By Rev. Laurie Sue Brockway

It's supposed to be such a "happy time" yet brides tend to get clobbered by stress on the way to the altar. Here are some of the stressors and some solutions from Wedding Goddess.

1. Bridezillas are made, not born. It’s easy to get sucked into the vortex of wedding planning stress, and overwhelmed by the stress, pressure and expectations of those around you. You have to include stress management, self-nurturing and time to chill out as an integral part of her wedding planning process.

2. Know what YOU want before everyone you know starts telling you what you're wedding should be. Before you run off to tell the folks and friends you are engaged, take some time for you and your beloved to get used to the idea. And to discuss the kind of wedding you want. When you start sharing the news, without having a clue about the experience you want to create, you are more vulnerable to pressure and influence from others.

3. Stay on the same page with the man you will marry. Make an agreement that you will make all decisions together, and back each other up. The moment there is a weakness in your partnership, you will both be swayed more easily by other people's opinions.

4. Everyone has something to say about your wedding. It’s a given. Just accept it. Whether they are paying for it or not ... no matter whom you are or what age. You’ll be showered with congratulations and gifts… and bombarded with unsolicited advice.

5. Everyone has an agenda for your wedding. It is a rare family that does not have a reason to be part of your big day for reasons other than the mere fact that you are getting married. People tend to see your wedding as a chance to fulfill their own needs. They tend to act out what it’s all about for them – not you! You have to set clear boundaries, and also protect yourself emotionally from the sometimes-negative vibes from well-meaning friends and relatives.

6. You can include loved ones without letting them run the show. There are so many creative ways to honor them in the ceremony and at the reception. Get over your desire to make everyone happy and focus instead on honoring family ties in a way that is meaningful to your marriage.

7. Getting married can stir up a lot of emotions. The process itself sets forth period of growth and change that can be very nerve -wracking. Once you decide to marry you will begin the process of getting ready for marriage … and unresolved emotions may come to the surface to be explored. Be prepared to do some inner work along with all the external preparations. Honor and address the emotions and fears that arise. Trust they are natural. Don't sweep things under the rug.

8. Your happiness in life (and marriage) DOES NOT hinge on your wedding alone. Our culture places a tremendous emphasis on having a great wedding and not enough focus on having an awesome marriage. It's okay to be temporarily obsessed and to yearn for the perfect wedding -- we all go there at some point -- but you have to keep your eye on what's truly important. Too many brides treat the wedding itself as something to be worshipped and served. Don’t give the wedding day so much power! Step back and realize, the most important part of the day is not the day itself ... but that you walked down that aisle and into the arms of the One you love … the One you look forward to building your life with.

Rev. Laurie Sue Brockway is a leading interfaith and non-denominational wedding officiant. She creates unique ceremonies for couples of all backgrounds and faiths, and is also widely recognized as a relationship coach, bridal stress expert and columnist. She is author of YOUR INTERFAITH WEDDING: A Guide to Blending Faiths, Cultures and Personal Values into One Beautiful Ceremony,YOUR PERFECT WEDDING VOWS: How to Write, Find and Select the Words that Express What is in Your Heart and WEDDING GODDESS: A Divine Guide to Transforming Wedding Stress into Wedding Bliss. To help reduce wedding stress, get your personally autographed copy at www.WeddingGoddess.com.

Posted August 7, 2010 8:43 AM by Rev. Laurie Sue Brockway | Comments (0)

I am hoping that by the time you wed you will know this answer, but if not, you might gain a little insight--or have a little fun-- with the new Do You Know Your Groom App. It is launching from Sourcebooks today, July 15, starting at 99 cents.

Since brides spend a lot of time on their phones, planning their weddings, the maker of this app figures this will be yet another bridal accessory. They consider it the most entertaining way to discover all about your husband-to-be.

Honestly, I can think of other ways to discover more about your man, but, might as well enjoy a little fun amidst the craziness of wedding planning.

And, there are His and Her apps. The Do You Know Your Bride App is also available to test the groom’s knowledge.

Says the press release: "Based on the bestselling wedding books by the same name, these apps can be a great way to spend a night (or two) learning more about each other. Even after years of dating, there are sure to be surprises."

"The Do You Know apps are totally unique quizzes that brides and grooms can’t find anywhere else. Couples should expect to laugh a lot and playfully argue as they try out probing questions.

Posted July 15, 2010 9:36 AM by Editor | Comments (0)

Trish Suhr got married! Congratulations to the host of Style's hit show, "Clean House," who tied the knot with her husband Dave McCoul in May.

Style cameras were there to capture the entire experience from beginning to end in the upcoming special "Marry Me In Mexico: Trish's Dream Wedding."

Check out this awesome wedding photo by Del Sol Photography. Did they really go for a dip in their wedding duds?

Trish claims to not to have the "bride gene" but she must have developed it to pull out all of the stops for her May nuptials in Cancun, Mexico.

Planning a destination wedding from the "Clean House" set was no easy task but somehow the Style host was able to do it!

