5. The early bird gets the worm. . . This one is easy, the earlier you begin the planning process, the more likely you are to secure your preferred vendors. Katie, a June bride, warns of the dangers of not starting early enough, "My sister got married in October and didn't start planning until late July, early August, and she was fine. However, I waited until around February…I had a lot of problems with booking the florist and photographer that I wanted. I also ended up spending a lot more than what I was planning on spending." After I had spoken with Katie for this article, her wedding had to be postponed indefinitely, due to not being able to secure appropriate venues in time for her big day. She now has to kiss thousands of dollars in non-refundable deposits goodbye! It is not unusual for photographers, reception venues and churches to book clients up to two years in advance. So if you have always dreamed of getting married at Heinz Chapel, you had better be the early bird, or you may be disappointed.

6. Organize, organize, organize. . . Keeping yourself organized while planning your wedding is one of the easiest things that you can do to keep your sanity! Make detailed notes on all conversations that you have with vendors. Have a binder or individual folders to keep all important documentation together in one place, such as signed contracts and informational paperwork. This will also come in handy if you need to make any last minute changes or quickly review a contract. All of the brides that I have spoken with have told me that being organized is the single most important part of the planning process.