Weddings are already stressful enough as it is. Don't let the planning get the best of you! Make sure you have these recommended "preplanning" mechanisms set up, so that your wedding doesn't have you tearing your hair out.

1. Get Someone to Save You From Yourself

Weddings are hard to figure out already-trying to do it entirely on your own is impossible. Before anything else, find someone (not your fiancé!) who will be there for you every step of the way. We can all use a shoulder to cry on and a sounding board for our thoughts-and someone to tell us that the drab green and maroon polka-dot bridesmaid dresses are not a good idea.

2. Clear Your Calendar

This seems rather silly-clear your schedule up just to plan?-but as much as possible, avoid timing things so that you are not in the middle of other major life issues when you're trying to put your wedding together. Life happens, and what may have looked manageable six months ago may blossom into something nightmarish and highly stressful. The less outside stress you have to deal with, the better you'll feel.

3. Find Your Center

Transform a corner of your desk, your office, your bedroom, whatever, to "Wedding Central." Put all of the wedding catalogs, all of the lists, all of the phone numbers, everything that has to do with your wedding, in this area. If you can't clear enough working space for that, use a large, three-ring binder. You've already got enough on your mind, you don't need to turn your living space upside-down to find the caterer's phone number.

4. Know What They Want

If you haven't done this already, sit down with your spouse-to-be and discuss what is the two of you want (and don't want) in a wedding. Make sure your expectations are clear and that you get any misunderstandings or disagreements cleared up as early as possible, including budget limitations. The last thing you want out of your wedding is for it to ruin your marriage.

5. Pick Your Battles

Remember that it will be impossible to micromanage everything involved. Your attention and time are valuable resources, so allocate them wisely. Decide at the outset where your priorities are: what things will need your strict oversight and input? What things will get by without it? If you can do this part well, everything else will be gravy.

Save money with your wedding rather than going into debt for the wedding you want. All of your wedding dreams can still come true - and you can even save money!