If you were like most little girls, your wedding day was something that was forever in your imagination, a joyous event that would mark a new and exciting era in your life. But in all of your daydreaming and waiting for the right partner to come along, did you imagine that planning a wedding could be so stressful? The answer is probably not.

The truth is that planning a wedding can be exhausting and have a heavy toll on you financially and emotionally. But it doesn't have to be quite so bad. By following a few simple tips, you can avoid most of the hassles and headaches associated with planning a wedding.

Start planning early. In order to ensure that you can hire the best establishments and service providers for your wedding, you need to start booking early. Many of these places are booked for months in advance, and if you don't act quickly, you may have to go with something other than your first choice.

Investigate your service providers. By asking for referrals and listening to word of mouth commentary on local service providers, you can save yourself a lot of heartache.

Put everything in writing. Make sure that everything that is agreed upon with service contractors is put in writing and signed by both parties. A written contract is sometimes the only way to prove what services were offered at what price.

Do a determined, small amount of wedding tasks each week. By starting early, you can take advantage of planning your wedding over an extended period of time. Do not leave everything for the last minute. Doing small tasks over an extended period of time will ease your stress and frustration immensely.

Watch your budget. Going into debt to pay for a lavish wedding is never a good idea. Remember to stay within your means and use your money for a better purpose. Sure the $5,000 gown may look great on you, but having a home to live in is probably more important. And you cannot wear an expensive gown while you're lying on the beaches of your honeymoon resort, which you wouldn't be able to afford if you bought the over-priced gown.

While these steps will not make planning your wedding entirely stress free, they will help to make the transition to your new marital status as smooth as it can be.