Are you a "Martha Stewart?"

     With every engagement comes a flurry of thoughts about the wedding: big or small; indoor or outdoors; colors? And once you've moved passed those questions, most brides begin to look through wedding images (magazines, blogs, web sites) - if they haven't been doing it for years already ;-) And the photos begin to get clipped.

Once the date has been set there is a dead line. Every bride reacts differently. Some of you will be fueled by this to get things done, while others might feel overwhelmed.

Give yourself a break! A wedding is about the marriage and not the linen colors or favors. And marriage is a huge deal! You will experience so many emotions around it. So make things easy on yourself so that you can enjoy the whole engagement.

     Now, lets talk about a major part of your planning... the Details. Are you creative and wanting to come up with your own ideas, or is it easier for you to copy what you've seen? This isn't an area to pressure yourself or a time to make yourself something you're not. Be true to yourself and let the fun begin!

     Copy cat - if you're not the Martha Stewart type but want to be able to say that you made something by hand, pick something easy. As you go along clipping all those photos of things you like (center pieces, place cards, cake table, favors, etc.) decide early what you'd like to make. Perhaps you'd like to work on the place cards. This is a great way to personalized things. Maybe you'll want to hand stamp them with an image that matches your invitations. This is something that you can follow through into your table numbers and programs if you have the time. What ever you decide to work on, hand the other photos over to your professionals. Let them help you bring together your vision for your perfect day.

     Creative - if you've been waiting for this moment and just can't wait to make things, but want your wedding to be different, use all those images you've been clipping to get inspired. Maybe you see some one's paper flowers and are going to make a garland to sting around the ceremony area. Maybe some one's vintage suitcase (used for gift cards) inspires you to search out vintage postcards for your "guest book"... and that inspires a vintage feel - you make your own veil circa Jackie O, and you carry a bouquet made from vintage broaches. The one thing I urge you to do, is to NOT do it ALL. I've seen some brides with so many details that they leave themselves for last. And although they have every single detail ready and where it needs to be, they're running late and show up to their own wedding with damp hair. Then they carry that hurried energy with them throughout the day, and no one is even noticing all the splendid work you've done as they're too busy wondering what happened to make you so late.

     So whether you're the creative or copy type, relax and be true to yourself. Don't take the 9 months of planning to become a competitive ballroom dancer, expert at origami, and pastry chef. Enjoy this time and just be a Bride.