Matron-of-Honour: Your choice of the person to fulfill this role is usually a married sibling, close family member or best friend. Whoever you choose, it is an important day for them too. They are there to make sure it all goes smoothly and to work out any problems with both the bridesmaids and flower girl/s. In this instance, a special gift is required. You could give them an exquisite piece of jewellery or set to wear on the day, or you could choose something completely different such as an elegant clutch purse, a beautiful pen, a silver compact mirror, a hip flask or a voucher to take a day spa. The ideas are endless and you can be very creative when you put your mind to it.

Bridesmaids: Once again the usual choice for bridesmaids are close family or friends. They are there to support you on your big day, so it is only fitting that you give them something special to remember the day. Most brides give their bridesmaids a necklace and earrings set to match their dresses on the day. You could also give them a tote bag with "Bridesmaid" embroidered on the front and fill it with either pamper items, chocolates or anything else you can think of. Make sure it's something they can get a lot of enjoyment from. Another idea is to give them a t-shirt to wear on the hen's night with "Bridesmaid" printed on the front, embellished with crystals.

Flower Girl: This is a very important day for any little girl and she is usually a member of your family or a child of a best friend. A memento such as a silver bangle engraved with the date is a lovely gift to give. Depending on the age of your flower girl you could also give them a voucher to buy something special for themselves. Jewellery has always been a popular choice for flower girls.

There are just a few suggestions there but it's enough to get you thinking about different kinds of gifts you can give to your attendants on your special day.

1. Make sure that whoever you choose does not talk on and on about nothing! If you know the person well then this is something you would be aware of. Choose someone who tells stories really well and will be sure to keep everyone interested.
2. Choose a person with a personality and a good sense of humour. You want your guests to be very comfortable at your wedding, so having someone who lacks personality and doesn't know how to warm a crowd up, will be a total failure.
3. Set time limits on the speeches and this is especially crucial for the MC. I went to a wedding once and the MC spoke for 45 minutes, even with people in the crowd heckling him to get off! Don't let the MC have complete control.
4. Don't choose a person you know is a heavy drinker. They will not only embarrass themselves, but you and your family too. After all you were the ones who chose him/her. Because their faculties are hindered by alcohol, they will have a hard time sticking to the schedule.
5. Be careful not to choose someone who cannot stop swearing. This is a great way to insult your elderly relatives, as well as a lot of other guests. You cannot guarantee that they will not drop a swear word during their MC duties.
6. And finally…choose someone who will do you and your family justice and you know will not let you down. A person who has intimate knowledge about you growing up and their involvement with the family. Guests love to hear stories about how people meet each other and some of the things they have done together. Make it interesting without talking too long.

Having a great MC at your wedding can really make the day a memorable one not only for you but your guests too. Don't spoil it by asking a boring person to be your MC. Put a bit of thought into it and pick someone you know everyone will like, and someone who can take charge of the proceedings.

When you start trying on dresses, check your weight before you go and make a note of it. If you're a little on the heavy side and you want to lose weight in time for your wedding, then you have to consider that your dress may have to be altered to fit you, especially if you are buying a dress off the rack.

Having a dress made is another option and is not usually started until a couple of months beforehand. This gives the dressmaker plenty of time to make alterations and gives you a great fit on the day. A lot of prospective brides lose weight in the last few weeks before their wedding due to their nerves going haywire! This is when you'll have to make sure you have a dressmaker available to make those minor adjustments.

If you need to lose some weight, don't leave it till the last few months to do so, otherwise you'll be pushing yourself too hard to get there. Give yourself plenty of time so that you can lose the weight slowly while at the same time getting yourself fit and healthy. Eat healthy foods and stay away from the junk food as much as possible.

Once you've reached your desired weight, maintain it by doing some light exercises everyday or just going for a walk. The goal is to keep yourself toned and in shape. Don't go overboard by dieting too much. There's nothing worse than seeing a beautifully dressed bride with bones sticking out!

It's not easy going on a diet and being strict with yourself. It's very hard to do especially when you're so caught up in your wedding plans.

"I'm actually way more funny now, because I'm hungry… If comedy comes from pain, I should be funnier now than I ever was."
Seth Rogen, on his weight loss

It's a painful process and it takes persistence, but if you're really serious about fitting into your dream wedding dress, you can look forward to relaxing later on your honeymoon. It may take a bit of effort but just think about how good you'll look on your wedding day, and then you'll know that it's all been worth it!

