A wedding is one of life's most joyous occasions; an event you'll want to share with friends and relatives. These days, however, your dearest are not always nearest. To be sure out-of-town guests are part of the celebration, consider reserving a block of rooms for the weekend, at an inn or hotel.

Every young girl dreams of the day she will walk down the aisle in the most beautiful wedding gown of all. Now that day is at hand and the gown is yours for the choosing.

One of the richest, and certainly most delicious, of wedding traditions is the wedding cake. Whether you will be celebrating with a few close friends or a party of three hundred guests, the wedding cake can be a glorious centerpiece to the festivities.

The professional caterer is the most important person in putting your wedding reception together. After the ceremony your guests will look forward to your reception as a time to share in your happiness and celebrate with food and drink.

Planning a wedding can be fun. But it's difficult to juggle your career, go shopping, hire suppliers and stay on budget. It's even more complicated if you live in one city, but your wedding is in another. Fortunately, wedding consultants and directors are ready to lend a hand.

So you're contemplating a destination wedding . venturing away from the everyday to the exotic, historic, offbeat, or just plain "someplace different." But where in the world do you start (and end up)?

When you are ready to move into your first home together, you will find the experience to be the realization of one of the most satisfying goals that you, as a couple, can set . and attain.

Flowers symbolize the beginning of your new life together, unfolding with the promise of growth in love and devotion. Your careful choice of flowers will add much more than simple decorations at your wedding.

No other facet of your wedding is so important as the ceremony. The joy of receiving your engagement ring, the thrill of finding the perfect gown, the excitement of the reception, the nostalgic father-daughter dance, the romantic honeymoon spot ... these are the dreams of every bride-to-be.

While the most important aspect of your ring is that it is one you absolutely love, it's also important to shop wisely.

Music has been called the universal language. It can be the single most important element of your wedding and reception, as it expresses the many different emotions of the day and is, literally, instrumental in controlling the flow of events.

The reception is the celebration of one of the most joyous moments in your life, with those closest to you. Filled with tradition and symbolic foods, the reception weaves family and friends together as they greet you for the first time as husband and wife.

Time has a way of playing with our memories. Even the memories of special days can begin to fade as the years pass by. That's why it is so important that a record of your wedding day be preserved permanently by a professional photographer who knows how to discover and capture the treasured moments of your day.

As in planning any celebration, you'll want to create a certain ambiance for all your wedding festivities. If you are working with a caterer or party planner, many will take care of every detail, from the menu to the music. However, if you are planning your own wedding, or simply want to add some "extra touches," look to the party rental store.

A beautiful invitation, a heart-felt thank-you note - both mirror the warmth and happiness you feel at this special time in your life. All your wedding stationery is a reflection of you and your wedding. It should be chosen with as much care as is given in choosing your bridal attire.

The transportation arrangements you make for your wedding should reflect both style and careful planning. Since it is your day and you will want to be the center of attention, plan to arrive and depart your wedding in the most elegant way possible.

"I have just finished watching our wedding videofor the first time. I know I will watch it until the tape wears thin. It really took us back. Just watching the video, my heart pounded just as it did on May 17th at 5:58 p.m."

Though many brides are initially uncomfortable with the idea of bridal registry, it can and should be one of the most enjoyable experiences of the wedding preparations. It is a time when you and your fiancé will choose the things that will be a part of your lifestyle for years to come.

On your wedding day you will want to look and feel your most radiant ever. Enhance the glow of your love through a healthy lifestyle and some professional advice.

At long last, the time for your honeymoon arrives. You and your groom should view the honeymoon as the beginning of a life-long adventure together, not just the end of a hectic wedding schedule.