I’m Sharon Naylor, and the author of over 30 wedding planning books, bride’s journals and even two bridal-themed novels. Over the past 17 years, I’ve heard one universal complaint: Weddings make people lose their minds. Not just the bride… the people around the bride, too.

Bitter bridesmaids don’t return calls. Sisters are fighting with the best friends over who’s the real maid of honor. The parents are dishing out that dreaded, “We’re paying for it, so it’s going to be our decision!” So many brides completely lose it at some point or another, not because the planning is hectic or the bills are too high but because someone has really let them down. I’ve received thousands of letters through my Web site, all from brides, moms, bridesmaids, grooms, even fathers, all looking for solutions to the insults and hurt feelings around them. How do we stop the drama and get back to having fun? These letters inspired my book The Bride’s Diplomacy Guide, where I provide exactly the right words to say to defuse those fights, stop a steamroller mom from wrecking the wedding, and restore peace and harmony to wedding planning groups.

I’ve talked about wedding-planning issues on Good Morning America, The Morning Show With Mike & Juliet, Lifetime, Primetime and Martha Stewart Weddings Sirius Satellite Radio. I’ve been featured in all the top wedding magazines, and have a podcast at The Wedding Podcast Network -- all to help brides, grooms and their families get back to “the good stuff” and not let wedding craziness get in the way.

I’m thrilled that iVillage Weddings has invited me to write a blog on restoring harmony during the craziness of the wedding plans. I know a lot about it, since I’m a bride-to-be myself, and there are new stories daily over on the Ask the Wedding Etiquette Expert board where I answer questions. There’s a fine line between etiquette and diplomacy, and of course we all know how tricky those family situations can be. So join me on my blog for the kind of people solutions you won’t find anywhere else!