It started when I was 18. The plan was to get married by 26. Guess what? I'm well past 26. Although not yet 30, the closer I get, the more nervous I got about not being married.

There has to be some mistake, right? I've got a great career. No multiple baby daddies over here. My credit's good, too. And I've got my degrees -- with honors, thank you very much. Hmm...survey says I'm a pretty good catch. So, what gives?

As days progress and years go by, we women start approaching the ripe old age of "I should be married by now." Hence, the agony of the "wedding nags," those seemingly subtle voices of "reason" that tell us exactly what age we are to be married by. And, of course, if we get so much as one hour past that fateful day, we're doomed for life.

Bottom line is, the wedding itself is the least of your worries. Yes, I know: white gown, live band, jealous chick from across the street. Check, check, check. It all sounds great. Now, what happens in the days, months and years after the cake's digested and the stargazer lilies have wilted? Do you truly want to spend your life with this person? Or was he just a stand-in at the wedding and a viable candidate for the honeymoon "activities"?

Yep, I'm guilty. I admit it. I have indulged in one of my (many) guilty pleasures, 'Bridezillas,' a few times. Now, don't even try acting all bourgeois, because you know you have, too. And even though we sit back and wonder what man in his right mind would marry one of these crazed chicks, with their "I'm all that" attitudes and ridiculous demands for cerulean – not blue – centerpieces, there's a thing or two we can learn from them even before we find the proverbial "one."

1. Be a S.N.O.B.
Opt to settle for nothing other than the best when it comes to matters of your heart. Don't worry, that doesn't entail being a pompous, arrogant b&^%$. Instead, it means knowing precisely what you require in a mate and sticking to that ideal. But knowing is half the battle, yes? That brings us to point two.

2. List Your Demands
Mariah and Rihanna list their demands at every one of their shows in the form of a "concert rider"-- agreements that each show promoter must adhere to. Guess what? Beyonce ain't the only diva around. Here's what you do: Pull out a piece of paper, grab a pen and write down every single thing you want and need in your soon-to-be-found husband (even if you think it's facetious. FYI: It's perfectly okay to list attractiveness as a requirement). List them out numerically. There doesn't have to be a specific order, just get them on paper. Also, there's no limit, so write to your heart's content. Next, put stars next to those you deem to be of utmost importance (i.e., compassion for your feelings might be starred, while a required height of 6-foot-3 won't be quite as pressing). Notice how many are starred versus those that aren't. The starred ones are must-haves; the unstarred ones are the nice-to-haves. Put it in your wallet and carry it everywhere you go.