Of course there are two sides to this argument so let's look at the pros and cons.

Pros

• It's so much cheaper to elope. You will still have to pay for the rings and honeymoon, so you can either splash out for a long honeymoon or choose to save the money for a big purchase.
• If you have conflicts between certain family members, then you won't have to worry about them spoiling your wedding.
• You can choose to marry wherever you want. You may decide on a secluded tropical island, or a beautiful country retreat. You have many choices so make sure it's the right one.
• Having a civil ceremony is very quick so it leaves plenty of time for you both to party!

Cons

• Your family and friends won't appreciate being left out on your special day.
• The mother of the bride can be quite upset because she always had dreams of seeing her little girl dressed up like a princess.
• You may both look back one day and regret that you didn't include family and friends.

If you make the decision to elope anyway, why not have a reception later on so that your family and friends can get the opportunity to congratulate you. A wedding brings family members together and is a way of catching up with everyone you may not have seen for a while.

Have professional photos taken of your wedding ceremony and if possible use the same photographer for the reception. You will then have a lasting record of everyone sharing in your happiness.

There are many different reasons why you shouldn't spend so much money on a wedding, but hopefully it's the only time in your life you have one and it would be so much more special if you could share it with your loved ones.

Before you make the final decision, make your own list of pros and cons and see what you come up with. You may just change your mind!

Many of us, whether we're royalists or not, are anxiously waiting to see the dress! We wonder if it's going to be a "cinderella" style dress which is very full with lots of petticoats underneath, or if she's going to go for a more slimline look. She has a beautiful figure and is a beautiful girl and my thought is that she will wear a fuller style dress to reflect her status as a princess. And what about a train? Will it be as long as Princess Diana's or will she decide not to have a train at all?

Thinking back to Princess Diana's wedding, she definitely looked like a princess. It wasn't just the magnificent tiara on her head which gave her the status of being a princess, but it was the dress and all it represented. Many people didn't like the dress because they felt that it looked creased, but even if that was the case she still looked "royal".

I can imagine that choosing the designer for Kate's dress was a very hard decision. She will be expected to choose a designer from the UK and not to look for one abroad. She will have to choose a style which isn't way over the top, but there isn't much chance of that happening as she seems to be very conservative in her choice of clothes.

We'll also be waiting to see what her attendants will wear. Will she go for a colour or keep it neutral? There is so much to consider when you plan a wedding but planning a royal wedding must be a nightmare. Even though she has many people helping with the arrangements it must still be daunting.

It really doesn't matter what you think of a royal wedding, but you can be assured that the majority of us will be glued to the TV screen watching every minute of it on April 29th. We'll "ooh" and "aah" as Kate arrives and I'm sure we'll discuss "the dress" afterwards, but we will all be so happy knowing that we have witnessed a new "princess" being welcomed into the royal family.

We've all heard that it's "just a piece of paper" but it means so much more than that. It's an opportunity for you to stand up in front of your family and friends and profess your love for each other. It also shows that you are telling everyone that you are a couple and that your lives will be forever intertwined.

Going through with a ceremony and making a committment to each other doesn't always work out unfortunately. Many couples who took vows to love each other and to stay together "until death us do part" end up in the divorce courts. Not everyone makes the right choice when choosing a life partner which is sad, but it's a fact of life. A lot of married couples give up at the first sign of trouble without seeking help and the marriage falls apart.

A successful marriage requires falling in love many times, always with the same person.
Mignon McLaughlin

I still believe that marriage is here to stay. You only have to hear of someone getting engaged, then they have a difficult time finding a place for the ceremony and reception around the dates they have picked. Some couples have to wait longer than they anticipated because they cannot get married when they want to.

Go to any bridal show and you will find thousands of girls there picking up ideas for their wedding. There is still the thrill of choosing everything from the invitations to the wedding cake and seeing it all come together on the day of the wedding. Many young girls still dream of being a princess at their wedding and I don't think that will ever change.

Marriage is like signing a contract with each other, but if you truly love each other you won't look at it as just a piece of paper. You'll look at it as an impenetrable bond that can never be broken and you'll both be committed to seeing that it is followed through.

