Bride's Guide: Q&A for the Big Day

April 22, 2010— -- A few months ago I was watching one of the many wedding shows you start watching when you're about to get married -- I think it was "Platinum Weddings" on We TV -- and the bride said something to the effect of, "I'm really glad I'm not working right now, or there's no way I would be able to plan this wedding."

At the time, I thought she was completely crazy, but now I can kind of relate. I recently had an anxiety dream in which everyone left for the wedding without me, and I was alone at my parents' house, very late for my own wedding, and I had forgotten to pick up my dress.

I like to think of myself as a good multi-tasker, I'm certainly not having a "platinum wedding" and I don't think that getting ready for your Big Day needs to be a full time job, but it can be hard to juggle everything.

Case in point: I was supposed to write about doing your wedding day timeline for today's entry, but ironically, I haven't had time to start on that yet.

So I asked wedding planner Mindy Weiss to give me some tips on balancing your professional life, your personal life and your wedding planning without losing your mind.

Her number one piece of advice was to make lists.

"It really helps in the sleeping department," she said. "Have a goal that all will be done the week before so you can take the last week and enjoy."

She also said that you don't have to get stressed out about doing things like sending thank-you notes right away. In fact, the old-fashioned etiquette rules give you a year, just like your guests have a year to send you a gift.

But, she warned, "If you don't thank your parents' friends or family immediately I can guarantee you or your mom will get a call saying, 'Did they get my gift, I haven't heard a word!"

For that reason, she tells people they have "three months, max" to say thank-you.

Do you have a wedding etiquette question for Mindy? CLICK HERE to submit one!

If you're truly overwhelmed and you can afford it, Weiss suggests hiring someone for the last month to help you out.

Otherwise, she says now is the time to be leaning on family and friends, especially your maid of honor and your mother (I've had no trouble doing that!)

If you're too busy at work to follow-up with vendors, Weiss says a great thing to do is ask those people to make phone calls for you.

"And thank goodness for the Internet," Weiss said. "You can still be working on things from your desk!"

Finally, she says don't forget to make time for yourself and do things that keep you calm.

"Yoga is a good thing to invest in now," she said.

The 30-Day Wedding Countdown:

Continue Reading:

CLICK HERE for Day 22, how to prepare your wedding day timeline.

More:

Day 30: What's the proper invitation response etiquette? CLICK HERE to find out.

Day 29: What are Mindy's top 10 tips for the final month before your wedding? CLICK HERE for more.

Day 26: Great gift ideas for bridesmaids, groomsmen and other attendants, and how much you should spend. CLICK HERE to read.

Day 25: Seating chart strategy. CLICK HERE to read.

Day 24: Little things that make a big difference on your Big Day, from eating lunch to saying thank you. CLICK HERE.

CLICK HERE to visit Mindy's Web site.