The Cancun wedding was picture perfect--despite a groomsman who bailed, a rain storm and a minister who had to pull out at the last minute! Trish also battled her nerves and participated in a breathtaking "trash the dress" photo shoot.

She could have used a copy of Wedding Goddess to help with bridal stress!

Photo credit: Del Sol Photography

Posted July 15, 2010 9:20 AM by Editor | Comments (0)

Wedding season is officially on in Hollywood as a number of A List celebrities got hitched over this past weekend.

Carrie Underwood, Megan Fox, and John Krasinski and Emily Blunt are among those who exchanged rings.

David Mamane, CEO of MyJewelryBox.com offers these tips to celebrities and other brides and grooms about tying the knot.

1. Choose a band that matches the material of your engagement ring, if her engagement ring is platinum; purchase her a platinum wedding band. Re-visiting the same store that the engagement ring was purchased from is always a good idea. The three most popular wedding bands are yellow gold, white gold and platinum. White gold is popular because it coordinates with both silver and gold and is less expensive than platinum. Yellow gold is traditional, but be sure to look into the karats. Nine karat does not look as nice and will not hold up as well as 18 karat, but more karats means a bigger price tag.

2. Shop together; this ensures that everyone gets what they want

3. Choose a style that compliments your fingers and hand. If you have a larger finger, a thick band will look more attractive than a thin band, while skinny fingers tend to look better with a small, simple, band.

4. Take into consideration what you do for a living; if you work in construction, you want a wedding band that will withstand how much abuse it will take.

Posted July 14, 2010 6:55 PM by Editor | Comments (0)

Guest Blog by Nicole Hockin

No matter how much you are looking forward to spending some quality time with that special someone, traveling together can be a bit stressful; regardless of whether you have been married for decades or are just testing the waters as a couple. So what can you do to ensure a blissful getaway? Here are a few surefire ways to keep the fires burning without getting burned.

1. Both Contribute to the Planning - It’s important that you both feel like you have a part in the trip’s success. A site, like hotels.com, is great because you can check out all accommodations from bed & breakfasts to boutique hotels, vacation rentals to spa resorts. Take the virtual tours, read the guest reviews, check out the location relative to the sites you want to see and book it, together.

2. Work with Each Other’s Strengths - During planning, if one of you is a savvy researcher then perhaps that person can do the destination investigation while the other could be responsible for booking the flights or hotels. Working with each other’s strengths is even more important while traveling. Who’s the control freak (I mean backseat driver) between the two of you? Come on! Admit it?! Maybe you should drive while your partner navigates. Don’t be afraid to play to each other’s strengths versus struggling through a situation.

3. Pace Yourselves - Rome wasn’t built in a day and you can’t see it all in one either. Trust me! I know how fantastic it is to be on vacation sans work and children, but take time for the small moments and some relaxation. Factor in downtime for your vacation as well as extra time while sightseeing. You never know when you will want to spend some additional time in a museum, on the beach, or sampling the vineyard’s newest harvest. And you’ll appreciate not having the pressure to be on time or the disappointment of missing out on an opportunity.

4. Communicate - Seems simple enough, right? Are you tired? Are you hungry? Do you want to stay in this town for another day? How quickly we forget that we are not mind readers. Be sure to let your sweetheart know what you’re thinking before it’s too late to do something about it. When traveling, you are out of your normal rhythm and routine so it’s important that you are sharing your needs and desires even if you are used to your honey knowing what those things are.

5. Take Time for Yourself - It’s important on vacation to have some time for you, whether to relax or explore. That’s when the tips above are most useful by working together, communicating and taking the time to really enjoy your trip; you should be able to get some coveted “me time”. For example, you could check out the local village shops while he takes in a round of golf.

6. Do Not Disturb - Our sleep patterns can really wreak havoc with our vacations. Is your sweetie a snorer? Plan ahead and pack those earplugs. Who’s the morning person? Be kind to your special someone and allow her that precious time to sleep-in by perhaps following the tip above for your “me time” and take a walk around town or read a few chapters of that book you have been wanting to peruse.

7. Try Something New to Both of You - If you frequent the same destination then make sure you change it up by finding something new to do each time you go. Experiencing something for the first time is a great way to bring a couple closer together. So whether the destination is new to you or perhaps it’s that zip-line adventure that you both have always wanted to try, give it a whirl…together.

8. Budgets and Splurges - Let’s face it money is often an issue for most couples. It is important for a couple to understand their vacation budget, if they have one, before they embark on their trip. It’s not fair to either person to feel constrained or overly frugal while traveling. So know before you go! Allow and anticipate for splurges like dinner at that trés romantic restaurant you stumbled upon or a piece of locally created art.

9. Use the Hotel Concierge - Here’s what frequent travelers know; the concierge can make things happen. They often have discount tickets to area attractions, know the best restaurants and want to help make your hotel stay special. Tell the concierge if your stay is to celebrate a birthday, anniversary, etc. and see how he/she can help you make it memorable.

