the buzz log

Come rain, sleet, or bad economy, the wedding will still go on. Like Pacific gray whales heading to Mexico, brides-to-be are migrating toward the Web to seek inspiration, deals, and um, prenups.

An iron vein of pragmatism runs through otherwise ivory-laced visions of wedding planning. Searches on Yahoo! for "prenuptial agreements" have percolated recently, a tender topic explored at a time when people are already feeling raw over the economy. The potentially affianced are checking for "free nuptial agreements," "sample nuptial agreement," and "prenuptial agreements checklist." While Askmen takes on a more protect-thyself-against-the-vultures tone, some may be considering if the whole concept's a bad idea ("prenuptial agreement negatives," "bad influence of prenuptial agreements") because it offers a pre-arranged escape route rather than locking couples into a I-do-or-die mindset.

As for those escape routes, some are reviewing pay-out clauses, which subs in a lump-sum cash-out rather than monthly alimony in an event of a divorce, and the infidelity dealbreaker. (Much more pragmatic than the prenups used as a kind of glorified new-life-resolutions package, like lose 50 pounds or no marital relations.)

While SFGate reported last year that "no reliable figures" exist for prenup popularity (and after all, marriage itself has been on the decline for decades), but couples are getting hitched at an older age, may have had a marriage or two already in their personal resume, and so have more assets to protect. Ultimately, though, prenups may just be one way for otherwise dreamy-eyed couples to reconcile their financial compatibility before the reality of the first credit card bill. A slightly romantic alternative that a handful have been exploring in Search: "irrevocable trust alternative to prenuptial."

In less pessimistic news, far more searches have spiked for more ceremonial fare, including "wedding venues" (+669%), "wedding cake designs" (+558%), and, naturally attracting the most online attention, the all-important bridal "wedding dress." The most popular outfit? Cheap, followed by Vera Wang-designed, Hawaiian-style, strapless, and black. Check out what other wedding-related searches have been stewing this past week:

Filed under: Finances, Weddings, Law

In a week of untempered remarks and a freefalling economy, the Buzz took time to coo over secret weddings and July babies.

I'm Sorry, Were You Listening to Me Speak?
Once in a great while, the desire to speak freely takes over a politician—it's just the timing isn't always right. That impulse hit former aspiring presidential candidate Jesse Jackson when he threatened Barack Obama's machismo during a Fox News interview break. The reverend, whose searches catapulted more than 35,000%, issued multiple mea culpas. And while Obama accepted the apology, Jackson's own son wasn't so forgiving. Meanwhile, contender John McCain put a 10-foot pole between himself and remarks made by former senator (and current adviser) Phil Gramm, who described America as a "nation of whiners." McCain apparently learned from the jab wife Cindy gave him after his Iran cigarette wisecrack, something President George Bush could have benefited from before his G8 Summit joke, "goodbye from the world's biggest polluter."

In Case You Didn't Notice the Recession
In another sign that the recession gods are miffed, the Dow dropped to a new two-year low after worries over new oil price highs and the precarious positions of mortgage lenders Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. More good news/bad news hit with a report that foreclosures this June were up 53% over June of 2007. As Congress inched closer this week to approving bailouts for homeowners, those trying to buy are finding lending practices far too onerous.

First Comes the Carriage...
OK! Magazine had a cover story with Jamie Lynn Spears revealing why motherhood is all worthwhile, without once mentioning the reported $1 million payoff for first pics of her baby. In new baby news, Nicole Kidman and Keith Urban (this week's sole wedded parents) sprayed their girl with whipped cream, sprinkled nuts, and plopped down a maraschino cherry. Well, OK, they just named her Sunday (as in the day) after she was born on Monday. Camila Alves and Matthew McConaughey named their Monday child Levi. Meanwhile, please stop bothering Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt.

...Then the Celebrity Marriage (and Divorce)
DeAnna Pappas ended this season of "The Bachelorette" with her choice, but she doesn't have to stick with him—as 2003 "Bachelor" Andrew Firestone showed in marrying Ivana "no-I'm-not-Jen-Schefft" Bozilovic. Among higher ranking celebrities, secret weddings were in, as in singer Olivia Newton-John's two ceremonies on the sly and Ethan Hawke's June wedding to his kids' former nanny. Hawke's ex-wife, Uma Thurman, celebrated her recent engagement and retracted her "I'll never get married" vow, now taken up by newly divorced Christie Brinkley.

Filed under: Weddings, Politics, Celebrities, Recaps, Housing, Babies, Week in Review, Economics