You're getting married - congratulations! Whether you choose to do all of the wedding planning yourself because you like being hands-on and in control or because you can't afford the services of a wedding planner, fitting these plans into your work schedule can be stressful if you approach it without a lot of thought. Here are some tips for the average working woman to use to make the time leading up to your wedding less stressful:

* Give yourself plenty of time to plan: Few things will stress you out like waiting until the last minute to do things: order cake, find a dress, choose a venue, etc. As soon as you pick a date, you need to make a list of what needs to be done in order of importance and date so that time doesn't creep up on you and leave you scrambling at the last minute.

* Delegate: Remember that guy you're engaged to? Your future groom? Yeah, him. He can actually help you out, in case you thought his only contribution was showing up on the big day. The two of you should work together and divvy up tasks so that all of it doesn't fall on you. Does your mom want to help? Chances are, she does. Even if she doesn't do things exactly as you want, appreciate the extra hands.


Photo courtesy of iStockphoto, Sven Hoppe



* Be organized: Blackberry? Notepad? Computer program? It doesn't matter how you organize yourself, it only matters that you organize. If you're naturally disorganized, this is one time when you need to overcome those tendencies, even if you have to enlist the help of a more organized friend or family member.

* Scale things down: If having 500 guests is too much in terms of expense and planning, you may have to cut your guest list down. I know this can be difficult, especially when half the guest list is made up of your parents' friends, but the smaller the wedding, generally, the less stress it causes.

* Talk to your boss: Your desk shouldn't become Wedding Central, but chances are, your co-workers know you're planning a wedding. While your plans should mostly be relegated to non-work hours, you can communicate with your employer so that if you have to leave early one day or take a long lunch for a fitting, she'll be more willing to work with you.

The less stress you have, the better. Happy planning!