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Because of my extremely small wedding, one of the only details I really had to plan and shop for was my dress. I remember going into one lovely bridal shop to have a look around. The saleslady asked me the date of my wedding. And I'll never forget the disapproving look she gave me when I told her it was only two weeks away. Clearly I had not followed the "rules" of weddings – or polite society for that matter. Clearly there was something wrong with me. Clearly, I left and bought my dress elsewhere.

This post is about knowing who you are and what kind of wedding you're going to have and that your wedding is really no less a wedding than any other, no matter what your budget, location, time frame, religious beliefs...you get the idea. You see, there are people out there who will try to make you feel bad if you're not looking at the most lavish dress in the store, the most bodacious bunch of flowers or the most tender steak and caviar. These people are salespeople. And their duty in life is to use every means possible to coerce you into spending more on your wedding. It's not their fault; it's their livelihood (and you'll certainly meet some that are truly helpful and hold off the guilt trips). So, choose another shop where the staff is willing to help, not judge. You're no less in love and no less married than those $120,000 brides.

Let's face it. Your friends love you, but if they're not getting married, there's a limit to how much and how often they want to hear you prattle on about your fabulous wedding plans, squabbling bridesmaids, and upcoming honeymoon. That's what the other brides on wedding Web forums are for. Although people can sometimes be a little heartless when they're typing in relatively anonymous fashion on their keyboards, you can garner a lot of support from the gals on the forums who are equally caught up in dresses and decorations and catering menus. There are countless forums out there, each with its own style and personality. You might have to try out a few (and you'll likely have to register with them) before you find one that feels like home. Look for one with lots of brides actively posting every day. Use them to get opinions when you're waffling on all those decisions, to get recommendations and referrals, and to vent frustrations without offending those close to you. These are your pals in your nuptial time of need.

According to PeterGreenberg.com lost luggage on airlines is spreading like a bad virus, particularly since the 3-oz.-all-the-liquid-you-can-fit-in-a-Ziploc-baggy carry on policy was introduced and forced more and more people to check suitcases. Greenberg has always said, "There are two kinds of luggage. Carry on and lost" and it has never been more true than it is now.

If your wedding or honeymoon plans involve air travel, consider protecting yourself from inconvenience and potential loss with a luggage shipping company. These companies ship your belongings to your destination via one of the popular shippers (UPS, Fedex, etc.) but also pick up, deliver and fill out the paperwork for you. But one of the biggest reasons business is booming for these companies is that your baggage is insured against loss, a protection the airlines are steadily eliminating. For more information on these shipping companies and a cost comparison, click here. Happy honeymoon!

It's probably no surprise that weddings represent a huge amount of annual spending in the United States, in fact around $70 billion! But online sales are a mere fraction of this number. Even those of us who often pump credit card numbers into forms to order shoes, books, and other goods hesitate when it comes to Web shopping for a wedding. Those cyberstores just don't seem as real as the brick and mortar ones for something this important.

Christy Terry, author of iDo: Planning Your Wedding With Nothing But Net highlights the advantages of wedding shopping online. The first is convenience. Online stores are open 24 hours a day, so you don't have to wait for Saturday or explain to your boss why you took yet another 3 hour lunch. The Web also allows you to browse infinitely more products for ideas and inspiration than could possibly be held in your average bridal shop. Finally, the Internet makes it easy to search, find, and compare prices without wasting gas by driving around town. Online shopping can also be safe, especially when you follow these tips.

Here's another great tip from Christa Terry, author of iDo: Planning Your Wedding With Nothing But Net. There's a lot of good stuff on the multitude of wedding websites out there, but if you're going to be a big-time browser, you're also going to end up having to register on some of those sites. Registering basically means you're giving your contact information to those companies so they can (and they will) market their products, their friend's products, and their friend's friend's products to you as you plan your wedding and well beyond. One of the great things about the Internet, is you can set up a separate e-mail account (for free) to collect all those "extra" solicitous e-mails for easy disposal. Take the time to visit Gmail, Yahoo! or Hotmail and set up an e-mail account to use when you're registering with wedding sites online. This will keep your regular personal or business e-mail account free of all those spammy ads.

