Michele Shambrook, Operations Manager for Consumer Direct said: 'Wedding contracts can be worth several thousands of pounds so it's vital that you shop around, compare prices, ask lots of questions and make sure you know exactly what you're getting before you agree a deal.'

Consumer Direct has the following list of tips for couples planning to tie the knot:

• Start planning well in advance. A lot of reported problems result from trying to do too much in too short a space of time.
• Set yourself a budget and stick to it.
• Look at a number of different venues and suppliers to compare costs and levels of service.
• Ask for written quotes (rather than just estimates) as these are legally binding.
• If you make a decision based on verbal promises, ask to get these in writing.
• Before you pay a deposit to a venue, make sure you have read all the terms and conditions and ask about cancellation policies. If you have to pull out and you breach your contract, you won't be automatically entitled to a refund and you could lose a lot of money.
• Consider using a credit card for purchases of between £100 and £30,000 as this could give you extra protection if the contract is breached by the supplier.
• Think about wedding insurance, but make sure you read the policy to see what's covered and what's excluded.

Further information and advice is available by calling Consumer Direct on 08454 04 05 06 or visiting the website at www.consumerdirect.gov.uk