My wife and I plan on doing some weight training and want to know if we should drink protein shakes?

My plan is to eat dinner around 6pm and around 7:30pm start riding elliptical and after the elliptical, do some weights.  My wife plans on doing the same, just late morning or early afternoon.

Someone told me if I do weights, I should also start drinking protein shakes and they recommended Optimum Nutrition 100% Whey Gold Standard.

Should I have a protein shake before or after (or both) weight training?

Also does this protein shake have chemicals in it?  Or is there a better protein shake?

Also on the days I just do elliptical or nothing, should I still drink protein shake?

Thanks for anyone’s help!

****Edit 1****
Ok, maybe I wasn't clear on what I was asking.  Let me try again.  

I’m not really looking for nutrition fountain of youth.  My wife and I want to start lifting weights, her for toning and me to bulk up a bit.  I really don't think we get a enough protein, even though I really don't know how much is enough. 

So, I'm not sure when I should drink it, how many times a day I should drink it, when I should drink them or if I should based on my diet.  I'm really clueless when it comes to most of this.