Your wedding should be the one of the happiest days of your life. It is the beginning of a life-long journey with your best friend and soul mate. Sometimes though, the pressure of having the "perfect" wedding can bring out the not-so-nice side of the bride-to-be. This is affectionately known as becoming a bridezilla!!!

When dress shopping becomes a chance to blame your mom for not buying you that pink tutu back in first grade or the bachelorette party becomes a test of friendship, you know something is not right. Here are five steps to avoid becoming the dreaded bridezilla:

Step 1:

Be realistic, not idealistic. The first thing an engaged woman buys is a bridal magazine. This wealth of information on picking the right dress, cake, reception location, etc. is a good place to start if you do not already have ideas about what you envision your wedding day to be like. The problem is that these magazines usually include the more expensive and glamorous items, not within the price range of the working-class folk. Being realistic about what you and your fiance can afford (and your parents, too, if they are contributing)  and coming up with a budget is a good place to start to avoid headaches down the road. Shop around your local area to find good deals. Money is a common argument topic, so being able to stay comfortably within your budget is a good way to keep your cool.

Step 2:

Don't sweat the small stuff. It is inevitable that something will not go as planned during the time leading up to the wedding, or on the wedding day itself. Phone calls get missed, shoes vanish, and sometimes people are late, but that's not the time to lose it. Realizing that you do not have control over every situation will allow you to go with the flow and remain composed. Remember, breathing deeply and counting to ten really does help reduce stress.

Step 3:

Accept help. Your wedding is not only the joining of you and your fiance, but also the joining of your two families. What this means is that there are a lot of people who love and support you and are willing to help however they can. Yes, sometimes the help is not so helpful, but being open to delegating tasks to whom you trust is a great way to reduce the burden on you as the bride. Your maid-of-honor is your right-hand woman; she can help to plan events as well as make sure you have everything you need on your wedding day.

Step 4:

Find time for yourself. Even though many details of the wedding are focused on you as the bride, you may feel overwhelmed and not want to be in the spotlight all the time. This is why it is important to take time for yourself during the planning phase so that you do not get burnt out and become the bridezilla. Keep up with your exercise routine (or maybe start one), eat healthy foods, read a good book and dedicate at least one day a week to focusing on other things besides the wedding. Ignoring your own needs during this time is not a wise move to make.

Step 5:

Focus on the future. With so much hype leading up to the wedding day itself, it is easy to forget about preparing for your life as a married couple. Yes, the wedding day is unforgettable, but forgetting that you will be together for the next 50-60 years is not good. Attend engaged couples retreats or talk with your pastor about good ways to prepare for a good marriage. Many churches require that you take a marriage preparation course before the big day, so why not take full advantage and really focus on making your marriage the best it can be? Remembering this step will help ward off the bridezilla in you!!

Take time to focus on these five steps to avoid being a bridezilla. Your wedding day will be awesome because it is the beginning of a wonderful life together for you and your fiance. And P.S.-- do not forget to smile!