People are really stressed out these days. If they're not out of work, they're running as fast as they can to keep their jobs. Money's tight. Their spouses or partners come home cranky after a day of boss-abuse. Money's tight. Oh, and money's tight.

That adds up to some seriously cranky people out there.

You might be in blissful wedding world as you call your bridesmaids about their open-toed strappy sandals, but if you reach a cranky person on the end of the phone, don't take it personally.

If your groom is a bit snappy when you want to sit down for guest list-making, don't take it personally.

As a bride, your best gift to yourself, and to the people around you, is to take a vow not to internalize everyone else's stressed-out moods. 'What did I do?' is probably not even part of the equation. Everyone just has their pressure cooker on. And if you make it personal, you just create a drama that infects your world.

Let everyone have the bad day, the bad moment, the knee-jerk response to your question. When you nod knowingly and give comfort instead of an interrogation, that person is safe to apologize to you more quickly, and you can both move on with a new plan to boost your moods with a walk through the neighborhood, a foot massage for your tense groom and for you, a laughter-filled conversation about something other than the wedding, a walk with the dog, or time spent on the floor playing with a child's giggly toddler.

Find this book at my website.