ONCE upon a time, planning a wedding was a fairly straightforward business. Choose a date, book a venue, then start looking forward to the big day. These days, it’s a little more complicated. Or at least it can be, if a bride and groom get sucked into the strange parallel universe in which co-ordinated chair covers, light-up dancefloors and chocolate fountains become the be-all and end-all.

So for The National’s wedding shopping guide, we’re keeping things fairly simple. Or at least, we’d like to point out that you don’t need save-the-date magnets (£2) and a bespoke reception guest book (£80) like those from Glasgow-based Alfalfa Design – they’re just rather nice add-ons.

The National:

Customised wooden guest book, £80, Alfafa Design

If you get wind of nuptials in the north-east, be sure to check out the range of hand-drawn Doric cards from Melabella Gifts, based in the Aberdeenshire village of Rothienorman.

The National:

Doric engagement card, £3.20, Melabella Gifts

If you’re lucky enough to score an invite to the big event (such as a lovely tartan-and-thistle creation from Made Naturally Designs in Ullapool), you might end up taking home a customised tablet heart favour from Ayr-based Phil Rao or even a scented candle from Claremont Studio in Aberdeen.

The National:

Scottish spring wedding invitations, 20 for £60, Made Naturally Designs

The National:

Personalised tablet wedding favour, 10 for £25, Phil Rao

The National:

Personalised soy wax scented candles, 20 for £95, Claremont Studio

When it comes to table decorations the possibilities are endless, but if you want to combine a place setting with a keepsake, check out the Orkney-based Clay Tag Company.

The National:

Mother-of-the-bride clay tag, £3.50, The Clag Tag Company

Gone are the days when a generic plastic bride and groom sufficed as a cake-topper – SoLuvli in Glasgow has affordable decorations incorporating bunting and flags in rich tartans.

The National:

Wedding cake topper, £15.50, So Luvli

Whether you’re opting for full meringue and dress kilt or something more simple, there’s always scope to add accessories. Scotland map cufflinks by Edinburgh-based Hannah Louise Lamb Jewellery add a subtly patriotic touch, while beautiful necklaces (or should that be backlaces?) from Wildest Dreams Bridal, also based in the capital, add sparkle to elegant draping.

The National:

Silver Scotland map cufflinks, £140, Hannah Louise Lamb Jewellery

The National:

Three-strand back necklace, £69.95, Wildest Dreams Bridal

A ring box by Aberdeen’s Ingrained Inc will protect jewels up to the big moment, and be treasured for years later, and Shetland Jewellery makes wedding rings incorporating a thistle design with a 0.12-carat diamond (or, for an extra £1700 or so, a 0.24-carat one).

The National:

Ring box with couple initials, £20-£22, Ingrained Inc

The National:

Scottish Thistle Diamond Ring, £115, Shetland Jewellery

Of course, no big wedding goes smoothly without the help of the close friends entrusted with the roles of best man, bridesmaid and usher. While they will, of course, provide their services out of love, some tokens of appreciation won’t go amiss. Oh So Purrfect of Edinburgh creates custom-made thank-you cards for kilted members of the wedding party, while Corrine Smith of Kilmarnock makes delicate pearl-and-crystal earrings that will forever remind the recipients of their friendship with the bride.

The National:

Personalised thank-you card, £4, Oh So Purrfect

The National:

Pearl and crystal earrings, £24, Joy by Corrine Smith

Once it’s all over there’s just one thing to do – send out the thank-you cards. To say it with style, consider hand-foiled cards by E.Y.i.LOVE, based in Glasgow.

The National:

Hand-foiled than-you cards, 10 for £20, E.Y.I.Love