But there are a few things you might want to bear in mind when you settle down, pen in hand, poised to make one of those all-important lists. Like numbers: how many people do you think you’ll be able to cater for? Have you done any catering in the past and do you think you’ll manage it without going in to meltdown?

If you’re having your wedding reception at home, will your kitchen be able to support the number you want to cater for? Is there enough worktop space, fridge space and serving space.

Will you need additional help? If so it would be worthwhile getting some family and friends to help out. If you had five friends bring a dish each, it would make light work of your wedding catering (and cut your costs, if they’ll pay for the dish too).

 Will you also need people to help layout and serve the food? And what about additional equipment plus crockery, cutlery, tablecloths, napkins and ice buckets?

Prepare as many of the dishes as you can in advance but be super-aware of hygiene at all times. The last thing you want your wedding remembered for is the bout of food poisoning that the guests went down with the day after.

Once the celebrations are over, with a bit of luck you will be waving goodbye and on your way to a lovely, stress-free honeymoon. The last thing you want is to find yourself lumbered with all the clearing up. This is one job that it really does pay to get someone else to do!

Keep it simple, plan in advance and accept all practical offers of help for a stress-free, self-catering wedding celebration!