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Getting the most out of your wedding day
By Natasha Mac a'Bháird author of 'The Irish Bride's Survival Guide'
 Planning your wedding day is one of the most enjoyable things you'll ever do – but also one of the most stressful. You don't want to be so frazzled that you forget to enjoy the day you've spent so long planning, so here are a few tips to help you keep your cool and ensure it really is the happiest day of your life.
As with most things in life, the key to making sure your wedding day runs smoothly is to get the preparation for it just right. Make sure your wedding suppliers are professional, trustworthy people. That way you can relax about those details and leave everything up to them.
Delegate some of the jobs as you go along – don't feel you have to take care of everything yourself. Maybe your mum could look after the wedding flowers, your fiancé could book the wedding band and your bridesmaids could help to track down their own bridesmaid dresses – whatever you think would take some of the stress off you.
Have a checklist for the last few weeks before the wedding. See the list at the back of The Irish Bride's Survival Guide. Ticking things off your list will help you feel calm and confident that everything is under control.
Try not to leave too many jobs to the day before the wedding, and divide up some of those jobs between the bridal party and other family members so that not everything falls to the bride and groom. Plan a relaxing day – have your nails done, meet a friend for coffee, go for a drink with your beloved. If you're having the wedding rehearsal the night before, plan to go for a meal afterwards, either with family or just a few close friends.
On the day, make sure you allow plenty of time for getting ready. Most hairdressers will advise brides to make their appointment for 9am or thereabouts, which can seem very early if you're not getting married until 1 or 2pm, but you really are much better off leaving plenty of time afterwards for a relaxing brunch before doing your make-up and getting into your wedding dress.
Before you walk down the aisle take a moment just to relax and enjoy the moment. If you're very nervous focus on the handsome groom waiting for you at the other end!
Take a moment to say hello to all your wedding guests as they come out of the ceremony. If you have a big wedding it might be the only time you get to speak to some of them.
 Don't forget to spend some time with your new husband! Some brides report that they were so busy mingling with wedding guests they hardly saw the groom all day, but is that really how you want to remember your wedding day? At some point in the evening set aside ten or fifteen minutes just to be alone together. Take a stroll in the hotel grounds or escape to the bridal suite to open a few wedding cards and just chat about how the day is going.
Above all, relax and remember that everyone attending your wedding wishes you well and will enjoy the day come what may. And remember the reason you are getting married – not to have the most fabulous flowers or gourmet food, but to tell the world that you love each other and want to spend the rest of your lives together.
I hope you have a fabulous day!
*Natasha Mac a'Bháird is the author of 'The Irish Bride's Survival Guide' – new updated edition published March 2011 by The O'Brien Press Ltd. Natasha is a freelance writer and editor and blogs at daughterofthebard.wordpress.com. She lives in Dublin with her husband and their twin girls.
COMPETITION
Click here to be in with a chance of winning one of five copies of 'The Irish Bride's Survival Guide' by Natasha Mac a'Bháird.
Enteries close 29th April 2011.
If you are not one of the lucky winners you can purchase your copy priced at £12.99/€14.99, available from all good bookshops now.
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Planning 
I posted 4 photos on Facebook in the album "Bridal inspiration from Cannes...." 
