AisleDash

You've made the decision to get married away from home, and you've decided what precise location you want to travel to, but within that beautiful backdrop, where will you tie the knot? Choosing a venue when you're hundreds (or thousands!) of miles away can add a little extra stress to your already-full plate, but it doesn't have to provide any more headaches than picking a venue at home.

One thing to know -- and communicate -- is what exactly you want from your destination wedding. If you want to tie the knot in Paris, do you see yourself saying "I do" at a private chateau or at the Four Seasons Paris? When you first start Googling, it can certainly become overwhelming if you haven't narrowed down your desires beforehand. If you see yourself getting crazy in Las Vegas, is it with Elvis presiding or in the Venus Garden at Caesar's Palace.

Sit down with your partner and decide why you chose your destination to begin with -- the stunning mountains, the thrilling nightlife or the twinkling lights of a busy cityscape. When you both get the picture in your mind's eye out in the open, it'll be much easier (and less stressful!) to pick the perfect venue that matches what you've been envisioning.

A beautiful destination wedding is in the cards for you, and, the really good news? It doesn't have to be more work and stress than a wedding in your own backyard.

Speaking of stress: next week, we talk budgets!

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.

Long before Pepe Le Pew came along, the French had that reputation for being a bit promiscuous. In fact, the origin of the term is a bit vague, but you probably know that a French kiss involves something more than just your lips. Not that you'd want to make out like this at the altar, but these tips could come in handy after the ceremony and beyond.

Prepare for the kiss: Ummm...brush your teeth, take a mint, and skip the onions. Bad breath = bad kiss. Also, invest in a good lip balm. Dry, sticky lips don't slip.

Get ready: Be kind to noses; angle your head. Close your eyes...or keep them open, whichever seems the most romantic in the moment. Touch your lips together softly.

Go for it...gently: Start slow, think soft (no lunging) and gently explore your partner's mouth with your tongue. Nothing is really off limits here as long as you're both into it (and you'll know soon enough if your partner's not into it).

Refine your style: First, remember to breathe. Nobody likes to go from kissing to giving CPR. Second, stay focused and tuned in to your partner. This is not the time to decide what color to paint the dining room. Explore and go for variety for extra fun! Still confused? Try this instructional DVD. Happy kissing!

If you'd like your own picture featured here, simply upload photos into our group Flickr Pool. We'll highlight one image every Monday. We're looking for brides and grooms and attendants and guests and cakes and shoes and anything else that was fabulous about your wedding day. Be sure to read the intro on the main Flickr page for more information, and please upload only photos for which you own the copyright.

According to this report, almost ten years after getting married, an Iranian man has been ordered by the court to pay his wife some 124,000 roses he promised to give her as part of her dower before they were married. Under Iranian law, a wife can claim her dower at any time, and the marriage contract is not validated until the dower is paid. Under the law, the man's apartment has been seized and will remain so until he pays. What's more, roses cost the equivalent of $2.14, so he will owe up to $265,360 before making amends with his wife. She says she wants to punish him for being cheap and stingy and refusing to buy her even a cup of coffee when they went out. In the end, the coffee would have been much cheaper than this thorny dog house.

We've all had our celebrity crushes, and some of us spent most of our teen years obsessing over how to make our romantic dreams come true. But by our early 20's, most of us have come to grips with reality and abandoned these lofty wishes.

American-born anglophile Jerramy Fine is not one to give up without a fight. Her book, Someday My Prince Will Come, tells the true story of her lifelong love for Peter Phillips, Queen Elizabeth's eldest grandson. She believes strongly in the power of dreams, and spends two decades chasing hers. Against steep odds, she finds herself living in London, getting ever closer to her goal.

This hilarious real-life fairytale of adventure, dreams, royalty, and love will warm your heart. "There's lots of negativity and skepticism in the world these days - so most of all, I wanted my book to convey the importance of listening to your heart, holding tight to your childhood dream and believing in the impossible - no matter what those grumpy cynics out in the real world may tell you!" says Fine.

Does Miss Fine ever get to marry her very own prince? Well, Peter Phillips is engaged to be wed on May 17, 2008. Read the book to learn about our heroine's place in British royal history.

If you are planning your wedding without the restraint of a budget, the sky really is the limit when it comes to what gifts to buy for your bridesmaids. A few things to choose from when it comes to spoiling your favorite women include the dress they will wear in your ceremony, travel accommodations to the wedding (flight, hotel) or a day at a local spa (pedicure, manicure, facial -- the works!).

But if you're looking to splurge on a thank-you gift that not only shows your gratitude but is also original -- something she is sure to get use of and be stunned by, check out the gallery for a handful of lavish gift ideas your bridal party won't soon forget.

If you're going to make sure the flowers, cake and decorations are all the cream of the crop, thank your bridesmaids with the best of the best, as well.

Show your new sweetie that he's the one and only for you by selling all the blings and baubles those other guys gave you. Sure, you loved the other guy at one time and that necklace used to be one of your favorite possessions. Now it's living with the moth balls up on the shelf in your closet that you can't reach without a step ladder. Convert it to cash at exboyfriendjewelry.com (don't forget to dish about how cheesy Mr. Yesterday turned out to be), and then take your current beau out on a date with your new-found cash.

In the mood to buy? One girl's trash is another girl's treasure. Find jewelry in all different styles from a few dollars to a few thousand. Note: You can browse at will, but to buy or sell you need to register. Also, the site merely puts buyers in touch with sellers; they don't mediate much else, so be very clear on the how, when, where and how much of your transaction.

Dear AisleDash,

I love my boyfriend. We hit it off immediately and have had a great relationship for the year that we've been dating. We're both 26, college-educated professionals, and we're starting to talk about marriage.

