From long-lost aunts and uncles to your father-in-law’s best friend’s cousin, it’s easy to let your wedding guest list spin out of control.

[credit provider=”Flickr / Tetra Pak” url=”http://www.flickr.com/photos/tetrapak/6498151289/in/photostream/”] It’s the wedding present nobody wants: a high tax bill, post-nuptials.Many unsuspecting couples—particularly those who earn similar and relatively high incomes—found that they owed more money together than they ever did separately when filing jointly for the first time this year.

[credit provider=”Michelle.Hayes via Flickr” url=”http://www.flickr.com/photos/mhayesphotos/3894886604/sizes/l/in/photostream/”] Marriage is full of financial surprises, and, for those considering it these days, there’s a new one —  falling into the net of the federal government’s dreaded Alternative Minimum Tax, AMT.And with more people qualifying for the tax that erases most deductions, you’d think older couples or […]

Even as gay couples continue to fight for their right to marry, the number of same-sex households has steadily risen over the last 10 years.

[credit provider=”Flickr / ndrgrnd -old account#1″ url=”http://www.flickr.com/photos/ndrgrnd/161909187/in/photostream/”] It’s a sad fact of life that not everyone’s faithful in their marriage. It’s not easy to catch someone in the act, but you can do some old-school sleuthing to figure it out. 

[credit provider=”20/20″ url=”http://abcnews.go.com/2020/transgender-widow-sued-husbands-family-benefits/story?id=11927705&page=4#.T6E-8MRYv-s”] When it comes to same-sex marriage, there’s a reason gay couples aren’t flocking to Texas. Take Nikki Araguz’s story: Two years after marrying her husband, a firefighter, he was killed in the line of duty in 2010. But when she turned to the state to collect his death benefits, […]

A survey of 30,000 men and women found nearly 70 per cent of both sexes believe lying about money is just as detrimental to the relationship as infidelity, according to TODAY.com. 

Flickr via mike_miley

[credit provider=”AP Images”] Egyptian women’s groups are attempting to block controversial new laws that would allow husbands to have “farewell intercourse” with their dead wives, Al Arabiya reports.The law would mean that husbands are legally entitled to have sex with their wife six hours after her death.

[credit provider=”Wikipedia” url=”http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/9/91/Unfaithful_movie.jpg”] Money can’t buy you love, apparently.According to the New York Post, the richest neighborhoods in the New York are are also the ones with the most cheating spouses.

[credit provider=”ConnorTreacy/ Flickr” url=”http://www.flickr.com/photos/connortreacy/173385322/in/photostream/”] In a recent article, Wall Street Journal’s Sue Shellenbarger took a deeper look at how student loans have altered graduates’ decisions to start a family after college. One story in particular stood out: A couple said the $74,000 in student loans they took out as undergraduates has forced […]

[credit provider=”CNBC” url=”http://video.cnbc.com/gallery/?video=3000074380#eyJ2aWQiOiIzMDAwMDc0MzgwIiwiZW5jVmlkIjoiNkdDMk9RcXVqZFlMdk1mVzJkdDd5Zz09IiwidlRhYiI6InRyYW5zY3JpcHQiLCJ2UGFnZSI6MSwiZ05hdiI6WyLCoExhdGVzdCBWaWRlbyJdLCJnU2VjdCI6IkFMTCIsImdQYWdlIjoiMSIsInN5bSI6IiIsInNlYXJjaCI6IiJ9″] Sallie Krawcheck’s Q&A in next month’s issue of women’s magazine Marie Claire has just hit newsstands.In the piece, the former president of global wealth and investment management at Bank of America Merrill Lynch — who was unceremoniously ousted from her post last September — shared her No. […]

[credit provider=”Gert Eggenberger/dapd”] It’s never too late in life to fall in love.At least, that’s 94-year-old Austrian billionaire Karl Wlaschek’s view on life. Wlaschek plans to marry for the fifth time this week, according to The Vienna Times.

