Planning.

I'm doing all my "major" planning, almost 2 years out...so we're nailing down our venue, photographer, DJ, caterer etc., now so that way as it gets closer we won't fee like we're rushing. Also, keeping my mom and future MIL in the loop seeing as they've planned a wedding before. They're giving me lots of guidance on what to focus on and what not to stress about.

As PPs have said, taking it in chunks is best. Then if you start getting overwhelmed in the middle of a chunk, stop. Even if its for 5 minutes.

I have found that if I just stop and take a deep breath and picture my FH (if he's available at the time, I take a moment with him) and remember that at the end of the day, I will always have him. Keeping things in perspective has helped me considerably. Stressing over details like decorations and open flame suddenly seem less important then.

Here were the rules we used:

1. If we don't remember it from someone else's wedding, it is not important (to us), and will not matter at ours.

2. Decide what it is we want out of the day (in our case: be legally married at the end, feed our guests good food, have fun, have a swordfight) and focus your energy on THAT.

3. Be ruthless about what you want and don't want, for the sake of your bank account.

4. You pay people to do things, so you can stop thinking about them day of. If they *don't* do it, then, after, you get your money back.

5. This is about the two of you, so whatever someone else did... is not relevant. (DH had to learn that one.)