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Islamic men seeking a divorce from their wives should take note -- the Islamic practice of talaq has been ruled invalid in the United States, as it deprives women of their right to due process.

Wondering what talaq is and what the big deal about it is? Well, it's an Islamic practice in which men can divorce their wives by saying "I divorce thee" three times. And, in 2003, when an Islamic woman living with her husband and their family in Maryland filed for divorce, the husband went to the Pakistani embassy, performed the talaq, and left the country, leaving her with only a $2500 divorce settlement to which she had agreed (under Pakistani law) at the age of 18 in 1980.

Recently, the Maryland courts ruled in her favor, and she'll receive half the proceeds from the sale of their home and she will likely receive half his pension.

Most of us are familiar with the traditional hope chest where young girls gathered and stored all the personal and household things they would need when they grew up and got married. In France this is called a girl's trousseau. The word literally means "bundle," and a gal's trousseau would include her Sunday dress, everyday clothes, lingerie, and linens she had embroidered with her new family's initials. In Victorian times, the contents of a lady's trousseau were a sign of class and wealth, and the very wealthy trousseau had thousands of dollars worth of dresses, robes and lace embellishments.

It's an idea that is certainly out of date in this day and age when registries and bridal showers are designed to outfit the couple with things for their house. But a bride certainly needs some new things to suit her new life. Create your own trousseau by getting a pretty box or basket or even a new suitcase. Fill it with a few new outfits, accessories, and household items you can use to pamper yourself during your wedding planning, honeymoon and first year of marriage.

When two become one, the laundry doesn't just double, it seems to explode, doesn't it? Just ask any newly-wedding couple: when they move in together the laundry becomes -- without warning -- overwhelming. So, if you can add something to your registry that will spruce up your house in addition to helping with the mountains of laundry that literally popped up overnight, wouldn't you jump at the chance?

At Bed, Bath and Beyond you'll find more than just your average laundry hamper, you'll find either a single or double embroidered and stylish laundry sorter. For the single, throw all your laundry in one sack. In the double, separate by darks and lights. Either way, your laundry room will look snazzier and your closets will breathe a sigh of relief. And $29.99 (for the single) and $39.99 (the double) are small prices to pay for a little peace and harmony, in love and laundry.

We really couldn't believe it when we first saw this story. A bride and groom got into a brawl on their wedding day - and went to jail still in their wedding attire.

A Pittsburgh couple got into a fight after their reception at the Holiday Inn. The groom karate kicked his bride to the floor. A couple of guests from another wedding tried to step in and help, but the bride then turned on the would-be helpers.

The fight went from there - on the hotel's seventh floor - into the elevator and down to the lobby. And then the bride and groom threw metal planters at the helpful couple, causing minor injuries! Even the police called it wild.

This couple had married the month before in the Bahamas and renewed their vows in Pittsburgh in front of 150 guests. They were just checking into their room when the fight started.

The police charged them with numerous infractions and hauled off to jail. The bride left the jail the next morning, still in her wedding gown. The groom, who left separately, was bloody, bruised, and wearing only one shoe. Neither of them would comment to the press.

That's not the way we would recommend starting your honeymoon. We're just saying.

Image: ToastyKen on Flickr

We've probably all heard the one about how women tend to put on significant poundage after they get married (because presumably we only try to look good while we're catching the man and not after we have one). Unfortunately, we've probably all seen someone bring truth to this rumor by doing just that. Fortunately, the guys do it too; just look around and you're sure to see some impressive beer bellies. The only time this weighty issue causes significant heart ache is when one partner loses their attraction to the other's heftier form. Interestingly, spouses are often a huge contributing factor to partner weight gain by not taking dieting efforts seriously, bringing fatty foods into the house, and otherwise promoting overindulgence. Aesthetics certainly play a role in sexual attraction (that's why we lust after gorgeous movie stars), but isn't there more to marriage than a few pounds?

When we got the news that Star Jones had filed for divorce from her husband of three and a half years, Al Reynolds, we stifled a yawn and said, "So, she finally did it, huh? Okie dokey."

We don't mean to be insensitive to a divorce -- it's a horrible thing for anyone to go through, to be sure. It's just that we've been hearing rumors of a divorce pretty much since the couple tied the knot in a freebie-filled, sponsored wedding, and there has been evidence in recent months that the grand finale was imminent. So, while we're sorry for any pain the couple is going through, we're just not surprised in the least.

Star gave a statement saying that she intends to handle the situation with dignity and grace and emerge as a wiser woman. We suppose that means she's not looking for anyone to sponsor her divorce ...

We've been involved in about a million weddings, and out of all of them, and nearly every bride we've known has selected her bridesmaids' dresses saying, "I totally think my bridesmaids will be able to wear this again -- don't you?"

Truth be told, many of these dresses were quite beautiful, but did we think the bridesmaids were going to keep them at the front of their closets and wear them at the very next opportunity? Nope, not likely.



This makes us wonder -- how much do bridesmaids really care about the "post-wedding wearability" of their dresses? And if that's something that's important, what factors are most important? Color? Style? Formality? Or should brides worry more about what dress fits in best with their wedding and not worry about whether the bridesmaids will wear it again?

Cheryl Cole hasn't been seen wearing the wedding band her cheating husband, Ashley, gave her when they originally exchanged vows less than two years ago. We, along with the rest of the world, assumed it was because she was still angry. However, Cheryl insists there's another reason -- weight loss.