[credit provider=”Northfoto / Shutterstock” url=”http://www.shutterstock.com/gallery-895366p1.html”] The idea that moving in together before marriage is a recipe for divorce is becoming more antiquated than ever, new research shows.In “First Marriages in the U.S.,” the CDC surveyed more than 22,000 men and women to see how many wound up getting divorced between 2006 and […]

[credit provider=”Fox News”] We’re really into the general election now. Last night on CNN a semi-obscure advisor to Democrats, Hilary Rosen, said that Mitt shouldn’t really listen to his wife about the needs of women because, “Guess what, his wife has actually never worked a day in her life”

[credit provider=”Flickr / Mjnh Nguyen” url=”http://www.flickr.com/photos/mjnhnguyen/5916905697/in/photostream/”] Wedding season is here again, and brides and grooms everywhere are busy calculating the expenses of their big day.When you’re paying for your wedding expenses, you might decide to use a credit card to enjoy some of the rewards.

[credit provider=”Flickr / wirralwater (not very good but enjoy it)” url=”http://www.flickr.com/photos/wirralwater/3292918605/in/photostream/”] Two years ago, Jessica Vega, 25, claimed she was dying of acute myeloid leukemia and wanted to marry Michael O’Connell, the father of her daughter, according to the Times Herald-Report. A news segment on the couple inspired an outpouring of donations and services. […]

Here’s a website Kim Kardashian’s wedding guests probably wish had been around last year: WeddingGiftRefund.com.

[credit provider=”Flickr / calleecakes” url=”http://www.flickr.com/photos/calleephoto/5091703712/in/photostream/”] Money is the leading cause of marital and relationship troubles.40% of married couples have serious, recurring arguments about money, according to Matt Bell, author of “Planning for Fewer Fights with Your Spouse.”

After walking down the aisle, NPR reporter Caitlin Kenney was convinced she’d overpaid for her mass-produced gown.

[credit provider=”poochynooch / cake central” url=”http://cakecentral.com/gallery/1219391″] If you need help discovering “How To Be A Single Dad And A Single Dude Again,” New York is throwing its first-ever Divorce Expo to aid you, according to The Wall Street Journal.This weekend at the Metropolitan Pavilion in Chelsea, “Start Over Smart: A […]

[credit provider=”Flickr / Sami Taipale” url=”http://www.flickr.com/photos/staipale/2286643578/in/photostream/”] The enormous well-being and happiness dividends of a strong intimate relationship can be erased by the damage that can occur when a partner is lost through death or a difficult break-up.The death of a spouse, in particular, can literally be a killer, especially if […]

[credit provider=”Human Rights Campaign/Screenshot”] Late Monday night, the Human Rights Campaign released confidential strategic memos from the National organisation for Marriage, the nation’s leading group advocating against gay marriage.The memos, from 2009, detail the group’s overall strategy to combat proponents of same-sex marriage. The documents were released as part of […]

[credit provider=”Flickr / petyr.rahl” url=”http://www.flickr.com/photos/petyr/5900656881/in/photostream/”] Couples on a budget are forgoing traditional weddings for blowout elopements with all the trimmings of traditional weddings, but none of the guests. But rather than saving money, eloping just for show—i.e. for the pictures you can later post online—can be just as extravagant as the […]

Flickr / girl_onthe_les

[credit provider=”Christopher Phin / Flickr” url=”http://www.flickr.com/photos/chrisphin/5109355/”] They say wisdom grows with age, but that might not be the case when it comes to marriage.The divorce rate among couples aged 50 and up has no less than doubled between 1990 and 2009, driving researchers in search of the reason why.

Mitt and Ann Romney are celebrating their 43rd wedding anniversary today, a day after Mitt trounced the competition in the Illinois primary. Here is the message he just posted on Twitter celebrating the occasion: 

The US Census has put together an infographic on how America has changed since 1940. It’s practically a different country.

[credit provider=”Flickr / Kevin McShane” url=”http://www.flickr.com/photos/lobraumeister/6210610760/in/photostream/”] Couples drop money on some pretty ridiculous stuff for their special day— and it all adds up.We talked to wedding planners across the country to get their take on what items your wedding won’t miss.

