For a wide selection of styles go to a wedding stationer. Many large department stores also offer excellent stationery catalogues as part of their wedding service.

If you want an individual design, discuss it with your chosen stationery supplier at least six months before your wedding. You can choose anything from formal to wild and wacky - it's your wedding!

Wording is usually formal for wedding invitations but again, it's up to you.

Order at least a dozen more wedding invitations than you need in case of mistakes or last minute emergencies (the same goes for evening invitations).

When it comes to writing your guests' names on your invitations you may want to enlist the help of a friend who has good hand-writing or even a professional calligrapher (it really does make all the difference).

Even if you have chosen a set invitation design, order at least four months before the wedding.

Before the Order of Service goes to print, double check the name and address of the ceremony venue, the exact title of the person conducting the ceremony and the hymns/music agreed upon.

Table planners can be supplied by stationers - again many brides prefer a calligrapher to add that personal touch.

Most stationers will also supply small cake boxes for mailing pieces of cake to guests who couldn't make it on the day.

If you are moving house after the wedding it's a good idea to get your new address and telephone number printed on your thank you cards - it will save you a lot of hassle later.