by J.T. Nowen

Created on: February 14, 2009   Last Updated: February 15, 2009

A Bridezilla is a woman who goes ballistic right before her wedding. She's often depicted as a rude, whiney perfectionist. The truth about Bridezilla Syndrome is that much of it is induced by both the wedding industry and unrealistic expectations about what a wedding is supposed to be. The wedding industry thrives on making young brides feel inadequate. Brides with lower wedding-related self-esteem will be less likely to shop around, and more dependent on vendors. They'll also be more likely to spend lots of money. Vendors have a knack for convincing young women and their families that they can't live without certain things. Some vendors also hate being employed by young women and they'll resort to passive aggressive (like Djs who play the chicken dance when specifically asked not to) tactics to confirm stereotypes that young women are stupid, spoiled and immature. This is often way too much for an already overstretched bride to handle. After months of feeling frustrated and ripped off, it's normal to go a little ballistic.

Here are some tips to help you avoid catching Bridezilla syndrome.

1. Remember that all you need to have a wedding is a happy couple and a marriage license. Throw in a white dress and a fun party, and there's your traditional wedding. It doesn't need to cost a lot and you don't need to feel compelled to impress anyone. A wedding is supposed to be about sharing your love with the people who matter most in your life.

2. Don't tell anyone that you've gotten engaged until you are prepared to talk about wedding details. As soon as you tell anyone that he proposed, the first thing that they'll do is fire nine hundred billion questions at you. If you don't know what your colors are, how you're going to wear your hair or what your song is going to be, these questions can leave you feeling incredibly inadequate. Even if you have given yourself more than a year and a half to plan your wedding, people will expect you to have concrete plan as soon they see the ring on your finger. Not everyone knows every little thing about their big day at the age of seven. These people will upset you. Do yourself a big favor and put them off until you have something to say to them. Be especially careful when announcing your wedding to couples that are unhappy. Unhappy couples love to lay guilt trips and create divisiveness among happy couples. It's not your fault that they are unhappy. You don't have to follow their example or let them live vicariously through you. You

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