Nothing can kill a romantic mood faster than bringing up the word prenup. According to the Gevurtz Menashe Family Law Glossary of Legal Terms a prenuptial agreement is defined as:

“A written contract between two people prior to marriage, laying out the terms of the marriage in case it should later dissolve. Terms regarding current individual assets, future earnings, and property are examples of issues included in the contract.”

Bringing up the word prenup amongst a group of people and you’re likely to get the same type of reaction when as talking about religion and politics. But step back and consider that 1/3 of all first marriages and 1/2 of all second marriages fail and you can see how prenups are almost like marriage insurance.

Experts say that prenups are looked down upon because of the emotions that are involved. No one goes into a marriage expecting it to fail. Everyone also thinks that their marriage is special, which could very well be the case, but according to the hard data it is in jeopardy of failing.

If you’re considering a prenup or just want to learn more about what they are read on to find out:

• Who needs a prenup
• How to approach the subject
• Legal benefits
• Proper procedure

Who Needs a Prenup?

Many people think prenups are exclusively for the rich but experts agree that they should be considered by people who:

• Have assets such as a home, stocks, and retirement accounts
• Own a business
• Are receiving an inheritance
• Have children from a prior marriage
• One person is much wealthier than the other
• Is pursuing a degree that may lead to a lucrative career

If you fall into some or all of these categories you should consider a prenuptial agreement. As you can see from the list above most of middle class America fits the profile of people who should think about a premarital agreement.

How to Approach the Subject

Timing is important. It’s best to do it before you get engaged. You also don’t want to broach the subject on your first date. Once the relationship gets serious you’ll want to discuss it. If you’ve been open and honest about the relationship then your potential spouse should be more open to receive it.

When you bring up the subject be very open and honest. It’s not very romantic but marriage is as much about realistic communication and compromise as it is romance.

Legal Benefits of a Prenup

Having a prenup can save you from a long and messy divorce. Without a prenup you can lose all the power of where your wealth goes and it may be decided by the courts. Who would you rather make decisions about where your wealth goes; you or the court system? An agreement should be considered especially if you live in one of the nine community property states where all assets that were collected during the marriage are split 50/50 even if one spouse did all the work.

Proper Procedure

Prenups can be virtually powerless if they are not constructed the right way following the correct guidelines. Director Steven Spielberg had a prenup but it was scribbled on a napkin and his wife had no lawyer. The result was that she got $100 million from him and they were married only four years.

You should use marriage attorneys to help you draft the document as they are familiar with the laws and how to write prenups. It is also important to get it all in writing and have it signed in front of your attorneys as witnesses. The bride and groom should get an original copy each with a third copy going to the attorneys.

Looking for something unique for your wedding? Want to throw a hipster celebration that is out of bounds and annihilates tradition? Below is the hipster’s guide to a hipster wedding. Here you will find helpful tips and modern ideas on how to throw the craziest hipster wedding this season.
• Ditch tradition
• Hip up the dress
• Incorporate art
• Location, location, location
• Let them eat cookies
• Hire a videographer
The first step to organizing and planning the hipster wedding is to think outside of the box. Getting rid of tradition is crucial when planning the modern and hip wedding. Think non-traditional and get to work. Dancing down the aisle to some upbeat and juvenile music may be just what the wedding planner ordered! In some cases, you may want to ditch the stuffy wedding planner and go out on a limb with your creativity.
Forget something borrowed and something blue. Step outside the box to something modern and something cute. Have your best friend design the invitations and incorporate her most artful designs. Hand-sketch a self-portrait on the invites, or backdrop to the podium. Your guests will love the self-professed talent you added to your wedding.
Stop by your college’s art classes and borrow a few paintings from art students to hang around the non-traditional venue you have chosen to wed in. The bright colors and abstract pieces will add personal flavor that will look great in photos.
The next step is to choose the right hipster dress. Again, think non-traditional. Here is where the personality of the bride comes into play. Long sheath dresses are modern and elegant yet have somewhat of an unkempt look about them – perfect for the hipster bride.
Mini-skirts and even leggings and tutus have become quite popular for the hipster wedding. Go all out and add some combat boots to the mix and your ensemble will be complete.
The wedding location is the most important part of the ceremony when putting together a hip wedding. Forget the church or the beach, and head for somewhere off the wall. Candy shops, ice cream parlors or even the Dollar Store provide the perfect location. Hipsters look for strange venues to exchange their lifetime vows.
Some of the strangest locations chosen by hipster couples have included a large tree house, McDonalds or Taco Bell, Starbucks, wax museums, or funeral halls. The stranger the better when it comes to planning the location.
Ditch the traditional tiered wedding cake and add another dessert, such as giant cookies or ice cream. Donuts or pie pops have become a popular dessert at any hipster wedding. Other favorites may be fruit skewers in strange shapes, wedding decorated donuts, or a large candy bar.
Have a table where guests can make their own ice cream sundaes or frost a giant chocolate chip cookie. Frozen yogurt bars and cupcake decorating tables will go over well with the guests and no one will leave the wedding with an empty stomach.
Food can be a little eccentric as well. Some hipsters have opted for the food to remain traditional and catered while others have saved money by preparing their own cuisine. Large barbecue pits or sushi bars complete with a sushi chef are a nice touch.
Time for pictures does not mean that traditional poses and stances need to be captured. Hiring a videographer adds a modern touch and captures the candid moments of the day. The video is fun to watch after the honeymoon and sending copies to the wedding party as gifts is something they will cherish forever.

