Planning a wedding can be one of the most exhilarating, yet stressful times of a woman's life. Whether you are going extravagant, or just keeping it simple, there are many details that must be addressed, and often, little time to do them. This time constraint is often the source of many common mistakes made by brides before a wedding. Lack of research is another contributing factor. This, however, is often due to the fact that most brides have never planned a wedding before, so the process can prove a bit daunting. Below are the top ten mistakes commonly made by many brides-to-be, and how to avoid them.

Not sticking to your budget. Often times, couples will set a wedding budget, then make further plans without keeping it in mind. This can be a big mistake. While it's easy to get caught up in the excitement and frenzy of planning a wedding, it is important to follow your budget. Failure to do so can either result in spending more money than what you have, or being disappointed when you can't pay for something you are set on doing.

Messing up the marriage license. There are a number of rules and regulations surrounding this process that it is easy for couples to make a mistake. Because the bride often plans the wedding, the groom usually takes care of this detail, but it is always something the couple should do together. It is a good idea for the bride-to-be to get involved in this one so both parties know what is needed and when to do it.

Ordering the wedding gown too late. If you have your heart set on a specific gown, you will want to take care of this early on in the planning process. Even if this detail is not as important to you as it is other brides, it is a good idea to have this one taken care of early. Most times, the gown must be altered, sometimes even more than once, so attention should definitely be given to this major detail.

Waiting to book hotel rooms. A common mistake made by many brides is waiting too late to book hotel rooms for wedding guests. This is especially important if you are getting married during a busy time of the year, or would like your guests to stay in a particularly busy hotel. This detail should be taken care of soon after the wedding date is set. It's much easier to re-book a room in advance than it is to find a room at the last minute.

Inviting too many guests. When choosing a place for the wedding and reception, make sure these sites can accommodate the number of guests you would like to invite. This is crucial because you often take care of this detail well in advance, certainly long before you have received notice of who is and isn't coming to the wedding.

Indulging in last-minute beauty treatments or crash diets. Getting a facial the day before the wedding can be a bad idea. Instead of rejuvenating your skin, it can actually lead to break-outs, especially if you have never before used the products included in the facial. Because of this, you have no idea what they may or may not do to your skin, so take precautions. The same goes for crash diets. You want your dress to still fit the day of the wedding, and going on a crash diet could result in its being too big.

Failure to understand invitation postage. Many brides are not aware the invitations often require additional postage, therefore, these items are often sent out without it. If this happens, the postal service will return your invitations to you, and you will be responsible for including the proper postage and sending them again. This, of course, can significantly delay the entire process, not to mention add stress to your wedding planning.

Ignoring religious restrictions. Skipping pre-marital classes or failing to wear the appropriate wedding attire can result in your wedding officiate refusing to marry you when the big day arrives. To avoid this, make sure you understand what will be required of you and your husband-to-be prior to the actual wedding. This is especially important if you do not practice the same religion.

Trying it on your own. If you are lucky enough to have been offered help by friends and family members, take it. There are so many details to attend to that it can easily become overwhelming and you may find you will need all the help you can get.

Forgetting to focus on what it all means instead of just the actual event. Yes, the wedding is important, but you should always keep in mind that you are getting married and starting a life together. Brides be good to your grooms and grooms to the same to your brides.