AisleDash

Let's face it: there are certain things that you do NOT want as part of your big day. There are also certain things that you MUST HAVE to make the day perfect. Does that make you a Bridezilla?

Sort of.

Wanting the perfect wedding is perfectly acceptable; making everyone around you crazy with your demands and attitudes is not. So how do you walk the line between detail-oriented and crazy?

1. Keep demands to a minimum. Make a list of Must Haves, those things that you have always dreamed of. Keep the list short, though -- no more than five things. If you find that your Must Have list has grown to more than that, it's time to reassess and reconsider what really matters. Do the same for Deal Breakers, and again, keep the list short.

2. Articulate your desires. As you make your Must Have list, be clear -- with your fiancé and your parents and your wedding planner and yourself -- about why these things matter. Can't explain why all the bridesmaids MUST wear the EXACT SAME LIPSTICK? Maybe they really don't need to after all.

3. Be polite. It is truly amazing what people will do when you ask nicely. Saying please and thank you and making clear that you understand that people are going out of their way makes it that much easier to have things your way. And sometimes, the only difference between a Bridezilla and a Perfect Bride is manners.

Finally, keep in mind that on your wedding day, your thoughts should be focused on the ceremony and what it stands for, not on the bridesmaids' tan lines or guests' hats. If you are unable to let the small details go, you will miss the big picture, and that would really make for a terrible wedding.

We showed you the stress-busting possibilities of the Dammit Doll a little while ago. That was all it took for the good people at Busy Fingers Crafts to come up with a new addition to their little village of pressure-easing dolls. Yes, the Bride Dammit Doll is yours for the asking.

Now, it could be that you're not too sure about the idea of beating up on a bride, even if she is stuffed. And yet ... on those occasions when you feel your Inner Bridezilla rising, or that time when you're within seconds of saying something that might cost you a friendship, maybe those would be good moments to grab this satin-bodied darling and give her a few sharp whacks. Better the doll than your bridesmaids!

They could also serve as a Bridezilla early warning system: If you find out that all your bridesmaids have one of these, and they're all looking a little the worse for wear? Time your bridesmaids had a little pampering!

Oh, just when we think we've seen it all, here come the Olsen twins, wearing creepy masks as they marched down the streets of Los Angeles. The sisters were seen gallivanting with several other masked ladies as they made their way towards a wedding. Yes, you read right ... a wedding.

Not sure if the bride had temporary insanity (aka bridezilla syndrome) or just mistakenly thought the Michael Myers look was in this spring, but either way it was down right scary stuff. As usual, I'm sure, Mary-Kate and Ashley were just trying to escape the paparazzi a la Michael Jackson. Hmm, maybe next time, girls.

For now, I would stick with large, flimsy hats and those big buggy sunglasses. You know ... the usual silly getup.

Check out the video footage here. Fun stuff.

Sometimes, when you're really excited about something, it's not enough to be the center of attention for a whole day with all your family and friends. You want strangers on the street to know, too, that you are the BRIDE. Or maybe you just want to have fun with the whole thing, whatever.

Check out the gallery below for some shirts you can buy that tell the world you're the bride, so you won't have to wear your wedding dress to the grocery store again.

Hi bridesmaids. Did your friend suddenly turn into a foe when she got engaged and became, to everyone's horror, a bridezilla? Confronting her about her behavior is probably only going to enrage the beast, so sometimes it's best to just hold your breath until the wedding's over and hope she returns to normal.

Until then, though, you should be able to vent to someone. Talk to others who are going through the same bull---- your bride is putting you through, and vent about it anonymously without worrying about someone telling your bride that you're badmouthing her behind her back. Bridesmaid Essentials provides just the place for you in their Frankenbride forum. Go ahead and unload.

And if you have a bridezilla story you're not afraid to share with the world, tell us all about it in the comments. Abused bridesmaids should not have to feel alone.

This is a true bridezilla story: A young woman, we'll call her Young Woman, recently received a wedding invitation addressed to Young Woman and guest. The young woman had recently ended a long term relationship, but she didn't know many people who would be at the wedding, so she invited a friend as her "and guest" and RSVP'd for two, Young Woman and New Guy.

Upon receipt of this RSVP, the bride called the young woman to say that she could not bring the new guy. "Only people in serious relationships are allowed to bring guests," said the bridezilla. That's funny, since the invitation only specified "guest," not a specific person. Surely there's space at the reception for the new guy if there was space for the ex, so why is the bride forcing her friend to un-invite her date? Because she's being unreasonable, that's why.

It happens to the best of gals. You pop that ring on her finger and wham! Where did your sweet, beautiful, fun-loving lady go? You've lost her to the fu-fu land of silk, taffeta, flowers, and cake frosting. It's an attack of Bridezilla. But don't worry. You can handle this (consider it practice for your next 60+ years). From prevention tactics to identifying the symptoms and snapping her out of it, here is all the strategy you need. But read with caution: you may end up having to be a nice guy about it all.

