The first and most important step in being a harmonious, peaceful bride is keeping the good things in mind as much as possible. Think back to the initial excitement of your friends, how they hugged you and celebrated with you when you first showed them the ring. Think about how the caterer you wanted was available. How your grandmother was brought to tears by your good news. How your niece jumped up and down when you told her she was going to be a bridesmaid. The look in your fiance's eyes when he proposed. The smell of the roses he gave you. When you create a practice of gratitude and a focus on the positive, you outweigh all the annoying stuff like the bridesmaid who doesn't return your calls.

This is something you have to establish as a daily ritual, just like yoga or meditation or exercise...or brushing your teeth. It's that good for you. I suggest you put it in writing, too, so that on tough days you can flip back through the pages of your Bride's Gratitude Journal and re-live all those great moments and happy sentiments shared by others, seeing it in your own handwriting that yes, things really are going wonderfully. You've had so many of those dreamy, blissful moments with your fiance. Far more friends are thrilled about your engagement than you realize. You've just been way too focused on the crummy people and the delays in finding the vendors you want. The negative stuff grabbed all of your attention, but you're re-establishing your perspective with a gratitude practice.

Here's something I do quite often, and it really does silence the worries: I look through the engagement cards that my fiance and I have received. I keep them in a pretty, metal, heart-shaped basket on my bedroom dresser, and when wedding stress starts to bubble up, I'm cross-legged on my bed, surrounded by beautiful cards and the lovely words that my loved ones took the time to write. Works like a charm.

So reinforce those positive moments. Look at the photos from your engagement. And thank your fiance for proposing to you. A funny thing happens when you start journaling your gratitude...you find yourself with even more to be grateful for because you're looking for all those positive things that happen in your day that stressed-out people aren't able to see. All the good stuff becomes even clearer to you. And that's just harmony waiting to happen.