People get married every day (or at least every weekend). If you are a bride to be, repeat that mantra to yourself at least once a day. Sometime in the past few years the word bridezilla has entered our lexicon—and for good reason. Brides (and some grooms) get so caught up in the planning of their weddings that formerly rational, calm, and clear thinking people start making outrageous demands and seem unable to focus on anything other than the wedding. Often times the people facing the brunt of this wedding-centric behavior are the bride's good friends who have been annointed bridesmaids. If you're having bridesmaids, you've ostensibly chosen these ladies because they are your best friends. If you want them to continue to be your best friends after the wedding make sure to follow these basic rules:

Don't be demanding: As you plan your wedding you will working with caterers, florists, bands, photographers and assorted others whose job it is to cater to your demands. You are paying these people so you have every right to demand everything you want. Not so with your bridesmaids. You're most likely already dictating what dresses they will have to buy and wear, and that should be it for the demands. If your bridesmaids are being nice enough to plan your shower or bachelorette party, you have the right to suggest what kind of party you might want, but you also must remember that they are the ones planning this event, not you. Keep yourself in check. Put yourself in their shoes before you ask your bridesmaids to do anything. Step outside your bride bubble for a second and ask yourself: How would you feel if you were being asked to do x?

Recognize the expense of being a bridesmaid: You may think that by getting a 15% discount on their bridesmaid dresses and that by not holding your bachelorette party in Las Vegas, that you are being an exemplary bride by keeping costs down. Though it may seem that way to you, it's important to realize that a dress discounted to $250 still costs $250 and that a bachelorette party held nearby can easily still cost each bridesmaid hundreds of dollars. Throw on top of that such costs as the $100 dress alteration fee, engagement and shower gifts, and travel and hotel, and the cost of being a bridesmaid can easily top $1,000. If you are planning an extravagant wedding, $1,000 might not seem like a lot of money to you, but it is an extremely significant expense, especially if your bridesmaids aren't raking it in. Most importantly, be appreciative. Instead of focusing on the fact that because your shower was in town, your bridesmaids didn't have to pay travel expenses, recognize all of the expenses they did incur and thank them, repeatedly. There's nothing worse that forking out funds for someone who doesn't appreciate it.

Being a bride is no excuse for being a bad friend: Though all of the details involved in planning your wedding may seem to consume both your life and your free time, it's not a valid excuse for becoming and abstentee friend. Most bridesmaids will recognize that planning a wedding takes a lot of work and will understand that you can't meet them for drinks or brunch every week like you used to. However, they won't be understanding when you miss their birthday or don't pick up the phone when something traumatic happens in their life, such as a death in the family.

Don't contract bride syndrome: Say the word bridezilla and it conjures images of brides berating their fiancees and shrieking at their family members. Just because you aren't berating or shrieking, it doesn't mean you are safe from being a bad bride. Being a bride can be like being a movie star on set. On set, the movie star is coddled and treated like royalty. When you are going for dress fittings and talking with your caterer, you are the movie star. But when you are with your friends, you are a regular citizen and must act accordingly. Most likely, your friends aren't as consumed by your wedding, as excited by your wedding, or think your wedding will the best wedding ever! Though you will only plan your own wedding once, remember that, most likely, your bridesmaids will be a part of multiple weddings—sometimes more than one in the same year.

Though your wedding is indeed your "special day," the operative word there is day. You get to be special for a day, not a year, not a month, and not even a week. But by all means, enjoy your special day!