The Stress of getting married

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You've met someone special, spent time getting to know each other and have made the momentous decision to commit yourself to that one person: forever. You've decided to take the plunge and get married. Fortunately, you are not alone: almost all of us go through the wedding process. One-in-five Americans ages 25 and older have never been married, compared with just 9% in 1960.

Getting married is supposed to be the happiest time of life, and for many, it is. But for millions of brides and grooms-to-be, weddings are a stressful, anxiety-ridden affair. Why?

Two major sources of pre-marital stress are:

• Planning the wedding. Details, details, details!
• Pre-wedding jitters. Enter self-doubt and questions about whether you're making the right decision.

Planning your wedding: without the stress

Planning your wedding can be stressful. It's an important event for you, and for those closest to you—your parents, in particular. There are countless decisions to make, and your underlying desire for everything to be perfect. But, the fact is, you can avoid a lot of stressful situations by setting boundaries and planning ahead.

Trying to please everyone, professional wedding planners point out, is one of the main factors in wedding planning stress. There are too many opinions flying around and everyone seems to have their own idea of how the wedding should be. Remember—your wedding is your own and should unfold the way you want it to. To prevent others from taking over, sit down with your fiancée at the early stages and figure out exactly what you envision for your wedding day.

Bear in mind that it's a big day for your families, too and your parents in particular. You don't want to disappoint them, so, it's important to choose your battles: be willing to give in on things you don't care about and to stand firm on issues that are important to you.

Keep things in perspective

Help make your nitty-gritty decisions easier by following this simple exercise:

Close your eyes and imagine your life 10 years from now. Will you or other people remember any wedding "glitches" or imperfections? If the answer is no, then don't spend a lot of time deciding. Will people remember the envelope color of your wedding invitation? Or how many gowns you changed in and out of during the banquet? What the color of the tablecloth you used was? Chances are people won't remember and neither will you.

Pre-wedding jitters

As you plan for marriage, you learn that almost everyone has a definite idea of "the one thing you really need" to make a good marriage. One of your friends tells you that, "all you need is love," while another stresses, "good communication." Your parents believe that "the key is to marry someone with the same values." Everyone has advice for people considering marriage. Expect them to share it.

This barrage of information, on top of your new responsibilities can leave you feeling uneasy and worried, even jittery about your upcoming vows.

The jitters

• You're more irritable, impatient, and annoyed than usual.
• Everything about your fiancée suddenly starts to bug you: bad habits, the messy kitchen, the cat, everything.
• You can't sleep, or eat. You sweat, or shake.
• The thought of merging your life with someone becomes terrifying.
• There is a lull in your sex life.
• All of the above are normal reactions to anxiety around the anticipating marriage. Your nerves will eventually return to normal.

Easing the Jitters

• Communicate with your partner. Talk about your anxious feelings, and about your love for each other.

• Spend some time alone together. No, not going over the seating plan for the wedding reception. Go away, alone, for a weekend, somewhere quiet and rediscover why you chose to marry this person.

Know the difference between "pre-wedding jitters" and a serious problem—should you call off the wedding?

Having the jitters, even a bad case, is normal, and not reason enough to call off the engagement. But, there are some problems in a relationship that shouldn't be dismissed:

• Abuse. Physical or emotional.
• Addiction. Drugs, alcohol, or gambling.
• Serious family issues. Parental disapproval or discordance.
• Sex. Unpleasant or hurtful.
• Betrayal. Cheating, stealing, or dishonesty.
• Religion. Conflicting beliefs that can't be resolved.
• Children. Different expectations for raising a family.
• Spending money. Opposing attitudes/philosophy.
• Sexual orientation. Your partner's preferences are different from what you were led to believe.