Planning Your Wedding: The 10 Biggest Pre-Wedding Mistakes

Even the smartest, most on-top-of-things couple can make mistakes during wedding planning. Here are the 10 things you should keep an eye on before saying I do.
1. Blowing off your budget
It costs a lot of money to put on a wedding. Many excited brides start booking vendors and making purchases without having a real budget, and then they're shocked to discover they've spent all of their money (or their parents' money) and still don't have half the things they need. If you bounce checks, don't have the money to pay your deposits, or make your final payments past your vendors' deadlines, your wedding will not happen as you have planned. The flowers won't be delivered, your cake will not be decorated, and the band will not play all night -- unless you pay up. Planning a wedding is serious business. Make a budget and keep track of your expenditures.
2. Ordering the wedding gown and/or bridesmaid dresses late
If going for a traditional bridal gown, brides need to place their orders six to eight months before their weddings. Most gowns are made to order; if you wait too long before your wedding date to make your selection, the gown simply may not be ready in time. Bridesmaid dresses should also be decided upon during the same time period, but only after the gown has been selected. You want to make sure your ladies have enough time to get measured and find accessories.
3. Procrastinating on that prenuptial...
It is a reality these days that people -- even brides -- have assets they want to protect. (This is particularly prevalent now that there are so many second marriages where a bride or groom may have children to whom they want their assets to go in case of death.) Leaving the discussion of a prenuptial agreement until the week before the wedding is a sure-fire way to increase the stress level by ten thousand percent -- and endanger the impending marriage. So deal with this potentially sticky issue months in advance
4. Messing up the marriage license
There are so many rules around marriage licenses that brides are bound to make mistakes. Be sure to investigate time restrictions well in advance of your wedding date. Get your license 31 days before in some states -- and you won't be able to legally marry on your wedding day because it may be valid for only 30 days. Go for your license the day before your wedding and you may not get it in time, because some states have a 48-hour waiting period. Another common mess-up if you're remarrying is not having official divorce papers in time to get the certificate.
5. Booking guest hotel rooms too late
Brides often leave blocking out hotel rooms for out-of-town guests until the last minute. If you're marrying in a city (particularly one where conventions take place) or in a resort town and you don't investigate hotel availability in advance, you can literally end up with not a single room for any of your guests to stay in. Your wedding might go on -- but no one will be able to attend. Reserve a room block as early as possible, up to a year in advance.
6. Inviting too many guests
Make sure your guest list and your reception site match numbers-wise. You can't invite 400 people assuming only 250 will RSVP with a yes -- because if 300 happen to say yes, you may have to turn 50 away at the door. Sites can't just add 10 more tables, as fire laws limit the maximum number of people in any room at one time. To avoid this, assume eighty percent will respond yes and limit your guest list accordingly.
7. Last-minute beauty blunders
Many brides think that scheduling chemical peels the week before their weddings will leave their skin looking angelic on their big days. Others think having their teeth bleached within days of their weddings will leave those pearly whites sparkling. Thinking of tanning the day before your wedding? Think again: You may end up with blisters instead of sun-kissed skin. Last-minute beauty treatments can lead to breakouts, mistakes, or -- even worse -- serious infections. Start a long-term beauty regimen months before the big day and focus on natural and common-sense measures such as eating a healthy diet and exercising, or you could risk ruining all the hard work you've done to make your wedding -- and photos -- perfect. (Never mind putting your health and happiness at risk for the most important day of your life.)
8. Underpaying postage on invites
You'd be surprised how many brides just stick a stamp on their invites and drop them in a letterbox. All but a few wedding invitations require additional postage. The postal service will not take pity on you -- your invites will be returned (and rubber-stamped with that ugly "insufficient postage" message) -- and it will take at least two weeks (never mind the additional $$) to get them back out the door. Be sure to get one complete invitation weighed at the post office before purchasing all your stamps.
9. Ignoring religious restrictions
If you plan on marrying in a house of worship, you need to abide by the rules. Wearing inappropriate attire or not completing pre-wedding requirements is grounds for your officiant to stop your wedding before it begins. As soon as you get engaged, be sure to contact your house of worship to find out about any potential issues. Some houses of worship won't let you marry on certain holy dates; make sure to check your wedding date with your officiant before putting down any deposits for your reception site or vendors.
10. Ignoring weather warnings
Brides marrying outdoors often test fate and just wish for the best when it comes to bad weather. Always have a backup plan -- you may not have a place to marry at all, or your guests (and you) may be in misery at the hands of Mother Nature. Temperatures normally around the balmy 70-degree mark may unexpectedly turn into a boiling 100-degree debacle; be sure to have outdoor air-conditioning. A hurricane, flashflood, or gale force winds may visit on your wedding day; make sure you have an interior alternative or a tent as a back-up location.