10. You Don’t Have to Go Far to Get Away - A vacation is merely a break for the ordinary. And sometimes staying in a nearby resort can feel like you are one million miles away. A staycation, or vacation close to home, is often a great way for new couples to test the traveling together waters as well as to have some fun. It’s also a great way for couples with children to have some alone time without the worry that comes with traveling away from your children.

Think you and your partner deserve a vacation? Enter the Hotels.com “I Need A Vacation” sweepstakes

Travel Expert, Nicole Hockin is author of the Travel Smart Blog.

Posted July 14, 2010 6:48 PM by Editor | Comments (0)

Rev. Laurie Sue Brockway will answer your questions and help relieve wedding stress. Please e-mail your questions and wedding challenges to The Wedding Goddess.

How Can I Include My Mom in the Ceremony?

Dear Wedding Goddess:

My father is not comfortable "giving me away" with my mother. They are divorced. Rather than have her escort me down the aisle, how can I honor my mother in a special way?

-- Disappointed

Dear Disappointed:

There is a non-denominational tradition of offering flowers to the moms, or to significant family members that might be fitting. It is called "Family Unity Rose Ceremony."

Usually, the bride and groom give a red and white rose – colors that represent unity -- each to their moms. It is particularly nice if the bride and groom each give one flower to each mom, followed with a hug. This would also be a good time to publicly acknowledge your moms and thank them.

Here is an example of one cermony I officiated:

"As this bride and groom come before us to be married, they wish to acknowledge and thank their families for their love and support. As a gesture of unity between the families that are united on this day … and as an acknowledgement of the special people who have loved and nurtured this bride and groom … they will present a very special gift of flowers to their mothers."

Then the couple present roses to their mom's.

"With these flowers, they welcome one another's families into the new family that is created by their marriage today. These flowers symbolize the love this bride and groom feel for each other extended to their loved ones ... and they are also symbolic of the merging of two families in love and unity."

You can also think of having your mom take part in a unity candle ceremony, a sand ceremony, or even asking her to do a reading or a blessing.

Many blessings,
Rev. Laurie Sue

Posted July 11, 2010 2:51 PM by Rev. Laurie Sue Brockway | Comments (0)

By Cornelia Powell

Use your time in the bridal spotlight to find your quiet center and ground yourself. Pay attention to your breathing...focus inward...deepen and slow your breaths. Enjoy the simple pleasures of following the refreshing flow of your breath.

Have a gentle, meditative stretching routine of some sort during this busy time that helps relax your body and support your inner peacefulness. From that more settled, aware place, your mind gets quieter; your emotions won’t be so apt to bubble over; you become less reactive, more responsive, more creative, more conscious, more available for love.

Who could ask for more?

Cornelia Powell is publisher of Weddings of Grace and author of the best-selling book, The Bride's Ritual Guide: Look Inside to Find Yourself. She takes the old bridal rhyme, “something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue, and a sixpence for her shoe,” and turns it into a magical reverie for the modern bride. She shares ways to bring more ease, pleasure and reassurance into a woman's life not only as a bride, but through all her rites-of-passage.

Posted July 11, 2010 2:40 PM by Rev. Laurie Sue Brockway | Comments (0)

In Wedding Goddess: A Divine Guide to Transforming Wedding Stress into Wedding Bliss (Perigee Books, May 2005), author Rev. Laurie Sue Brockway shows brides how to avoid taking the stress express to the altar and explores the wedding experience with a unique eye toward restoring the sacred.

She offers wise and easy to follow advice on how to deal with family, friends, vendors and the man you will marry; and she coaches brides on how to get through each part of the experience with preparation, poise and a good sense of humor. The book is also rich with mediations, exercises, rituals, vows, prayers and special blessings.

Having married hundreds of couples in unique interfaith and creative non-denominational wedding ceremonies she generously shares her experiences and ideas, as well as comments from many of the brides she has married and counseled. These little snippets offer great inspiration and tips on how to have a powerful and graceful wedding experience.

Many books tell how to plan a wedding. This one tells how to live your wedding experience -- including the sacred, along with the practical, every step of the journey to the altar.

Wedding Goddess is a great book for woman who wants to cross the threshold in the most inspired way. Order your copy here.

Posted July 11, 2010 2:15 PM by Rev. Laurie Sue Brockway | Comments (0)

The world is in a state of constant change and so are we.

How can we make ourselves stronger, healthier, more balanced and better able to cope with and negotiate change? The more skilled we are at dealing with change the more we can help our loved ones and our world. Let's start now.

We can transform ourselves: Step by step, prayer by prayer, choice by choice, opportunity by opportunity. This group is about becoming an even better version of ourselves and changing our lives for the better. Let's start now!

Join the conversation at I am Ready to Reinvent My Life, Now, on Facebook.

Posted July 11, 2010 2:07 PM by Rev. Laurie Sue Brockway | Comments (0)

Beltane is one of the most important ancient Celtic holidays still honored today. It celebrates love, fertility and the end of winter so spring can begin.

Happy Beltane 2010. Are you dancing around the maypole today? Here's to celebrating the Holiday of love.

Read more.

Posted May 1, 2010 10:26 AM by Editor | Comments (0)