Sometimes it is hard not to lose yourself when planning your wedding—there is so much commercial hype, canned traditions, and tantalizing nonsense out there that it all can get a bit daunting! So how do you keep your cool—and your heart open—as well as keep from having the character, soul, and intimacy squeezed out of your special event?

Here's the key.

Before you look "out there" to the smorgasbord of choices vying for your attention, it helps to get centered before you start making decisions. Take a Breather! Just slowing down for a few minutes when you feel the swirl coming on will make a huge difference in your well-being—and in his!

Therefore, when planning your wedding, look inside yourself first to find your place of inner knowing. (Don't worry, you've got one.)

Close your eyes and take some deep breaths to help you get there. (Relax and keep at it if you're out of practice with the deep breathing thing.)

Once you start to let go and get into a slow, soft breathing rhythm, it will feel so sweet and yummy that you'll want to continue—I promise!

That wise place inside will start feeling like an "inner smile" and then you might notice you're actually smiling. (And that your shoulders are back down where they belong, instead of up around your ears.)

Then as you feel a sense of your inner knowing emerging (practice and your awareness of it will feel stronger and more sure), your choices will come from your heart instead of some nervous twitter that won't stop in your head! (You know the noisy chatter I'm talking about.)