Priorities

Setting your priorities when you have a long list of things to do can be challenging.  How do you know what is most important, in what order to do things, etc.?  The answers to these questions will depend on the person.  Finding the right vendors for all your needs will likely be the most difficult task.  Once you find the right people to help you actualize your wedding, you can create a rough daily, weekly, or monthly schedule.

Ideally, you want to jump on the items that will take longer to get done.  Reserving a location for the ceremony and reception is definitely a priority.  Many places book up fast and well in advance; so if you have a special place in mind, make sure it's available and reserve the spot!  Once you have your wedding date and location available, you can start working on the other details.  If you're custom making your gown, get an idea of how long that process will take and the time commitment you have to make.  Routine dress fittings will generally play a big part in your plans until your wedding day.   Invitations are also important to have done early on so you can give your guests a reasonable time to respond.  Creating a gift registry?  Having one completed early on will save you time later and will be helpful to family and friends shopping for your wedding or bridal shower.

After you start working with your vendors, you'll see that you will likely have to connect with each of them multiple times.  Set your priorities here too.  Arrange your schedule based on your mutual needs.  If the caterer can only schedule with you during normal business hours, but the florist is open on the weekends for appointments, then meet with the caterer on a weekday and hold off on the flowers for the weekend if time.  It may sound obvious, but with so many things to do, timing really is everything.  

Expectations

As a bride, you look forward to your wedding daily.  You anticipate the big day when you will officially share your life with someone else forever.  Expectations for your wedding day is high, no doubt.  It would be wise, however, from steering clear of thinking it will be perfect.  I don't think I've ever been to a wedding or heard of a wedding that was "perfect."  In most cases, some unexpected glitch is bound to surface. At least a half a dozen of these little glitches came up at my wedding.  It is difficult to create perfection, as very little in life has a guarantee of being perfect.  And that is okay.

Weddings and other special occasions are meant to be as close to perfect as possible, but paying too much attention to the fine details may end up dampening your mood.  Better to live in the moment, laugh off minor hiccups, and enjoy everything that is running smoothly.  It's your wedding day.  Let someone else worry about the details, if it's fixable.  If you hired a consultant, that's what you're paying them to do.  If you don't have someone running the show, call on a family member or friend to help.  As the bride, your job is to be having fun and to be happy with your husband.  Remember that the bigger picture is your relationship and that no matter what happens, big or small, the two of you will weather it together.  It's a good lesson in life and good way for you to begin your new marriage.