Every girl supposedly dreams of her fairytale wedding.

It turns out that the fantasy of a pouffy white dress, dramatic walk down the aisle, and a dozen bridesmaids in Vera Wang may actually be the dream of the bridal industry, which is profiting off all the chocolate fountains, personalized water bottles, and unity candles it can convince a budding Bridezilla to buy. Eluding the bridal guides and planners, and making a wedding your own can be unexpectedly challenging.

"I think it's because your wedding is a very important day and you want to do the right thing," says Rebecca Mead, … Read More

Nowhere do you find stranger bedfellows than in porn—and I'm not even talking about the performers. Seldom do feminists, fundamentalists and the federal government find themselves on common ground, but all three are currently united in an anti-porn ménage a trois. On the other side of the issue are free-speech advocates, porn stars and the 40 million Americans who, according to Internet Filter Review, regularly visit X-rated websites.

The only thing everyone agrees on? There's more porn now than ever, thanks to the wonders of technology.

Like most things, porn was a lot harder in the old days. Back then, … Read More

Sometime when I wasn't looking, Valentine's Day metamorphosed from a C-list kids' holiday, with pink and red candy and construction-paper hearts, into an extravaganza. The regular-person equivalent of Oscar Night, but instead of Best Picture or Best Supporting Actress, prizes are given for Best Achievement in the Acquisition of a Leading Man.

But what if you don't have a new pet "project" to promote or arm candy to show off? Better stay home rather than remind everyone that you couldn't land the role of girlfriend, even for one night. Cause being single is cause for as much mortification … Read More

A gorgeous, muscle-bound boyfriend? So last season! The most-wanted arm candy right now is fat, slobbering and breast-obsessed. Yes, babies have replaced boyfriends as the new "It" accessory in Hollywood. Already A-listers including Julia Roberts, Salma Hayek, Milla Jovovich, Keri Russell and Maggie Gyllenhaal have just gotten one; Halle Berry, Jessica Alba, Lily Allen, and Nicole Richie are on the waiting list, and Sheryl Crow and Meg Ryan adopted theirs.

Though the paparazzi breathlessly track every maternal milestone from bump to baby's first photo, one tiny little detail is consistently underplayed: the baby daddy. But, um…whatever! Boyfriends are like, so … Read More

I admit it, I love Bridget Jones. (In fact, I actually watched her in both the original and the sequel last weekend. For about the eleventh time.) Still, it irks me that celluloid spinsters are portrayed as losers (however hilarious) when I think that in real life, single women may be the lucky ones. In fact, I’m thankful I didn’t hook some nice pre-med guy in college, buy a four-bedroom house in the ’burbs, and start churning out kids (my mom’s fantasy).

What I got to do instead: live abroad (twice), become a writer, interview tons of celebrities—Jon Stewart’s even … Read More