So it's that time of the year again when some have decided to sign their life away.

Poor them...but in keeping with the flavour of the month (or even season), it's only right that this month's rules concentrate on weddings, engagements and festivities in general.

Rule #8: So you've done it, he asked and you said yes.

Or the parents asked and you agreed. Either way, it's finally happening. The day that every female to ever have graced Earth dreams of.

You know exactly what you're going to wear - the menu, the venue, the guest list. It's all there in your head.

That's where it stays I'm afraid You see, after the yes' a good little Indian girl steps aside and leaves the remaining preparations to the families, except the outfit of course.

That is, and will always be your choice. Sometimes it seems to me that weddings are more about showing off than they are about the newly-weds.

Sometimes we don't want the huge guest list. We don't want to invite people we've never met, we don't want the venue to be in the most convenient place for you, all we want is our fairy-tale wedding.

Be that dinner with your nearest and dearest in your favourite restaurant or a horse-and-carriage to take you to a castle where everyone you've ever known awaits you.

Either way, it's your day. Isn't it about time you got to plan it?

Rule #9: The in-laws. Scary word isn't it? Sounds so grown-up, so not me!

Most of us have spent our lives pleasing ourselves. When parents disapprove, we use our natural charm to get our own way, and failing that, we have a tantrum.

We shout, we scream, thunder up the stairs and slam the bedroom door as hard as it will allow us. Try doing that when the in-laws are visiting, or after you're married and you'll be looking for another man before you've even reached the top of the landing!

Everything changes from the moment you say yes. You're a grown-up now and grown-ups don't have temper tantrums.

They don't sulk - well, not publicly anyway. The lesson to be learnt here is don't meet the in-laws, they'll find out what you're like soon Rule #10: I don't know what things are like now, but as I was growing up, it was never a question of whether or not you will choose to have children, but more a question of when, and how many.

If after six months of marriage you haven't conceived, parents will start to drop grenade-effect hints of their yearning for a grandchild - yawn yawn.

To them, it's inconceivable that people may not want children.

Maybe they don't feel ready, either financially or emotionally. Maybe they want to live life first.

Or maybe, just maybe, they don't want any. Why is that so hard for anyone to fathom? In this day and age where every time we turn our heads, we hear of yet another killing, another rape, another war. Who wants to bring a child into a world that's filled with so much loathing? I for one, would never forgive myself So there you have it. A broad overview (because I've never been there myself) of how things change after the big 'yes'.

Of course, there is the fact that none of this may be true because like I said, I've never been there. But I've heard the complaints, and that's more than enough for me.

If you on the other hand are planning your nuptials at this very point in time and feeling left out of the planning, speak up and stand your ground.

Remember, people don't read minds, so unless you tell them exactly what you want, chances are, they'll never know. Lastly, good luck for your big day as well as the rest of your life.