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: