A few months after I was first engaged to be married, I suddenly discovered that I wasn't just planning my dream wedding...I was also going through a very intense rite of passage. I experienced many different emotions and changes in my way of thinking that I never expected. It was a bit of a shock to my system as no one had warned me about any of it. Over the course of my life, when the women around me talked about getting married, all they ever discussed was the fun part; the flowers, trying on dresses and cake sampling...and oh, the honeymoon! In the midst of doing all of the "fun" wedding planning, I suddenly I found myself looking at all of my personal and family relationships differently and desperately trying to not turn into a bridezilla! I didn't know what was going on, so I just tried my darnedest to keep a handle on everything and smile...I knew inately that it would somehow all be okay in the end...but what was I to do about the feelings I was having in the moment? Today, I can honestly admit that I did stress out, I did worry about things and I did have family issues to deal with leading up to my wedding. I learned later that this is completely and totally NORMAL, and the degree to which it occurs is different for everyone. (Every bride goes through some degree of stress, with or without a wedding coordinator - though having one will certainly eliviate a great deal of it.) So, if you're already there or headed in that direction, take heart! You are not alone.

That being said, about 6 months before the big day, I attended a dinner party and met a woman who had gone through the exact same sort of experience prior to her wedding. She turned me on to "The Conscious Bride", a book that discusses the plethora of emotions and issues that can and do arise during the engagement period. This book helped me a great deal and showed me how to look at everything from a better perspective. It was so comforting to realize that I was not alone! I loved my soon-to-be husband very much and was excited to be a Mrs., but I was getting ready to say goodbye to my own maidenhood, and I didn't fully realize the weight of what that meant. After reading "The Conscious Bride", I proceeded to either suggest, lend or buy it as a gift for every engaged woman I knew at the time. Each and every one loved it and recommended it to their own friends.

Check it out - you may not think it helpful, but trust me, there is something in there for every bride regardless of the situation - whether you are dealing with difficult family members, your own level of stress or the transition to marriage itself. You'll be glad you picked it up!

The Conscious Bride can be found at any Barnes and Noble store or online at Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Conscious-Bride-Feelings-Getting-Hitched/dp/157224...

Happy reading!