[credit provider=”Wikimedia Commons” url=”http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:RCC_2008_Day_3_-_1.JPG”] If you thought that the couch was the only deliverance from your snoring spouse, a more comfortable option is now available.At Sun City Shadow Hills, an adult community in Indio, CA, couples can have an auxiliary bedroom connected to the bathroom of their master bedroom, according […]

[credit provider=”By NeoGaboX Flickr” url=”http://www.flickr.com/photos/neogabox/3969921829/sizes/z/in/photostream/”] While we can’t tell you whom to marry, we can help steer you clear of the type of woman you should avoid.Yesterday’s piece in the NYTimes about predicting celebrity marriage failure presented an interesting statistic on women and marriage. A psychologist who studies relationships at […]

[credit provider=”THR/MattHamill”] Ah, Hollywood: the place where dreams come true, where love knows no bounds—especially when it comes to age.Dick Van Dyke, 86, has just wed his 40-year-old makeup artist girlfriend, Arlene Silver.

[credit provider=”Flickr / Mr. Cook” url=”http://www.flickr.com/photos/nashcook/5918842031/in/photostream/”] A wedding is one of the biggest milestones in a couple’s relationship, but it can also be the most expensive. In fact, the average American wedding rings in at a whopping $26,951. 

[credit provider=”Flickr via noellachoi” url=”http://www.flickr.com/photos/noellachoi/3847112824/”] The rate of couples backpedaling down the aisle in the U.S. shows no signs of slowing and states across the map are dusting off their law books to ease the process for consumers.The average divorce costs about $20,000 but not all states – or even […]

[credit provider=”Flickr / pengrinâ„¢” url=”http://www.flickr.com/photos/pengrin/176704775/sizes/m/in/photostream/”] The engagement ring is on, the date’s been set, the venue is selected and now you think you’re ready to have a wedding. You’re so not.
Just because a couple has decided to share one of the most important moments of their lives with a few […]

Flickr / finnur.malmquist

Flickr / Kansas Explorer 3128

[credit provider=”Flickr/rosengrant” url=”http://www.flickr.com/photos/rosengrant/3402498732/sizes/z/in/photostream/”] It’s easy enough to divvy up books after a split, but how do you draw a line down the middle of a living, breathing being – your pet?In “What About Wally? CO-PARENTING A PET WITH YOUR EX”, two experts in law and animal care wade through the […]

[credit provider=”Flickr/Najots” url=”http://www.flickr.com/photos/[email protected]/3524817561/sizes/z/in/photostream/”] When Heather Silverman*, 33, met her future husband, Brian*, he made no bones about being a high-roller. He pulled in a six-figure salary at a major investment firm and loved surprising her with luxury gifts – a BMW after her son’s birth (big red bow and all) and a […]

[credit provider=”Flickr / rileyroxx” url=”http://www.flickr.com/photos/rileyroxx/1492074210/in/photostream/”] I am wondering if you married your perfect match. Does a perfect match in a relationship really exist, or to a certain extent are we always compromising to be with our loved one?Personal goals and money views are only two small aspects in every relationship, […]

Yesterday, we wrote about a paper on the relationship between having a high IQ and investing. It turns out that people with high IQs are better at diversifying, and have less-risky portfolios.

[credit provider=”Amber Cebull “] Making the wrong money moves can send a couple to Splitsville, but you don’t have to become another statistic. Your Money spoke with happy couples who got past their financial hurdles, and asked them to share their stories.  

[credit provider=”AP”] Does your wife love you this much?According to The NY Post, high powered Upper West Side lawyer Mitchell Schecter was pleasantly surprised (to put it mildly) when his wife won his ultimate prize in a CharityBuzz.com auction to benefit MSG’s Garden of Dreams charity.

[credit provider=”Flickr / notsogoodphotography ” url=”http://www.flickr.com/photos/notsogoodphotography/2545928202/sizes/m/in/photostream/”] Once upon a time (in America), marriage seemed like the logical next step every woman eventually took.But with marriage rates declining steeply, that fairy tale has been untrue for some time now.