Reflections on the 2010 Muslim Congress

I was told by several people that the Saturday night poetry slam would be the highlight of the 2010 Muslim Congress conference in Miami, Florida, but I assumed that the brothers were embellishing. While I was honored when asked to participate, and humbled to recite verses alongside such talented artists as Ebrahim Mohseni and Hamza Perez (of "New Muslim Cool" fame), I figured the enthusiasm I was told the slam would generate was an exaggeration. Turns out I was wrong. As featured poet Yahya Naqvi eloquently stated later on, "Poets are the voice of the deen. They are the articulation of the scholars and martyrs."
On July 3, 2010, they were also the articulation of the Shia Muslim community in North America, including the 1,000-plus in attendance at the conference. Indigenous and immigrant, young and old, male and female alike, all with unique experiences and outlooks, were on their feet at the end of the slam, in appreciation of not just the poets' skilled wordplay, but also for what the words stood for: Qur'an and Ahlul Bayt (peace be upon them) – the Final Testament and the Final Testimony (the theme of this year's conference).
A first-timer at MC, I arrived at the Hyatt Regency with positive but unclear expectations. My main goal was simply to connect with fellow Muslims from around the nation, many of whom I knew only from social networking sites (as Malcolm Lateef Shabazz, grandson of Malcolm X and also a newcomer to MC, stated earlier in the weekend, "Facebook is a monster"). Thankfully this was a goal that I achieved. What I didn't expect to experience was almost a culmination of a brief but eventful journey that began with taking Shahadah in 2003. After roughly three years of practicing Islam according to the Hanafi madhab, my introduction to the school of the Ahlul Bayt (peace be upon them) came around the same time I took an interest in what some might term as "political Islam". This had as much to do with personal experiences, including my job as a youth counselor in Massachusetts group homes, as it did with current world events. Quite simply, I began to search for an Islam that addressed all matters of everyday life, the Islam taught by Imam Khomeini, whose book "Islam and Revolution" became a favorite of mine during that period. This search for the "Pure Islam" of the Ahlul Bayt was a common thread amongst all attendees.
From attorney John Floyd's advising Muslims on how to handle FBI harassment, to Council of American-Islam Relations (CAIR) spokesman Dawud Walid's assessment of the Obama administration's handling of Muslim issues, to MC mainstay Abdul Alim Musa's shared  remarkable life story, lectures and workshops provided practical solutions. Other sessions discussed solutions to social problems as well as issues of Islamic jurisprudence. I had the opportunity to briefly sit in on a late-night session conducted by Shaikh Ja'far Muhibullah. Shaikh Ja'far addressed a room full of twentysomethings on day-to-day interactions between the genders in the workplace and at universities. He fielded questions right into the wee hours from young brothers and sisters. In providing a solution for these youth, a "Heavenly Match" forum where singles searched for suitable marriage partners under the supervision of scholars was offered.
One forum which packed the room was the "Shia Manifesto", conducted by Shaikh Hamza Sodogar and Shaikh Mohammad Baig. Maulana Baig spoke of the 2006 bombing of the Askariyya Shrine in Samarra, Iraq, the burial place of our Tenth and Eleventh Imams (peace be upon them). The Maulana asked how Shias could possibly be ready for the arrival of Imam Zamana (may Allah hasten his reappearance), if we were not up to the task of protecting the sacred shrine? After discussing narrations concerning the last days of the Greater Occultation, the two scholars opened up the floor to the audience to offer opinions on what the American Shias' plan of action should be. The general consensus was on the importance of identifying legitimate leadership and establishing communication with the leadership. Maulana Baig spoke about the difference between real and untrustworthy scholars, and the need to set up an effective seminary system in the US. Others encouraged the believers to utilize programs that are already in place, from the MC website to the monthly conference calls. The spirited discussion highlighted not only individual issues, but also the importance of MC as an organization, and its potential moving forward.
Muslim Congress's stated vision includes not just conference-organizing, but tackling the issues of local communities, and helping people on the ground facing poverty, social, and ethical problems. Lack of true leadership is a problem all over the Muslim world, and North America is no exception. MC has shown both the promise and the willingness to fill this void, but it can only succeed with the help of committed Muslims on a daily basis. On a personal level, attending Muslim Congress and meeting the scholars and wonderful attendees made me confident that the message of Ahlul Bayt is not just history that we read about in books, but something that carries on to this day, as we actively await the Imam of the Ag

Islamic finance Industry 'Crucial Growth Engine'

Islamic finance has significantly surpassed its niche industry status to become an established component of  the financial system.

The fact that over recent years Islamic financial institutions have grown at a faster pace than their conventional peers confirms the increasing demand for Sharia-compliant financial products and services.

With the unprecedented growth of major economies in the Middle East, the region is increasingly becoming a  more competitive and sophisticated market and the key players are targeting a greater share of the exciting  growth potential for Islamic finance, according to David McLean, chief executive of Mega Events, organiser  of 1st Annual Middle East Islamic Finance & Investment Conference (MEIFIC 2011).

The event will be held on April 12th and 13th at Dusit Thani Dubai and will set the stage for key players in the  region to successfully adapt to new market realities in the Middle East.

"The exclusive opening keynote session at MEIFIC 2011 will examine the current state of and the future n prospects for Islamic finance in the region and the next wave of growth opportunities for Middle East players," he said.

"The session will also share critical insights on how the leading market players are re-tuning their  businesses to succeed in the Middle East Islamic finance market."

Key players in the Middle East Islamic finance and investments industry will be gathering at MEIFIC 2011 to  explore the growth potential that the Islamic finance and investment market in the Middle East offers.

The conference will feature groundbreaking debates as the region taps into the next growth phase in the  post-crisis landscape.