It's no secret that the Girls Aloud singer lost quite a bit of weight following Ashley's infidelity. Cheryl's friends and family have said that she had no appetite due to all the stress and wasn't eating properly. Apparently, she's not gaining any of the weight back just yet, saying of the ring, "It's falling off my finger as I've lost weight."

Last we checked, rings could generally be sized down. Not that we blame Cheryl for trying to put a different spin on the situation, but we're not buying it.

In Massachusetts, gay couples are allowed to marry. And in several other states, couples can take advantage of civil unions or domestic partnerships. Those arrangements at least offer some of the same protections as marriage.

Until it comes time to filing taxes. While gay couples can file in their respective states with no problem, they still can't file together on federal taxes. And that means paying more money to Uncle Sam. According to CNN, a couple making $60,000 would pay over $800 more than if they filed together.

There are many benefits that gay couples could get from marriage or civil unions. But until the federal government recognizes those unions, taxes won't be one of them. So what do you think, should the federal government recognize same-sex marriages? Tell us your thoughts in the comments.



Photo by babasteve licensed under Creative Commons.

This may sound like obvious advice, but let's face it, when you get married there are at least a thousand-and-one little details to take care of, and some of them can fall through the cracks. Don't let this one slip. Whether you both work or you plan to live off one income, review your W-4 at work. It's that little form you fill out when you first take a job that tells the payroll department how much tax to withhold for you. Withhold too much and you'll get a big refund at tax time. Refunds are fun, but you may not want to give the government that interest-free loan, especially if your monthly expenses cut close to the bone. Worse, withhold too little and you could be in big trouble, owing a sizable payment, come April 15th. If you're married, you both work, and you have no kids, fill out the form carefully and consider having extra withheld. Sometimes it's tough to know exactly how it will all shake out at tax time, particularly when one of you is commissioned, but your tax advisor should be able to help you plan. A little effort now will pay off next April.

We've all been standing around the water cooler at the office listening to the big mouth talk about his very sizable tax refund and all the fun he's going to have with it. But did you know that guy actually gave the government an interest-free loan on all that money this past year? He may be the office joke.

The secret to effectively handling your tax paying duties is to know how you and your spouse tend to spend (and save) money. Are you a good save-as-you-go couple, putting away small amounts of money each month and more likely to blow a large sum on unnecessary items? Then the big refund may be a big rip-off for you. On the other hand, if you're more likely to save the refund when it comes back to you in the big lump, this might be the winning strategy.

The best plan? Sit and talk with your spouse about how you each spend and save your money. Then devise a tax strategy that suits you and gives you the best chance of winning in the long run.

After months and months of time-consuming wedding planning, a beach getaway may have never sounded better. There are plenty of fantastic honeymoon hotspots, but there's something about the allure of a fruity drink and a sandy beach that has always equated "honeymoon" with "beach vacation." And since you'll only take one honeymoon in your lifetime, you want to make it the best trip it can be -- wardrobe and all.

What better motivation to find the perfect suit for your frame than a beach honeymoon? It's also the perfect time of year to begin your search. At AisleDash, we've collected a variety of looks for you to peruse. Once you've picked your favorite, find a store near you and snatch it up. And, since it is your honeymoon, why not get a few?

We know that the wedding is your chance, if you're so inclined, to be princess for a day. When your day is over, what happens to all the accessories? Well, you might send centerpieces home with guests, you can donate flowers to nursing home and food to food banks.

What of the dresses? We're not talking about your dress this time, but the bridesmaids' dresses. You try to choose something they might want to wear more than once, but we all know this doesn't always happen.

Most of the stories we hear about terrible in-laws concern the dreaded mother-in-law. What is it about moms when their children marry? Don't get us wrong -- there are many wonderful, kind moms who welcome their children's spouses with open arms. But what about those who don't?

One of the hardest mother-in-laws to deal with is the critical mom. Nothing you do is right. Your choices for the caterer, dress, photographer, and venue are all wrong. So how do you handle it?

Take a deep breath. Most of the time, it's really not about you. She wants to help or thinks that her experience can be helpful. If she makes suggestions for a florist or caterer, she isn't necessarily criticizing your choices. She may just want to contribute, even if it's just an idea or two.

If she really wants to help, let her. Find a small piece of the ceremony that you can let go of. Let her plan it, or at least let her assist. Most moms just want their kids to be happy, and by offering to help she just wants to contribute to that happiness.

What you view as a critical attitude may not be that way at all. Think about why her suggestions bother you. Remember that deep breath? It's your friend when you feel pressured.

And if she really is being critical of you, laugh it off. So she's a control freak, or no one is good enough for her son. So what? He's marrying you, right? Find a way to see the humor in it and your stress will be a lot lower throughout your marriage. Enlist his help in deflecting her criticisms. And if he won't defend you, maybe you need to take a long, hard look at your relationship before you walk down the aisle. Because if you don't get along with your mother-in-law now, what makes you think you'll be able to after the ceremony? Or for the next 20, 30, 40 years?

Many bad mother-in-law stories are exaggerated for comedic effect. Don't let that make you dread meeting your mother-in-law. Chances are you'll have a decent relationship with her. While you may not have your new best friend, you will find someone who just wants the two of you to be happy. We all need more people in our lives who want the best for us.


Photo by Jonas B used under Creative Commons license.

If you're planning to hit a beachy paradise for your honeymoon, you've hopefully already packed up your SPF 30 and swimsuits. But, if you're planning to spend some time on the beach or laying by the pool, you might want to consider another form of sun protection -- a hat.

Not only will a hat help to protect your face and the back of your neck from the sun's evil rays, but it can also help add to your "honeymoon look." A trendy sunhat can be equally fashionable and functional.