[credit provider=”Flickr / jenniferlstoddart” url=”http://www.flickr.com/photos/jenniferlstoddart/721223977/sizes/m/in/photostream/”] It may not be a good thing that homeownership rates are soaring among single women.Wall Street Journal contributor Kate Bolick says probably isn’t worth the emotional and financial investment:

 

[credit provider=”Instant Vantage on flickr” url=”http://www.flickr.com/photos/instantvantage/6098085011/”] Asian couples, including mixed couples with either an Asian husband or wife, dominated the combined earnings in 2010, out-earning other mixed couples by $10,000, according to The Rise of Intermarriage study by the Pew Research centre.  [credit provider=”Pew Research centre” url=”http://www.pewsocialtrends.org/files/2012/02/Intermarriage-II.pdf”] Pure Asian couples earned on […]

[credit provider=”Wikipedia”] This post originally appeared at Luxpresso. If you are thinking about popping the question, online travel advisor cheapflights.com has come up with a list of the top 10 places to propose that may help you to get the romance and that “Wow!” factor just right.

We’d probably be hard-pressed to find a wife or girlfriend who’s never hidden a new pair of shoes from her penny-pinching partner – or vice versa. 

All Things Digital associate editor Drake Martinet just proposed to Stacy Green, Mashable‘s vp/marketing and communications, through the ad nerd’s over-used medium of choice: an infographic.

[credit provider=”AP”] This post originally appeared at The Raw Story.New Jersey state senators voted Monday to approve a bill that would extend the right to marry to same sex couples, sending the bill to the Assembly at-large for final approval.

[credit provider=”Flickr / Lee J Haywood” url=”http://www.flickr.com/photos/leehaywood/5155118544/sizes/m/in/photostream/”] Even if she risks marrying down, getting a college degree is still a smart investment for women, according to New York Times’ Stephanie Coontz.  The “success” penalty of the mid-20th century—when fewer men desired educated women—is being reversed. Today men rank booksmarts right […]

[credit provider=”Flickr/ernop” url=”http://www.flickr.com/photos/kouchi/1012335287/”] Among single women in China, the most desirable profession for a man is civil servant, ranking above careers in banking and medicine, according to a new survey from Chinese dating website zhenai.com, ChinaHush reports.The preference for civil servants, or staff members of government administrative departments, is a […]

[credit provider=”Flickr/Melissa O’Donohue” url=”http://www.flickr.com/photos/melle_oh/2866837996/sizes/z/in/photostream/”] The cost associated with getting married goes far beyond the thousand-dollar wedding gown and luxury honeymoon cruise. There’s also that thing that happens after you walk down the aisle to consider: Life. 

[credit provider=”Flickr/artbandito” url=”http://www.flickr.com/photos/artbandito/1206965912/sizes/m/in/photostream/”] I’ve received numerous e-mails from readers about money questions that they’ve had. However, one in particular stood out to me because it was about marriage and finances–particularly, where do you draw the line when it comes to financial transparency between you and your spouse? Hiding Money from Your Spouse Mitch (not his […]

[credit provider=”Flickr / JackSim” url=”http://www.flickr.com/photos/jacksim/28194894/sizes/m/in/photostream/”] You’re still hearing wedding bells, but don’t let the honeymoon phase distract you from reality.Money is a huge factor in relationships and if you don’t tackle it from the start, it can start to shake the cornerstones of your marriage.

[credit provider=”flickr”] Follow @bakadesuyo There are factors that predict divorce. Sometime relationships dissolve over simple everyday stress. There are things you should look for in a marriage partner and thinking the two of you are similar is key to it working out. Physical attractiveness and weight definitely affect how happy […]

Cold feet and money lies aren’t the only things keeping Americans from walking down the aisle. 

[credit provider=”Flickr / almoko” url=”http://www.flickr.com/photos/motrenko/259920797/sizes/m/in/photostream/”] Middle-income parents will spend nearly $227,000 in 17 years for children born in 2010, according to the United States Department of Agriculture. But don’t let that scare you—saving for a family can actually be fun if you know what you’re doing. 

Valentine’s Day may be just around the corner, but more Americans are single than ever before, with 39 per cent (4 in 10) actually saying marriage has become obsolete, according to a new infographic by Pew Research.

  FINANCIAL ADVICE FOR EVERY COUPLE Whether you’re giddy newlyweds or lifelong partners in crime, this guide will help you navigate the most critical decisions you’ll face as a couple, from starting a family to buying your very first home.

Grace Wyler/Business Insider

Grace Wyler/Business Insider

The growing divide between rich and poor white Americans is studied in a new book called Coming Apart by Charles Murray.

