The excitement of declaring everlasting love, the most important day of a woman's life, the combining of two families? All these factors can render a potential bride virtually overwhelmed and, quite frankly, completely stressed out. Here are a few guidelines for avoiding the most common pitfalls of planning your wedding.

1.
Choose vendors carefully. There are literally hundreds of wedding professionals.
Not to mention the fact that they each have an individual style which may or may not be in accordance with your own. To ensure that a vendor provides the service that you expect from them, ask for referrals, and ask for a contract.

2.
Make your gown selection well in advance of the wedding date. This enables time for any changes or adjustments that may need to be made, as well as eliminating much of the pressure involved. Three important things to consider are: time of year (allow for weather conditions), the reception site (i.e. is it outdoor or indoor, is the room air conditioned or stuffy), and personal taste. You want to be physically comfortable as well as beautiful and most importantly, be YOU.

3.
Avoid the guest list faux pas. The trick is to figure out how many people you can realistically afford to invite. You may have to compromise in order to include the most important people from both families. The invitations should express the overall theme and feel of your wedding. Do you want kids present or not, is it formal or informal, is it a theme wedding, can guests come in costume?

4.
Consider different options with beverage selections. Nowadays, many people are exploring alternatives when it comes to what to serve their guests at a wedding. Many couples choose to have smoothie bars, coffee barristers, non-alcoholic wines, or just plain beer. If you do choose to serve wine or beer, you want to make an informed decision.

5.
Dare to be different. A wedding is, ideally, a unique expression of a couples' commitment to one another. Every bride and groom has special characteristics to their relationship. The wedding should project this uniqueness. In the face of vocal family members or long-followed traditions, it may be difficult to discover your personal style. A cookie-cutout wedding, which follows the entrenched traditions of your religion or family, may not work for you.

If this is the case, stick to your guns, after all, it is YOUR wedding (not your mother's(sorry mom!). Try to incorporate family members' ideas, but at the same time, make sure that it is what you and your groom wants. Whether it's a small intimate Wedding; or a large public affair, casual or formal, on the beach or in a church, tailor it to your taste. You may want to seriously consider hiring a consultant to take some of the stress off of your shoulders.

Above all, try to have FUN! This day will live in your memory forever; you want to remember it as a joyous occasion full of love and warmth. Take this opportunity to let your family and loved ones know how much they mean to you. Congratulation and have fun planning!