Choosing a honeymoon destination can be one of the most important components of the wedding planning.  Newlyweds need someplace romantic, a place geared toward their personalities, and a location to make memories that will last a lifetime.  Below are the top ten honeymoon destinations that newlyweds would love to spend every waking and sleeping hour in.

• Tahiti

While not the most inexpensive destination, Tahiti is full of romance and tropical paradise that is attractive to any newlywed couple.  The Polynesian beauty can be seen throughout the landscape and many all-inclusive resorts know how to pamper their guests in style.  Staff is hospitable and the bungalows are romantic, what more could the newlyweds want.

• Hawaii

Wanting to stay in the United States, head to the Hawaiian Islands which are recognized as some of the most beautiful land in the world.  Crystal blue waters, lush rainforests, white sand beaches, Hawaiian cuisines, and amazing resorts offer everything the honeymooners could want.  The islands are full of activities, whether you want to spend the day swimming with dolphins or lying on the beach sipping cocktails, Hawaii has something for everyone to enjoy.

• Jamaica

Jamaica is known as being laid back and easy-going.  The way of life in Jamaica encompasses everything relaxing, which makes it a top destination for honeymooners.  Explore the waterfalls and bamboo forests by day and hopping clubs and pubs at night.  Jamaica is lively and fun in every way imaginable.

• Fiji

If you are looking for white sand and crystal blue waters scattered with palm trees, Fiji is the place to take your honeymoon.  There are over 300 islands to choose from and each is as pretty as the first.  Resorts abound on every island and honeymooners may choose from the lap of luxury complete with butler and wait servants to full-service accommodations.

• Mexico

Heading south of the border may be a little dangerous but safety comes in numbers.  Further south, popular honeymoon destinations are full of newlyweds looking for romantic times in Mexico.  The Baja coast is full of luxurious resorts and shopping abounds in the dining and retail districts.

• Bahamas

The Bahamas are a wonderful honeymoon destination because they are within close proximity to the United States.  Heading to the Bahamas provides tropical paradise accommodations without the hours and hours of air time.

• Italy

The most prominent European honeymoon destination is Italy.  Romance combined with class can be found in the land of love or as the Italians say, Amore!  Florence, Rome or the North Alps provide luxury at its finest and the food is in a ballpark all of its own.

• Antigua

The beautiful land of Antigua is a popular honeymoon destination because of its tropical paradise type landscape and warm climate.  Some of the most beautiful snorkeling reefs are found in Antigua and provide hours of entertainment.  The exquisite beaches offer a peaceful time of relaxation with your love one.

• St. Lucia

St. Lucia combines a little European mixture of France and the UK.  For the more active newlyweds who want to incorporate adventure into their time of relaxation, St. Lucia provides.  From rainforests to volcanoes, St. Lucia offers extensive hiking, snorkeling and exploration on its beautiful nature loving paradise.

• Dominican Republic

One of the most affordable honeymoon destinations that are anything but cheap in luxury is the Dominican Republic.  The island is large and has a good sized population of residents.  Due to its size, tourists can get great deals in the outdoor markets and shops.  The island is beautiful and one of the most popular for newlyweds.

Let’s face it, a lot of wedding customs are old and outdated and make no sense in the context of today’s society. Other newer customs don’t make any sense either and seem like ways for people to make a profit off of your wedding day. With all of the crazy wedding customs out there let’s sort through the ones that so many people do but don’t make any sense.

10. Throwing Stuff at the Newlyweds

Funny how such a formal event ends with the bride and groom getting blasted with rice, silly string or some other annoying item. Not only does it suck for the person who has to clean it up it can actually be a safety hazard. This silly tradition costs time and money because everyone who attends the wedding is supposed to get whatever item will be pelted at the lovely couple which means it has to be purchased and sorted. Besides all of those reasons it simply doesn’t make any sense at all.

9. Receiving Line

This tradition takes up a lot of time for the bride, groom and wedding party. The receiving line tradition entails every one of the guests to personally greet and congratulate the bride, groom and every single member of the entire wedding party. This is perhaps the most colossal waste of time ever. Save yourself, your wedding party and your guests and eliminate this needless tradition.

8. Having Bachelor Party Night Before the Wedding

No one says you can’t have a good time but it’s simply not practical at all to have a bachelor or bachelorette party the night before. Why would anyone in their right mind want to spend their wedding day hung over and feeling like garbage?

7. Lengthy Bachelor/Bachelorette Parties

The tradition of getting the wedding party to go on a great vacation together is mostly done in Britain but is gaining steam in the United States. It can be hard enough to clear schedules for a wedding let alone a whole week’s vacation. Although there are good intentions behind it these week long parties can put a serious drain on you and your wedding party’s finances and time.

6. Disposable Cameras on the Tables

This tradition is a big waste of money and time. Most people have their own digital camera and social networking sites that make it easy to get pictures. Most of the pictures end up blurry anyway.

5. Cake in the Face

This tradition is really cliché and a waste of great wedding cake.  It also has lead to more than one fight due to an unsuspecting bride or groom getting their face smeared with cake and having it immortalized on film and Facebook.

4. Sand in the Vase

This cheesy tradition has the bride and groom pouring separate containers of sand into one vase to represent their unity. It’s a lovely gesture but how much symbolism does one ceremony need.

3. Throwing Rice

This tradition seems a bit odd. It has its roots in ancient Roman history where they not only threw rice but shoes as well. Ouch!

2. Intertwining of Glasses to Drink Champagne

This tradition is cheesier than the sand ceremony. At no other place would it be acceptable for two people to intertwine their arms together and drink alcohol.

1. Something Old, Something New, Something Borrowed, Something Blue

Not only is this custom annoying to say but it has its roots in superstition and bad luck, which seems juvenile in today’s society. It sounds more like the description of a yard sale than a wedding tradition.

Most people spend their honeymoons in exotic and romantic locations like the Caribbean, Mexico or Europe. Others have their own ideas on what makes a romantic honeymoon. Below we delve into some odd honeymoon destinations.

10. The In-Laws

You’ve got your entire lives to spend with your in-laws so why spend your honeymoon with them? Talk about a buzz kill! Can you imagine trying to get romantic with your woman and your mom knocks on the door. Sounds like high school all over again.

9. Star Trek Convention

Some couples may find this romantic but chances are most brides would want to spend their time with you and not with Dr. Spock and Captain Kirk. If you take your wife here for your honeymoon consider yourself lucky to have gotten a woman to agree to marry you in the first place.

8. Disneyland

This is a great vacation but down the road when you have kids you can take. Somehow the thought of Mickey Mouse and Peter Pan doesn’t conjure up thoughts of romance.

7. Your Old Hometown

You might have had some great memories in your old hometown. If that’s the case you should probably relive your old glory days some other time. As interesting as it would be for your wife to hear how you scored three touchdowns in eight seconds in the sixth grade against your cross town rivals.  She probably would want to be relaxing on the beach in St. Croix.

6. Strip Club

What a better way to celebrate a holy, romantic covenant between you and the woman you are to spend your whole life with than watching a bunch of naked women dance around? What better way to spend the dollar bills that were hanging on the money tree at the wedding reception.

5. Poker Tournament

Just because you play seven card stud does not mean you are a stud. Taking your new wife to the local poker tourney has all the makings of an annulment. Even if it’s at a cool casino she probably doesn’t want to watch you lose your future children’s college fund in a matter of hours. Hopefully the place gives away free drinks so she can drown out her sorrows.

4. Sporting Event

Even if your wife is a diehard sports nut like you she is probably that way just because she knows you like it. Sporting events are great fun but how romantic is it for your wife to see you with a huge foam finger, a wig and your face painted green? If you take her somewhere she wants to go on the honeymoon maybe you can take her to that Nascar race on your 25^th wedding anniversary.

3. Hunting Excursion

Probably not the best place to take your animal loving wife on a hunting trip where defenseless animals get killed for the sheer fun of it. I’m sure your wife would enjoy bonding with you while carrying the carcass of a dead animal on her back.

2. Work Trip

Probably not a good idea using your work trip as a honeymoon. But who knows, maybe your wife will find a great breakout session to go to. You might save a lot of money but you might not be able to save your marriage.

1. Renaissance Fair/Civil War Re-enactment

The only other place where there might be more nerds is at the Trekky convention so this might actually work in your favor because you’ll look like a stud next to all the guys running around in green tights and civil war uniforms.

Planning a normal wedding can be stressful enough but what about a wedding in another country? Planning an exotic wedding has its own set of to-do’s but is not as bad as it sounds if you know what steps to take. Read on to find out what it takes to plan your dream wedding abroad.

1.   Select a Destination

When considering your destination you’ll want to take into consideration factors such as:

• Climate
• Exchange Rate
• Safety
• Accessibility

You’ll want to do some research so picking up a travel guide on the country you want to get married in is a good idea. International travel can be a bit trickier these days as safety concerns have increased. You also don’t want to arrive during the country’s hurricane season.

2.   Hire an International Wedding Coordinator

A wedding abroad is its own entity; far different than planning a wedding in your own city. You’d most likely hire a wedding coordinator if you were getting married locally so why would you not hire one for your wedding that’s taking place thousands of miles away in a country you may have never visited?

Delegating part of the responsibility to a wedding coordinator or travel agent can be a huge relief. They also serve as a safety net so nothing gets forgotten about. Their experience dealing with international travel will prove to be invaluable.

3.   Contact the Foreign Embassy

Getting married on foreign soil can have certain legal restrictions or requirements. In fact, getting married abroad does not necessarily mean when you get back home your marriage is recognized by the U.S. You’ll want to find out the requirements and restrictions if any. This is one of those tasks that can be delegated to the wedding planner.

4.   Select a Date

This sounds a little more complicated than circling a date on the calendar. You’ll need to factor in enough time for guests to be able to save as well as how much time you will need to make sure all the plans come together. Again, you’ll need to research what the weather is typically like during that time of year.

You also don’t want to go during busy tourist season and have Joe Tourist show up in every one of your wedding photos. Making sure that you are the only wedding going on at that time is also a good idea. You don’t want to be competing for space with another wedding party.

5.   Create a Budget

There’s travel, food, catering, fees and all those other things that need to be taken into consideration. Consider the exchange rate as well if the place does not accept the U.S. dollar.

6.   Wedding Services

Find dependable wedding service providers in the area such as florists, caterers and photographers. Ask the resort for a recommendation. This is one of the riskier parts about getting married abroad because you don’t have much recourse if the photos, food or flowers end up being poor quality.

7.   Secure Wedding Official

Are you going to have someone from your town such as a minister or pastor or are you going to have to secure someone at your destination? Either way, they’ll need to be booked in advance and they can cost substantial amount.

8.   Plan Transportation

Make it easy for your guests to make accommodations by having your coordinator research packages.

9.   Send out Invites Early

Invitations need to go out as early as possible. Sending them out at least nine months in advance is kosher. That gives people plenty of time to save and get time off of work, etc.

10.  Research Local Customs

Some couples incorporate some of the local traditions and wedding customs into their wedding. It shows great respect for their culture and provides a cool twist to the ceremony.