The life of a homemaker is one that includes an endless amount of demands and to-dos. Depending on the size of the home and family, the position of homemaker can go well beyond the usual nine to five.

Nothing can throw a Kardashian-sized wet blanket over wedding bell bliss like talk of a prenuptial agreement. 

[credit provider=”C-SPAN”] Barney Frank will marry Jim Ready, his partner of six years, in Massachusetts, Frank’s office has confirmed. Frank was the first member of Congress to volunteer that he was gay, and if the marriage occurs before the end of his last term, it would be the first same-sex marriage […]

[credit provider=”thewind. via flickr” url=”http://www.flickr.com/photos/thewind/2681880907/”] Moving in together as a couple is more than deciding who gets the “good side” of the bed and finding the best spot to stash the PlayStation. Not only will you be sharing household bills and probably setting up joint bank account, but you’ll also get […]

[credit provider=”coolshots” url=”http://www.flickr.com/photos/coolshots/”] File this one under “Sad but true.” The old American Dream of prancing down the wedding aisle and straight into your dream home has quickly become a thing of the past.

[credit provider=”piretyjoe via flickr” url=”http://www.flickr.com/photos/[email protected]/4150817881″] We tend to shove unpleasant possibilities into the back of our minds. But the truth is, you can’t afford to assume you’ll never have to deal with a true worst-case scenario.

 

We honestly spent the afternoon thinking this column, by Dr. Keith Ablow, was some kind of elaborate joke by Fox News. 

[credit provider=”Bowman77 on flickr” url=”http://www.flickr.com/photos/lubro/6199146900/”] When it comes to marriage or a long-term domestic partnership, the whole “What’s mine is yours” idea isn’t always the wisest way to approach your finances.That doesn’t mean there isn’t a way to make joint bank accounts work, but Dr. Taffy Wagner, CEO of Money […]

[credit provider=”kronick_” url=”http://www.flickr.com/photos/kronick_/3625088821/sizes/m/in/photostream/”] It’s the other B-word that puts couples in a tizzy: budget. And for those preparing to start a family or buy a home, lacking one can wreak havoc on their finances. 

[credit provider=”drewleavy” url=”http://www.flickr.com/photos/drewleavy/5651663656/sizes/m/in/photostream/”] While many women put off buying a home because they are waiting for a family, a better job or simply out of fear, you might be surprised to find that home ownership rates are higher for single women than single men. As of November 2011, the National […]

[credit provider=”Wikimedia Commons” url=”http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Wedding_chapels_Las_Vegas.jpg”] The New Jersey assembly passed a bill this week that would eliminate the three-day waiting period for marriage licenses in the state, according to The Star-Ledger.The bill has to be passed by the Senate before it can become a law, but what this means in the […]

Remember this (sort of) hit “Love Is The Drug” music video from British rock band, Roxy Music? Yeah, neither do we. And while Roxy music hasn’t been making much of it lately, the band’s frontman, Bryan Ferry, is in the news today for another reason– marrying his son’s ex-girlfriend! Ferry, […]

[credit provider=”fdmount” url=”http://www.flickr.com/photos/fdmount/2837896543/sizes/m/in/photostream/”] Planning for disaster is a part of any good relationship that many couples forget.”A lot of people have their finances set up as if nothing will ever happen, but of course that isn’t how reality works” says T. Rowe Price financial planner Stuart Ritter. “Things happening is […]

[credit provider=”AP Images” url=”http://www.apimages.com/OneUp.aspx?st=k&kw=stiglitz&showact=results&sort=relevance&intv=None&sh=10&kwstyle=and&adte=1325437686&pagez=60&cfasstyle=AND&rids=c0f3a6ba3e114c318ea11ba90dede106&dbm=PY2009&page=1&xslt=1&mediatype=Photo”] Financially independent, college-educated individuals are much more likely to marry than those with only high-school diplomas, according to a Pew Study cited by New York magazine’s Molly Langmuir.Langmuir’s latest article, which appears in the current issue of the magazine, captures some playful banter between Nobel prize-winning […]

[credit provider=”Daniel Goodman / Business Insider”] A 99-year-old Italian man is divorcing his 96-year-old wife after discovering that she conducted an affair in the 1940s, reports the Telegraph. The couple have been together for 77 years, but time was no healer when the husband, referred to by Italian lawyers as Antonio […]

With the Iowa caucuses still very much up for grabs, Republican presidential hopefuls are loathe to miss out a campaign opportunity, even as conservatives cozy up for Christmas with their families and their faith.

[credit provider=”ididjeridoo” url=”http://www.flickr.com/photos/ididjeridoo/3719761929/sizes/m/in/photostream/”] Over the last few weeks, several friends, family members and acquaintances have gotten engaged which of course has prompted discussions around wedding planning and the inevitable, how much will all of this cost?  Your wedding should be memorable, but it shouldn’t break the bank.  Check out the […]

[credit provider=”pottedmeatchunks / cake central” url=”http://cakecentral.com/gallery/1242711″] Divorces are difficult for everyone involved – not just the emotional turmoil, but also the financial toll. Thankfully, both ex-partners can take some steps to come out of the proceedings in the best financial situation possible. Much of it depends on timing. I hope […]

[credit provider=”Old Shoe Woman / flickr” url=”http://www.flickr.com/photos/judybaxter/3416159533/”] The percentage of Americans over the age of 18 who are married has dropped from 57% in 2000 to 51% in 2011, meaning married people could soon be in the minority.To fully understand marriage trends in the U.S., researchers examine different marriage patterns, […]

[credit provider=”Getty / Mike Stobe”] Would you like to marry Russia’s third richest man, the owner of the New Jersey Nets, and possibly (though, let’s face it, probably not) the next-President of Russia?Still unsure? OK we’ll throw in the fact that he is six-foot-eight tall and was described by Russia […]

Fewer and fewer Americans are walking down the aisle, according to a new study from the Pew Research centre.

The sanctimony of marriage has lost its luster in modern society, with some couples’ wedding bliss ending just 72 days after it began.

[credit provider=”Daniel Goodman / Business Insider”] Nearly a quarter of married Americans would hide affairs from their spouse, a recent study suggests. OK, they’re talking about financial affairs – but those can lead to divorce just like the sexual kind.A recent press release from the National Foundation for Credit Counseling […]

[credit provider=”erjkprunczyk via Flickr” url=”http://www.flickr.com/photos/[email protected]/5375244065/sizes/z/in/photostream/”] Financial abuse is something that we rarely hear about since it is often insidious and wrapped up in the confines of an abusive relationship.  Very rarely do the women in these relationships speak of the issue because of the shame attached to having to account […]

UPDATE:

An anonymous group called “Iowans for Christian Leaders in Government” just released a brutal web video hitting GOP front-runner Newt Gingrich on his three marriages.

Herman Cain is heading back to Atlanta today to face his wife Gloria for the first time since news broke about Cain’s alleged 13-year affair with Atlanta businesswoman Ginger White.

Recently a viral video broke out on the Internet: In a crowded subway, a woman was angrily cursing at a man, apparently her boyfriend, sitting next to her.

After weeks of resilient denials, 2012 upstart Herman Cain finally admitted that his embattled campaign is on the rocks today, telling senior staffers that he is “reassessing” his bid in light of new allegations that he conducted a 13-year extramarital affair with an Atlanta woman.

Whether separation is just the first step toward divorce:

[credit provider=”Wikimedia Commons” url=”http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Life_is_difficult.JPG”] To celebrate China’s Singles Day, a list of the 11 occupations most likely to leave a person single was created.Poets take the cake this year, with secretaries and lawyers following close behind.

[credit provider=”360Buy.com” url=”http://ilike.360buy.com/ilike/clothing956007/index.html#fushi”] Update: Within 21 minutes, Taobao had already processed over 200 million Yuan ($31.5 million) in purchases.The sudden overload of shoppers actually crashed their payment system for about an hour and a half, according to Taobao’s Weibo. 

After Stephanie Walker’s husband lost his job in 2008, the couple faced foreclosure on their $799,000 mid-century, modern dream home in Los Angeles. So they gave up the home, with a view of the Hollywood sign, and declared bankruptcy. But these huge obstacles didn’t threaten their marriage. “It is because of our […]

Yeah, we hate to break it to you, but the Kardashian–Humphries divorce saga is stretching into another week, as the pair met up for marriage counseling.