Your wedding is supposed to be the best day of your life - but bad planning can turn the happy couple into bride and gloom. Some people prefer to organise the whole do themselves, but many couples looking for a little help head to a bridal agency or a wedding planner.

But before you sign on the dotted line and fork out thousands of dollars, do a little homework first.

The Consumers Association of Singapore (Case) received 116 cases involving feedback and complaints against bridal agencies and wedding consultants last year. That's a jump on the previous year's figure of 93.

Gripes involved pressure sales and an unsatisfactory level of service. So how do you save your marriage day from being marred?

Being finicky about details is important.

"I went through every single detail in my contract before I signed up for my package," says Shahidah Salleh, 27, a doctor who got married in June.

Corinna Yap, owner of bridal agency Blue Mesh, agrees that brides-to-be should be careful. "Go through your contract carefully, so you know exactly what you're getting," she says. "Make sure all verbal promises are put down on paper."

Bridal agencies usually provide packages taking care of basic needs such as a wedding gown, the groom's suit, make-up, hairstyling, flowers and photography. Prices start from $4,000.

Wedding planners provide a one-stop solution for harried brides who don't want to be running between florists, caterers and other vendors. They generally charge a planning fee which starts from $3,000 and liaise with vendors on your behalf. The fee excludes what you pay the individual vendors, although some planners offer packages as well.

Be sure to check out your planner's background. Ask friends who have used them or signed up for packages and surf the Internet for information.

"The whole experience of going to a bridal shop can be quite overwhelming, especially for those who don't know what to expect," says Rashmi Yash Paul, a 26-year-old dentist who got married in January. "You end up being confused with all the options, packages and prices available."

Insist on being shown the wedding planner's credentials, such as the number of years in the industry, the previous events handled by the planner and the number of clients so far.

"You want a calm wedding planner, not someone who will have a meltdown on the wedding day," says Loo Pei Fen, 25, an account manager who hired a wedding planner when she got hitched in January.

Make sure you know where your money's going. While some wedding planners don't mark up prices that vendors such as florists charge, others do.

And be realistic about your budget.

"A good planner will highlight all costs in the beginning," says Hannah Chong, 33, a wedding specialist from Heaven's Gift - The Wedding Consultants.

"Misunderstandings usually arise when a couple's expectations exceed the budget they've set aside. All this needs to be addressed at the start."

Especially important are decisions on The Dress. Mikaela Tan, 24, a corporate executive, faced a nightmare when dealing with the designer of her gown.

"I wanted a white gown but she insisted I'd look better in an off-white one. I ended up walking down the aisle in a cream dress," she says.

Patrick Chan, owner of The Wedding Present bridal agency, says couples should be able to see, touch and feel the fabric being used to make the wedding dress.

"Always ask to meet the designer of your wedding gown before agreeing to a contract, so you can decide whether you'll be able to work together," he says.

"Your wedding gown should reflect your wants, not just your designer's."

Keep an eye out for hidden costs such as reprints of additional photographs.

Tan was taken by surprise that she had to fork out extra for additional photos.

Other extras that she didn't realise she'd have to pay for included her fake eyelashes, curling her hair and her husband's hairdo.

Remember, though, that weddings often don't go perfectly.

"We see a lot of hiccups through an event but you've just got to manage them," says Chong. "At the end of the day, a wedding is a celebration. Not a show. All that matters is that the couple and their guests are happy."

Tips for getting hitched, hitch-free

Shop around. Always ask about all the packages available so you aren't sold one that's more expensive.

Make sure verbal promises made by the wedding planner are also committed to paper.

Check your planner's or agency's credentials.

Meet the designer of your wedding gown before signing up for a package. You need to be sure that you'll be able to work together to create a dress right for you.

Know what you're paying for. If you're dealing with a wedding planner, ask if he marks up prices that the vendors he deals with charge. Ask plenty of questions and make sure you get a list of what's included and what's not, so you're not surprised by hidden costs later.

Look through bridal albums and pick a photographer whose style you like. Otherwise, you might be given any available snapper.

Get a trial make-up session so you get to discuss your preferences with the make-up artist.

Find out how long you'll have with your make-up artist and hairstylist on the day. They may have to go to another event. Ensure there's enough time to create the look you want.