Boston area brides, get ready! The Filene's Basement Running of the Brides wedding dress sale happens tomorrow starting at 8am -- but the hard core brides are already camped out in front of the store by now.

In short, the RotB is a huge one-day sale where you can get designer gowns at massive discounts -- gowns that regularly sell for $10,000 are on sale for no more than $699. You can imagine the kind of chaos this creates. (Read Ilona's recap of one RotB sale here.)

You don't want to show up at this event without a plan. Miss Toucan at Weddingbee, a veteran of Boston's RotB, wrote up a list of helpful hints and tactics that will help you survive the day and come home with the gown you've always wanted. It's time to gather your team, create a strategy, and get ready run!

There are a few times when you're pretty much guaranteed to tear up while planning your wedding - one of the sweetest may be the day you try on your first wedding gown. Unless the reason you're crying is that you're in shock at the size of your gown.

In case you didn't know it, your wedding dress size won't be the same as your regular size. OF COURSE NOT. That would be too easy.

(But let's face it ... with vanity sizing all the rage, who knows what their true size is anymore?)

Bridal sizing tends to run a little small, so if "you think you're a size 6, you're at least an 8 and probably a 10," says Jeff Moore of David's Bridal. The reason is that bridal sizes go back to a scale developed during WWII; this same scale was used for regular clothes, but over time ready-to-wear designers adapted sizing to reflect changing body shapes while the bridal industry did not.

Adding insult to injury, bridal salons don't stock all sizes and you're expected to pay for alterations (budget about $500) and the salon will order your dress based on your largest measurement. So if your bust is an 8 and your hips are a 10, your dress will be a (bridal) size 10.

So be prepared. Dress size is not always what it seems.

This could be a first for AisleDash: a post aimed at not the bride nor even the groom, but you, the best man. What do you do if you don't much like the bride?

It happens, of course. The bottom line: you're not marrying her, you don't have to love her. The groom will do all that. Since you and the groom are close, you've probably already let him know your feelings. It seems that didn't slow things down, any, because here you all are. The Big Day has arrived. If you haven't 'fessed up yet, now is NOT the time.

The trickiest part of the day will probably be the toast to the bride. How do you make a toast to a woman you really wish your buddy wasn't marrying?

Every bride has a Sh*t list - be it the vendor who won't return your calls, your mean bridesmaids, or even your groom. You don't even have to come up with anything clever to let them know how you feel - simply add the recipient's name and your message gets through loud and clear:

You're on my Sh*t list - KEVIN

Buy one of these notepads and let them know what's up.

$6 at JustJennDesigns.

Okay, this is good one. What do you get when you cross a reindeer with a pirate with your favorite Scottish tartan and bridezilla? You get...you get... well, you get this. There's no hiding in the forest for this gal, she's the center of attention when high fashion takes the plunge with this ensemble.

But let's look at the bright side. It's the perfect solution for the unique gal looking for a bold statement for her wedding day, you can definitely build a theme around this, and you'll certainly be the talk of the town. As for the groom? Here he is, looking dapper as ever.

If you are engaged right now, chances are you have a few friends who are also planning to tie the knot soon. Because most people tend to get married around a certain age, you and your peers will often be going through the wedding thing in bunches. This trend gives rise to a common conflict: what happens when you and your best friend want the same wedding date?

Maybe it's not the exact same day, and maybe it's not your very best friend, but having two weddings close together can be a hassle for anyone who is on both guest lists, and especially for people who are heavily involved in both weddings, like bridesmaids, parents, and the bride and groom.

Our busy lives make it hard to find time for big events, so often when we find a date that works, it seems impossible to do it any other way, especially since you've already moved your wedding date twice to accommodate great aunt Hilda's travel schedule -- and now your sister is telling you she wants to have her wedding two weeks before yours? What's the best way to handle wedding date conflicts?

Have half your invitees turned down your invitation to be your bridesmaid? Have your bridesmaids bailed on you? Your sister has suddenly decided she'll be moving to Mali the week before your wedding?

Not to worry! You don't need friends when you have Rent-a-Bridesmaid! (Or bridesman, even.) Now, it's a little pricier than the standard friends, love, and loyalty route. You buy her dress, you pay her transportation, you pay for any beauty treatments, you pay a fee for her presence, but it's all WORTH IT, because "she will sign a contract of compliance... to follow and conform to ALL your preferences and demands. You have the full right to provide whatever beauty and preparation ... even if they are OVER-THE-TOP." Isn't that amazing???

I'm sure this will appeal to some brides out there. I'm equally sure I'm glad I don't know them.

"Training treats for Husbands. Treat him like a king -- train him like a puppy." I know, I know, it's supposed to be funny. But it's not. Women? If you really need him to change so much, if you really have so little respect for him, WHY ARE YOU MARRYING HIM???

Guys? If you get this one for Valentine's Day, I'm thinking you need to seriously consider what you're getting yourself into ...