If you wear one of these chokers to work everyday, chances are you're pretty proficient at tying them already. But based on the number of clip-ons I see in the stores (DON'T do this), I'm willing to bet there are some of you out there who could use some pointers. Who better to help us here than tieguide.com, with their detailed instructions and photos, you're sure to look like a pro in no time.

Here are a few more pointers: start with your shirt buttoned up all the way and the collar up. Once you're done tying, put the collar down over the tie. The knot should sit between the two collar points. When properly tied, the tie should end around the middle of your belt buckle (if it's too short or too long, start over). Finally, achieve the perfect dimple. As you tighten the tie, put one finger into the hangy-down part of the tie right in the middle under the knot. Lightly squeeze each side of the tie as you tighten for a perfectly centered – and oh so adorable – dimple.

Guys, you don't want to look like you're waiting for a flood in too-short pants or dribble your long sleeves in cake frosting. You want a tuxedo that fits. From Coleman's Tuxedos, here's a guide to every number you need to know to get that perfect fit. You probably want to strip down to at least a thin shirt and get someone to help with the measurements. Sounds fun already, doesn't it?

You woke up at 2 a.m. last night and decided that you absolutely must have those cute little favors you saw online a few weeks ago...only now you can't remember which of the thousands of favor-selling Websites had it. Finding that Website again is even more frustrating than finding a needle in a haystack -- at least the haystack has a finite amount of hay to search. That's why Christa Terry, author of iDo: Planning Your Wedding With Nothing But Net, says that if you're going to do any of your idea gathering and shopping on the Internet, you're going to need a way to manage the Web pages you save as favorites or bookmarks. Spend a few minutes now to set up a file system for yourself. Create a folder in Bookmarks (if you use Safari or Firefox) or Favorites (if you're on Internet Explorer) for all of your wedding stuff. Within that folder create sub-folders for each major part of your wedding: dresses, flowers, favors, and so on. Terry also recommends having a way to mark the things you really super like (versus things that you just kinda like), such as putting asterisks around the name of the bookmark (***gorgeous gowns***). With a basic filing system, you'll save yourself the hassle and frustration of lost Websites. You've got enough to do anyway.

Although he's celibate and admits to having no personal experience with intimate relationships, Father Pat Connor has seen his fair share of both marital bliss and strife in his 51 years as a priest. That's why he's now talking to high school age kids about what to look for in a spouse. He directs his counsel mostly to young women, because they are more interested, more likely to listen, and more likely to heed the advice. And he wants to get to them before they fall in love, when emotions take over and reason seems to fly out the window. On the warning list are guys who are tied too tightly to their mother's apron strings (because they can't make their own decisions), guys with no friends (because they don't know how to maintain a long-term relationship), and guys with financial troubles (because of the obvious reasons). While that may leave you wondering who's left to choose from, Connor stands behind his advice, warning that you can't change your partner after you're married, so it's a good idea to choose carefully from the get-go.

Christy Terry of Manolo for the Brides fame brings us iDo: Planning Your Wedding WIth Nothing But Net. In other words, using the Internet to your utmost advantage when putting your wedding together. This book proves to be a huge Web resource for everything wedding from money to monogram and fashion to photography, with tips on how to get the most from your surfing time and how to feel confident buying online. Written in Christy's witty style, it's anything but a boring read. As a bonus, each chapter ends with a great list of websites so you're not lost in cyberspace wondering if you'll ever resurface with anything that resembles a pretty flower display. The book is undoubtedly worth the admission price (around $16) for the list of websites alone, and you might pick up a laugh, a good idea, and some great advice as well. I will be bringing you a small smattering of these good ideas in a series of "computer-savvy bride posts," but get the whole book. It's a three-point "nothing but net" shot for every bride who intends to click and type her way through any of the wedding plans.

