The pitfall of too many brides when choosing their bridal hair is opting for something that has absolutely no bearing to their everyday look. While you understandably wouldn’t want to look like ‘everyday you’, you should never stray too far from home, so to speak. Go for a glamourised version of your normal look, so that you will still be comfortable with it, and not have a stranger staring back at you from the mirror! Do also keep your dress in mind when selecting your hairstyle; if your dress is long and dreamy, loose curls with flowers woven through them will not only suit the look, it will add infinitely more charm and beauty to the overall presentation.

1)   Do your research and speak with friends who recently got married. Their feedback will be important in helping you create your shortlist

2)   Check out websites and portfolios – different photographers have different styles; checking out their work will enable you to cull the ones you think are unsuitable and keep the ones you think are right

3)   Make sure you meet all the photographers you are considering for a face-to-face. That way, you will know if you can be comfortable with them

4)   Don’t be afraid to ask to preview a whole wedding to get an idea of the quality and creativity of the photographer’s work

5)   Don’t be afraid to ask what you will get for your money. A little persuasion could land you a few extra stills, or even a bigger album!

Childhood BFFs Steph & Jeni - now both Maids of Honour!

Quite apart from the fact that your bridal party may have to suffer the embarrassment of wearing meringue-like dresses in pastel hues, there’s also the bridezilla jitters they’ll have to cope with, and being your human shield from the myriad catastrophes that could happen on your wedding day. If you’re like TWG contributor Elaine Ho who picked her two childhood best friends Stephanie & Jeni as her maids of honour, decision making isn’t too difficult. For the rest of us though, here are some top tips to ensure you end up with the right people on your A-team for the Big Day:

• Size doesn’t matter in this case – If you’re planning an intimate little affair on the beach, a bridal party of 20 bridesmaids is going to look a touch incongruous. A good rule of thumb is to have a ratio of one bridesmaid and one groomsman to every 50 guests, ergo a large wedding will require a larger bridal party whilst a little beach do won’t

• Don’t judge a book by its cover – please, please, please don’t be superficial and eschew asking a good friend to be a bridesmaid just because she’s overweight and won’t “make the photo look good”; it’s just not done. Similarly, if you think someone can’t afford the accoutrements you have in mind, ask them anyway and give them the option of bowing out if that is the case, remembering to give them another task so they can still be part of the proceeding

Courtesy of FIFOTO Photography

• It’s not an eye for an eye – so someone asked you to be her bridesmaid years ago. Now you’re taking the walk down the aisle and even though you haven’t hung out in ages, you feel obliged to return the favour? Uh-uh, don’t worry, it’s not expected

• You can’t pick your relatives but you can pick them to be your bridesmaids – Even if you don’t get along with your stepsister and would rather extract your eyeball with a blunt fork than have her in your bridal party, think again. A politically correct gesture like that will stand you in good stead for future family negotiations and show the world that you’re such a bigger person than they’d imagined you to be

• Because two heads are better than one – If you have two best friends, don’t fret; it’s totally okay to have more than one maid of honour. Just remember to forestall bitchy squabbles by clearly outlining each one’s duties. If your best friend is a bloke, by all means include him in the bridal party as an attendant or bridesman; just don’t force the poor fellow to wear a lilac tux!

Courtesy of Nailart gallery

Apart from your hands, your nails will be most on display when you’re showing off the rock on your finger. With that in mind, here are some indispensable how-to tips for tip-top nails:

Always wear gloves when cleaning the house or washing dishes

Shovel on the hand cream at bedtime and wear loose socks over your hands to let the cream work its magic while you sleep

If you’re a nail biter, use anti-nail biting polish of the most bitter kind to ensure your mouth stays away from your fingers for at least six weeks prior to the wedding

Let your nails breathe for a bit before the wedding and only use a nail-building top-coat but no nail polish until the day before your wedding day

Get a manicure a couple of weeks before the wedding, and follow their example in keeping nails looking tip-top, remembering to schedule a follow up the day before the wedding

Fancy a spot of tea?

Ever been invited to a wedding and the attire calls for ‘morning suits’? This elegant suit comprises a long coat with one button and a cut-away front, and was made popular during the 1920s when the Great Depression saw the Edwardian tradition of several clothing changes throughout the day being perceived as frivolous. Nevertheless, the penchant for dressing up for special occasions remained and the morning suit, paired with matching or striped trousers and wing-collared dinner shirts and/or bow ties, is still a popular favourite amongst the smarter English set today.

As soon as you thought about wedding venues, the sun-sea-surf combination was a non-negotiable must-have for you; you’ve always dreamed of getting married by the sea, with your guests all shoe-less and dressed in linens as the fairylights twinkled in the palm trees.

Is Your Look Happy Hippy Chic?