Do's

1. Choose a dress or suit to match your figure style. If you're a tall person then consider a style just below the knee or mid-calf. You can then wear lower heels if you need to. If you're on the shorter side then knee-length is the way to go.
2. If the bridesmaids are wearing a colour such as red, you could wear a neutral, floral print or pastel coloured dress.
3. Choose an outfit you can wear after the wedding. It's a shame to spend money on something you'll never wear again.

Don'ts

1. Do not wear a mini dress to your daughter's wedding! This will distract the attention away from the bride as the guests gossip about how inappropriately you are dressed.
2. Never wear the same colour as the bride or bridesmaids. They should stand out on their own.
3. Don't wear a dress which is so low cut that you are falling out of it. This is an elegant occasion and your outfit should match.
4. If you are overweight don't wear an outfit which is too tight. It will be very telling later when the photos are taken.

Choosing an outfit should not be a hassle and it's advisable to take someone with you so that they can tell you whether or not what you're trying on is suitable. It also helps to have someone with you who will be honest in their appraisal.

This is your one chance to shine at your daughter's wedding, so choose something beautiful and practical and enjoy your day.

There are some factors to take into consideration when you start looking for the perfect flowers.

1. Are you going to choose fresh flowers or silk flowers? Silk flowers are becoming more and more popular because they can be kept for many years as a memento of your special day. They can be displayed in a variety of arrangements and unlike fresh flowers, will not wilt in the heat.
2. What fresh flowers will be in season when you hold your wedding? This is important because you may choose to get married in summer and want to use Lily of the Valley in your bouquet, but find you can't get it because it's only available in winter. Have a chat with your florist and ask them to help you with suggestions. They have the experience so they should help to make your choice a lot easier.
3. What colour will you choose for the bridesmaids dresses? You need to know this before you choose their flowers. You also have to decide how big an arrangement they will need. A large arrangement should only be used for the bride's bouquet and smaller ones for the bridesmaids and flower girl.
4. Have you set a budget for the flowers? Flowers for a wedding can be very expensive so having an amount in mind will be a good start in the planning. They are going to be considerably more expensive if you get them from a florist, but to save money why not buy them loose from a wholesaler and tie them up in bunches with ribbon before the ceremony? You can save quite a bit of money doing it this way.

Sorting out your flowers is only one part of organising your wedding day but it's a very important part. Everyone notices the bouquets at your wedding so make sure you choose the right style for you.

Need help choosing your flowers? Click HERE for Roses Only who offer a very wide selection of floral arrangements.

If you're a gambler then this is your mecca with hundreds of casinos all over the city. You can even play slot machines at the airport if you're so inclined! Las Vegas covers everything when it comes to gambling, from playing the slot machines to catering to the "high rollers".

If you're not a gambler, then there are so many live shows to see, such as The Jersey Boys, Human Nature, Circque du Soleil, Donny & Marie Osmond and many many more. These are world class shows and you will not leave disappointed. The production of these shows is amazing and once you've seen one you'll want to see more.

Don't have a lot of money to spend? No problem. You can spend your days wandering through the magnificent hotels which line the Las Vegas Strip. Many of the hotels have shows on throughout the day which are completely free. As an example you can see the Lion Habitat inside the MGM Grand Hotel right on the strip. It's a sight to behold.

As for hotels, Las Vegas has some of the best in the world. Not only are they huge but they are luxurious and well appointed. The staff are very friendly and they'll make sure you have a great time. If you wanted to you could spend the whole time at your hotel using the facilities they have available.

Las Vegas is a fabulous city and I can't wait to go back again. I hope you enjoy it too.

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Summer is peak time here for weddings and there will be many who have booked venues along the river. One of our iconic restaurants, Drift, formerly known as Oxley's, was on a pontoon and one of the most popular restaurants in Brisbane. We saw footage a short time ago showing that it has been washed away and is floating down the river acting as a missile. This restaurant has been part of the Brisbane scene for many years and hosted thousands of wedding receptions.

You have to feel for those couples who have already booked the venue for their reception and to see it washed away must be disheartening. The problem for many of them will be finding a venue in time for their weddings.

There are also problems getting supplies into the city and the majority of venues source their flowers from a huge local market which is now under water.

There are so many businesses affected by natural disasters such as floods and it takes a long time for people to get back on their feet and businesses to pick up the pieces and start all over again.

Let's just hope that weddings planned at this time will still be able to go ahead and that the majority of venues along the river will survive.