begin with, it was such a relief to get the money back.'

Get your family and friends involved to help in all the planning. They'll love being included and you'll have plenty of extra hands to make hand made invitations and favours- another great way to save money!

Do ensure you have a good photographer though. Photos will be your lasting memory of the day so you'll want a professional to capture all the special moments. Ask to see their portfolio and ask them to visit the venue beforehand to familiarise themselves with the surroundings.

The things that really matter...and those that don't

Don't forget that this is YOUR day. As long as you and your partner are happy that's all that matters. Being surrounded by your friends and family to celebrate your life together will be a once in a lifetime experience and seeing you happy will be the best takeaway. Don't worry too much about the crockery and napkins matching, the colour of the chair covers or the flowers wilting...these aren't the things your guests, or you, will remember!