If your style star is Mary-Kate Olsen or Daryl Hannah, chances are your look will be natural, flowing and one with nature. You’re opting for simplicity, and a few well-selected accessories will heighten your look and complete it.

Since your hair will most likely be loose and flowing around your shoulders, a good stylist is essential to help give you the natural curls you need to create the right effect. Do consider putting tiny flowers through your locks, or even opt for a simple floral wreath for understated drama

A bit of preparation before will go a long way: get a light, healthy tan in the weeks leading up to the wedding and stay far away from bottled tans!

For your arms, do consider a beautifully sculpted silver armlet, or try substituting your bridal bouquet with a wrist corsage. A hand-painted henna tattoo on your hand will draw attention to this little, but all-important, detail

If your idea of a perfect wedding day entails you looking like something out of a fairytale, then just-right accessories will be an absolute must-have to achieve that picture-perfect Cinderella look.

Is Your Look One of Classical Beauty, Where Romance Rules Supreme?

If your style star is Anne Hathaway or Nicole Kidman, then you’re looking for a dreamy, perfectly put together look that is evocative of a modern day princess:

As befits a princess, do consider an intricate tiara; it will truly add the finishing touch to your already swoonworthy dress

A princess always has her hair in a perfectly coiffed updo. Make the most of this romantic hairdo with ornate hair combs, or complete the look with Swarovski-jewelled hair accessories and matching drop earrings

Satin shoes are ideal for the modern-day princess. Try some with beaded crystal details to put that extra zing in your step

Don’t overdo it: if you’re going top heavy with accessories (hair and ears) then keep arm accessories to a minimum. Or opt for a dramatic vintage necklace to focus the look

Now, now - want a 'hangover' of your own boys?

With the new austere mood, this is no time for the Vegas wallet-exploding buck’s weekend you’d envisaged as a teenager for your bachelor send-off. That doesn’t mean you can’t still have truckloads of fun with your posse. What about…

Going on a fishing and camping weekend? You can drink all the beer your bellies can hold while also indulging in testosterone-fueled activities without anyone looking over your shoulders and tut-tutting in disapproval

Bringing Vegas to you? Get your pad decked out with roulette, blackjack and poker tables (your fiancée will be more than happy to help, once she knows a stripper won’t be involved!), have a few buddies volunteer as croupiers, and load up on chips (the cash kind), bubbly and pizza and your party will be the talk of the town. Amongst the fellers, that is!

Going on a road trip? Identify some cool landmarks and places where you can stop and camp, as well as activities like white-water rafting, horseback riding and trekking that you can partake in en route. You’ll return healthier (unless you’ve drunk your body weight in whiskey), tanner and ready to take on the world (and your wedding!)

Warning: Don’t overdo it now! You know what they say about beer goggles..!

Bianca & Mick Jagger - Saint Tropez, May 1971

Don’t be fooled: you may have the dress of your dreams in your hot little hands and an appointment with the top hair and make up consultant in town from your little ‘white’ book, but that doesn’t mean your mission to look a zillion dollars is completed. The devil, my dear, is in the details, and by that we mean accessorising to give your overall look that je ne sais quoi oomph. Lucky for you, we have some fab tips to send you on your way to stunning-ville.

Is Your Look Eclectic Bordering on Quirky?

If your style star is Chloe Sevigny or Zooey Deschanel, chances are you’re already a whizz at accessorising, but just in case you’re at a loss:

Courtesy of Phillip Treacy & Not Empire

A sensational Philip Treacy hat will ensure that nobody but nobody steals the limelight from you. If budget is a worry, consider vintage alternatives: a deep violet top hat sheathed in velvet would add flourish to your outfit and height to your frame

Use the “something borrowed, something blue” tradition to incorporate your own signature touch into your outfit, whether it’s an antique cameo brooch or an antique blue lace choker

What about… faux fur capelets, a fur-fringed bolero, or even a stole to add drama to your dress? You’ll certainly stand out from the rest of the (yawn) white-clad brides

Take it from style icon Bianca Jagger – Her wedding ‘gown’, was a suit paired with a wide-brimmed hat, covered in a veil of white tulle. Always the contrarian, Bianca ditched the traditional bouquet and instead donned a wrist corsage of white flowers with a diamond bracelet.

However, it may be wise to ‘cool’ down Bianca’s revealing neckline to accommodate our Asian climate :)

Courtesy of Style Singapore

Trust me, you do not want to be photographed zooming in for The Kiss only for the photographers to pick up on your chapped, peeling lips. Start your lip regime a month before your wedding by gently exfoliating every morning when you jump in the shower (Benefit does some great options, or opt for the cheap and equally good alternative of lightly rubbing the dead skin off your lips with a soft, damp washcloth). Remember to add plenty of lip moisturiser frequently, and voila, you’ll be pucker-worthy come your wedding day! Remember to experiment with colours and textures so you find the right lippie before 11th hour panic sets in.