Nikaah & Marriage Issues

Impermissible practices in weddings

Q: Just wanted to ask the ruling and some advice regarding an Islamic wedding. My weddings coming up soon and Ive been told that my spouse is not allowed to sit to eat with me on the wedding day. The wedding will be fully segregated but is the groom allowed to come into the womens hall to sit next to the bride to eat? They will be no massive entrance that all the women will look at the groom entering. Also the table will be in the corner of the hall and only immediate family would be sat around. So is this allowed? As Ive been told I am not allowed to see my spouse at all until the end of the wedding but isnt a wedding day meant to be spent with the one you are marrying? The nikah will be done weeks before so Im guessing its ok in Islam to sit next to your spouse on the actual day.

I have learnt that the best nikah or wedding is the one with the least expenses. Alhamdullilah we have spent on a budget but its just these few problems that have appeared. Also Ive been told that cutting a cake with your spouse is against islam too. Is this true? Maybe its not a sunnah but is it forbidden in islam? The cake would be cut towards the end where there is only close family left. So im confused as to why it is not allowed.

I have also been given many negative thoughts about married life. For example if I was to be upset about something my in laws would hate me for it and my marriage wouldn't work out. As long as I know marriage is meant to be a happy step in life. I know some parts would be upsetting like leaving home but why am I getting negative thoughts about marriage. I have already thought the worse about everything and it has got the better of me. Im just confused and feel sad about getting married now. As all these thoughts have filled my head up and i can no longer see any positive in my life or the future. I just need some advice on this matter.

Abortion

Q: My wife is pregnant with 14 weeks but we dont want to keep this child as we have already one small child of 1 year. Should we go fot abortion? And if we do abortion then what khaffara do we have to give?

Performing a secret nikaah

Q: I want to marry a girl of my choice.. My mother and father both agreed upon this.. The girl's parents also agreed upon this.. But their will be a gap of a year as they agreed upon. But due to Islamic reasons and due to sins, we want to perform a secret nikaah to stop sins and to have the mercy of Allah SWT.. When the time comes we will perform nikaah before everyone. Pls guide me..

What to look for in a potential suitor

Q: I am really confused. Everyone says that in life you can't focus too much on beauty when it comes to a potential suitor. Then, they say "no. But you have to be attracted to him". But then if I am not attracted to anyone except for a very specific few, then "no, you're being too fussy and need to lower your expectations in life" then when I say okay, how do I lower my expectations? How do I force myself to be attracted to somebody who doesn't really match up to what I had in mind? Then they say "No. don't lower your expectations, expect the best from Allah and have faith that he'll give you what you want" then I say okay fine I expect the best. Then they show me somebody and I can't find it in my heart to have the slightest bit of attraction towards them then they say "if you don't find this person good looking you need to lower your expectations" then I ask how , "no have faith in Allah, you'll get what you want" ... so I don't know what to do. first they say expect from Allah then they say lower your expectations. Which do I do and HOW? It's not as if I'm only focusing on looks, I want piety and looks in a person and I'm not willing to compromise on either. Money is not a main focus but looks and piety are. I have never spoken to any non mahrams much in life so i feel like why should my first relationship ever be with someone that is unappealing to my eye? It's not as if I feel deserving or entitled or think that I'm so holy for not ever engaging in haraam relations but I just think it might be a disappointment to have the one relationship you ever have be with someone you just can't seem to be attracted to. Also. If I read "Rabbana Hablana Min Azwajina Wa Dhhuriyatina Qurata A'yewnew waj Alna Lil mutaqina imaama" will I get someone who I find good looking? Because it's a dua for our spouses to be the coolness of our eyes and he can only be a coolness to my eyes if I am attracted to him right? And I will only be attracted to him if he meets my expectations which means that all I have to do is read this dua and have faith and not lower my expectations right?