After being a bridesmaid seven times, single gal Jeri Vatne, 38, has opinions on big weddings, bridesmaid dresses, and how the media treats the lost demographic of single women her age.

Fair division of household labor -- will it lead to a happier marriage and more sex? SMWD discusses the findings in Neil Chethik's book VOICEMALE.

You're getting married - should you change to your husband's name? Hyphenate? Make up a whole new name? And what happens if you get divorced - do you change back? According to SMWD's guest, Claudia Goldin, author of "Making a Name: Women's Surnames at Marriage and Beyond," today's brides aren't thinking about social change.

Marital status in the news this April 2006 includes: Single: Do other people define you by your marital status? Married: The U-shaped curve of marital happiness has been debunked. Widowed: Just say no to jumping on husband's funeral pyre. Divorced: Celebrity splits. Links to news items: SINGLE Does your marital status define you? Writer Amy Klein of the “Jewish Journal of Greater Los Angeles� www.jewishjournal.com/home/preview.php?id=15744 Saying yes to more dates Newsday’s Pat Burson reviews “The Year of Yes� by Maria Dahvana Headley www.orlandosentinel.com/features/lifestyle/orl-yeswoman06apr24,0,4499371.story?coll=orl-living-headlines MARRIED U-shaped curve of marital happiness debunked www.sciam.com/article.cfm?chanID=sa006&colID=19&articleID=000EC8FA-800F-13F3-800F83414B7F0101 WIDOWED India cracks down on widow burning www.metimes.com/articles/normal.php?StoryID=20060425-044711-5519r