I could totally see myself marrying this guy, if it weren't for one major concern. He still lives with his parents. He lived in the dorms at college, but spent summers at home, and has never really supported himself -- but he makes enough money that he could afford a very comfortable life even without their help, which he continues to accept for some reason I don't understand. His mom is happy to clean his room and do his laundry, and his parents still pay for almost all of his expenses.

I don't want to end our relationship over this, but I just don't feel right thinking about marriage with a guy who's never bought his own groceries. Any advice?

-Want to be a wife, not a mother

Dear wife not mother,

This one's easy. Don't marry him. Next question. Just kidding -- but I am serious about not marrying him. He's not ready and you don't want to. So don't marry him -- yet. This relationship doesn't have to end just because you're not ready to wed right now. But you've got some work to do.

When you fall in love with someone, you're willing to do anything for them. You want them happy and suddenly your own agenda takes a back seat. Unfortunately, all too often, your judgment falls by the wayside as well. And with the booming popularity of internet dating, scam artists are taking advantage of this pattern with ease.

You meet in chat rooms or dating sites. You email back and forth for a while, growing more comfortable with one another, more trusting. You move on to talking on the phone... the butterflies really get going, and then something happens. His wallet was stolen -- he needs money now while his credit cards are frozen. "Could you help me out, darling?" And of course you want to help him. You have feelings for this person, and you don't want to leave him high and dry.

What would you do if you found sexy photos and steamy love letters sent to your husband from another woman? Would you ignore them, get a divorce ... go on a crusade of sorts?

After Candi, a mother of three, discovered that her husband had cheated on her, she decided to fight back, but maybe not in the way that you'd expect.

As the writers of Aisle Dash have shown, planning and hosting a green wedding really is as easy as planning a wedding that isn't quite as earth-friendly. Once you the details for your green wedding finalized, it will be time to shop for gifts for your wedding party that will show your friends -- and the environment -- how much you care.

Here are a few earth-friendly gifts to give your bridal party:

• For the bridesmaids and groomsmen who are at one with nature, purchase a National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands Annual Pass. For less than $100, this pass is valid for 12 months and can be used by the pass-holder and any other passengers in the car. Ninety percent of the purchase price will be returned to the federal land agencies to preserve the country's parks for years to come.
• Purchase a subscription to The Green Guide -- National Geographic's consumer magazine that offers alternative products for the conscientious shopper.
• For the music fans in your bridal party, pick up a solar iPod charger. For $29.99, your iPod-toting (or any other mp3-player) friend can re-charge anywhere the sun is shining.
  
• Search for local and organic food in your area (or wherever your bridesmaids are located) at the Eat Well Guide -- then choose a local supermarket, restaurant or farmer's market to buy a gift card at.
• Or, choose some organic coffee for the caffeine-lovers in your wedding party at Bean Trees.
  

You can't go wrong with any of these gifts -- your friendly (and earthy!) thoughtfulness will be deeply appreciated.

As soon as you have that shiny ring on your left ring finger, you'll also have a few (dozen) decisions to make. From what kind of wedding dress you see yourself gliding down the aisle in to whether you should have an open or cash bar. Until the moment you say "I do" you and your husband-to-be will be making choices. Most of these decisions will be fun and each will lead you to the beautiful wedding of your dreams, but none of them are as important as the first one you'll make: where to tie the knot?

Destination weddings are a rising and popular trend in the wedding industry. It's appealing to offer your guests (and yourselves) a vacation in addition to your wedding. And, it has to be said: destination weddings make for incredible pictures.

But before you make the decision to get married away from your hometown, here are a few things to consider. Questions, when answered honestly, that will make it rather easy to decide between your figurative backyard and a fun destination away from home.

Every bride and groom wants to find the perfect gift to thank their wedding guests for joining them in celebrating the start of their marriage. And, in this modern day and age where everything you could want is just a click away, there is a variety of favors you can choose from to convey your grateful sentiment -- from candy in tins to mini-picture frames to personalized matchbooks.

One recent favor idea for your guests is compiling a mixed CD filled with songs that will remind your guests of your special wedding day. You can include songs from the processional, the first-dance songs, dance tunes that played into the wee hours of the night. You can even personalize the CD label.

Is this is a thoughtful and original favor idea or will a CD filled with the bride and groom's favorite songs fall flat for wedding guests? Tell us your thoughts: yes or no?

Dear AisleDash,

I just got engaged and have started planning my wedding. I've got plenty of time and I am not stressing at all, except for one thing. I was MOH in my best friend's wedding a few months ago, and we had a lot of fun with it. I actually did a lot of the planning and even paid for a lot of things because I wanted to help my friend, and I knew a lot of things would never get done if I didn't do them myself. She was very grateful and had a beautiful wedding. Now I know she is just waiting for me to ask her to be my MOH, but I think I want to ask someone else instead. I love my best friend, but she's just not reliable. She wasn't really into the planning of her own wedding, so I know I can't expect her to be there for mine. We've been best friends for our whole lives and live in the same town but we still only hang out if I make the effort. She hardly even calls. That's just how she is.

But I have another friend who I really love, and who I know would be really helpful and involved with the wedding planning. She lives in another town but I see her way more than I see my best friend, because she makes more of an effort. My problem is that I am pretty sure my best friend will end our friendship if she doesn't get to be MOH, and she'll be pissed if I ask her to share the job. But my other friend would be so much better at it. What should I do?

-Dreading the Decision

Dear Dreading,

So your best friend never makes an effort to actually be a friend, let you pay for her wedding, and would hate you if she didn't get to be your matron of honor, even though she doesn't get excited about weddings? Why are you friends with this person? I'm sure there must be reasons, it's just that you didn't give me any of them.