9,000 Plan Olympic Weddings

... at least when marrying a foreign bride

(NEWSER) - Men in South Korea who wish to marry a foreign woman are now required to enroll in courses designed to teach them how to be a good husband to a non-Korean bride, reports the Christian Science Monitor . The mandatory lessons come on the heels of a surge in failed marriages among middle-aged men and their younger spouses who hail from Vietnam, the Philippines, Cambodia, and Mongolia. More»

'Would you like a bride with that?'

(NEWSER) - Hong Kong couples can now celebrate their union at McDonald's, reports CNN . Starting in January, several branches will offer wedding packages complete with baked apple pie wedding cakes, party favors, bridesmaid dresses made of balloons (you read that right) and, presumably, the sweet, sweet smell of a Big Mac. Booze won't be available, but the newlyweds can toast the occasion with soft drinks or milkshakes. More»

She may be on gay marriage's losing side, but she's a viral video sensation

(NEWSER) - The New York state senate voted down gay marriage yesterday, but the debate created a big winner on the losing side: viral video darling Diane Savino, who's taking the blogosphere by storm. "Savino for President 2016!" Lindsay Robertson writes for Jezebel . In just over 7 minutes, the Staten Island Democrat reveals her expertise in politics, public speaking—though she acknowledges being nervous—pop culture, and relatable humor. "We have nothing to fear from love and commitment," she concludes. Watch it above. More»

Economy

(NEWSER) - With the economy slicing through earnings and savings, dream weddings are colliding with financial realities—resulting in trims to the guest list, and thorny problems choosing who makes the cut, the Boston Globe reports. The average guest list has shrunk to 139 this year, from 166 in 2007, analysts say; total costs have dropped to an average of $21,814 from $28,704 in 2007. More»

(NEWSER) - A new luxury hotel in Beijing went up in flames today as nearby crowds watched a fireworks show for the end of the Lunar New Year, CNN reports. An explosion of flames erupted from the top of the newly built, unoccupied building as fire engulfed all 44 stories. The cause is unknown, but sources say fireworks may have sparked the blaze, the AP reports. Click the image to view a slide show of the fire. More»