As this guide comes to an end, there is one last thing you should remember.

In the 21st century, women have become fixated with having a wedding - one day that is devoted to them, where everyone attending is envious of how beautiful they look and the fairy tale love story they're experiencing. But it seems that over the years, women have come to desire a wedding with all its glitz and glam and fancy photographers more than the hard work of the marriage that follows. During our engagement we spend more time preparing for that single day than we do for all the years after. We dream of the exciting engagement that we hope goes viral and our extravagant (or maybe super simple) wedding dress and all the things we'll do with our bridesmaids the week of our wedding. We hope to boast of having the largest wedding or the most beautiful setting or the most fun DJ. And we forget the reason we're having a wedding at all. We forget that after all the excitement and the faraway honeymoon, we are now expected to live in harmony with one person for the rest of our lives.

Some people think that's one of the reasons marriages end so quickly. I don't disagree. I think living for one splendid day (that won't even go perfectly) can leave a woman disappointed when that day is quickly over and only reality remains - as wonderful as that reality may be. Some of those same people think we should rid our society of lavish weddings. But I don't agree this time. Have your day. Such a big decision should be marked by occasion. Weddings give people reason to celebrate and reconnect and a realization of how important marriage is. So buy your favorite wedding dress and write those unique vows. But don't fixate on your wedding. Don't let it consume you. Remember that the dashing groom grinning at you as you walk down the aisle is a human being who is promising himself to you and who needs you as much as you need him for the rest of your lives. So don't let things get too lavish - and don't be afraid to simplify things if it's going to help your life in the long run.