"I don't feel ready to give up my single lifestyle yet!" Pre-wedding jitters are natural - you're making one of the biggest commitments of your life. But just because you're getting married doesn't mean you need to stop doing what makes you happy. Girly nights out will be more special, and you'll probably be able to get a lift home from your new husband! And don't worry about missing that ‘new-relationship rush' - two-thirds of women say getting hitched actually gave their love lives a lift.
"I've got to book the caterers but my boss won't ease up on the workload!" Finding a good work-wedding balance is a big predicament for the modern bride-to-be. Try to compromise with your boss by only doing wedding jobs at lunchtime, or agree to come in an hour early if you can do your ringing around during a quiet period in the day. It's important that your boss knows your mind is still on the job, so make sure you're up to date with your work and don't miss deadlines, then they'll be much more likely to let you leave early for a dress fitting!
"My future mother-in-law is insisting on purple flowers - I wish she'd back off!" Stand up for what you want. If you stay firm over wedding plans, it'll send her a message that you won't take interference kindly during the marriage (after all, who wants a meddling mum-in-law?!) Firm but kind is the best way to deal with tricky relatives. Explain that you appreciate her opinion, but in this instance purple won't go with your pink colour scheme. Bear in mind it's not worth falling out with your partner's parents over minor details. What matters is the wedding itself and the people who've come to share it with you.
"I've begged and pleaded but the venue refuses to let me have real candles - it just won't be how I imagined without them!" There's so much pressure to have the ‘perfect' wedding, with all the details just right, that sometimes we forget to put things into perspective. Chances are, no one will even notice the lack of candles, and remember, a successful decorative scheme is one that creates a certain mood - and you don't need every last details to achieve it. But do ask your venue about using lighting to create a romantic mood. Turning off overhead strip lighting and dimming other lights may be all it takes to give the same effect as candlelight.
"My fiancé and I don't see eye to eye on the plans!" Don't start thinking about divorce before you reach the altar... The solution is to make the planning enjoyable. Put special ‘wedding' time aside - save it for a visit to your favourite restaurant or a walk in the park, so he associates wedding plans with having fun. Try not to give him mini updates as soon as he walks through the door, save everything up and then talk through it all at the same time. In the long term disagreements will lessen. "My budget is spiralling out of control - help!" You need to prioritise what's important to you. Don't hire a live band if you're not that bothered about having one, and if huge white wedding cars aren't for you, hire a taxi instead. Make a list with the things that really matter to you at the top and the not-so important things further down, then look for ways to economise on anything non essential. Try to limit what you spend on your credit card as well - you don't want to spend the first years of married life paying for it!
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