Love the simple sophistication of a French manicure but hate those high salon prices? Here are some tips to help you DIY a French manicure – and it's not as painstaking as you might think. Always start by removing any polish that's already on your nails. It's just not good to layer upon layer, and you don't want old color showing through. Soak your nails in warm water (add a mild cleanser or your favorite scent if you wish) and head for the cuticle stick to push your cuticles back. Then shape your nails with a file. Now, you're ready for color with one of these cool French manicure options. The Sally Hansen French manicure pen takes a little practice (especially for whichever hand isn't used to wielding a pen) but so much easier than those little brushes. For best results, lay the hand you're painting flat on the counter. Anchor the other hand by putting your pinky on the counter (this prevents little wiggles). Now make a slow straight line along the top of each nail. Or, try the Incoco Dry Nail Applique kit. These work more like little stickers you put on the tip of each nail. It's got great reviews for ease of use and longevity. Once you've got the tips done, apply the top color and a clear top coat (then tell your sweetie he has to do the dishes!). To make sure your manicure lasts, re-apply top coat each evening, if possible.

Couple's therapy moves online with the launch of eHarmony's (yep, the match-makers) new website, eHarmony Marriage. Here couples can get help with their relationship problems from an online therapist. The process starts with each person filling out a questionnaire that spans key marital issues from money to spirituality. The questionnaires are culled into a report that highlights the strengths and weaknesses of the relationship. That's just the free stuff. If that sounds a little too automated, you can subscribe (starts at $150 for three months) to the program and access a library of videos and articles to help with your specific issues. It could be that online counseling is the perfect starting place for struggling couples – it's less expensive than a series of appointments and it's relatively anonymous. But, its effectiveness is yet to be proven.

Okay, so some of them are just high fashion from by-gone eras – perfect in their own time and hilarious in ours. Others are just plain what-were-they-thinking outrageous. For a fun glimpse at what not to wear for your nuptial hour, check out this ridiculous collection of wedding gown (and groom's attire and bridesmaid horror) photos. It's guaranteed to give you a laugh or two and blow away some of that wedding stress. Here's some to tickle your funny bone. For the complete guffaw, go here.

If your wedding gown has a train, it will no doubt look gorgeous as you strut down the aisle of the church, but when it's time to hustle around the reception dance floor, you're going to need a bustle to keep that skirt out from under everyone's feet. The bustle, designed by a seamstress, is the way your train will be held off the ground when you have serious mingling to do. The bustle can be designed in many different ways depending on the style of dress, the shape of the train, and any adornments that may be back there. The two most common bustles are the overbustle (where button-style "hooks" are placed on the back of the gown and the train is lifted and buttoned up out of the way) and the French or underbustle (where the train is folded under and hooked underneath the skirt). But a creative seamstress can come up with many ways to bustle your gown if these don't quite work with the styling – tufted gowns can even be made to pleat upward like window blinds. To learn more about bustles and get ideas for what might work with your dress, visit this seamstress' website for lots of pictures and information.

So, you're out there in the world searching for the perfect wedding dress. You know you'll know what you like when you see it, but you have no idea where to start or how to begin to describe what you might like. If you're not a fashion emeritus and, quite honestly, get a little dizzy figuring out the difference between bishop and dolman sleeves or brocade and chiffon, thankfully there's help. You can start by educating yourself a little about the possibilities for your gown. Learn the different cuts for neckline, sleeves and skirt. Solve the mystery of fabric options and see different styles of veils and headpieces. You can even see pictures of each so you're not stuck with some vague and wordy description that makes as much sense as the Chinese instructions for the last hi-tech gadget you bought. If that sounds like the drink of water at the end of the dessert, start here with this great gown glossary, and relax. You'll find that perfect dress, complete with sweetheart neckline, poet's sleeves and a princess waist – if that's really what you want.