Wedding Dress | Wedding Ideas

There are so many details to consider when planning a wedding that sometimes changing your name can take a seat on the back burner ... all the complicated and time-consuming paperwork ... definitely not as fun as cake tasting or dress shopping ...

That's where Name Change Express comes in, providing a simple and customized solution to an often dreaded task. In three simple steps, brides can change their name and enjoy a stress-free experience.

And Name Change Express is kindly offering a chance to win a $30 package to three lucky CB readers! Just leave a comment below, including a valid e-mail address, telling us how you plan to change your name {taking your husband's; moving your maiden name to your middle name; merging both your last names to create a new one, etc.}

And to gain an extra entry, just follow me on Twitter and let me know that you do in your comment. The deadline to enter is Saturday, December 5 at midnight CST. A winner will be announced the following Monday.

Wow! There were so many interesting stories on how you plan to change your name! Here are the lucky three to win the package from Name Change Express:

Jes {A.Mountain.Bride}, who said ... I will def be taking my husbands RAD Irish last name :-) I consider it quite an honor to join his lovely family.

Brooke, who said ... Great giveaway - certainly something every bride could use. Myself well - I will be a four name girl. His last name will just get added to the end. I do not want to be hyphenated or go by both last names. I will use his last name as my own, but I'm keeping the other just for sentimental reasons.

and Jessica, who said ... Hehe I have always stood firm about not changing my last name and although we argued about it, we have decided that I'll use his last name as my middle name!

Congrats to the three of you! You'll be receiving an e-mail soon regarding your prize!

Taking His Name, Keeping Your Own Name, and Options In-Between

According to recent surveys, somewhere between 60 and 80 percent of brides take their husband's last name when they get married. But is it right for you? Here are some things to consider before you take his name:
The Pros of Taking Your Husband's Name:

    * If you're planning on having children, you'll find life is much easier when going on trips (especially when traveling internationally), dealing with schools, and even just dealing with other parents, if you're easily recognizable as being one family.

    * If you don't like your own last name, here's an easy excuse for a change

    * Remember doodling Mrs. Janet Presley or Mrs. Janet Timberlake on your notebooks? If you were this type of little girl, now you'll have the satisfaction of doodling a name and getting to actually use it.
    * Many brides find that having the same last name as their husband helps them feel more like a family, and a new name is an important symbol of the journey they are embarking on together

    * Monogramming, personalized doormats and dinner reservations become easier (although I hope you're not changing your name for a doormat!)

    * Let's face it, since so many brides do take their husband's last names, people will expect it and will already start addressing you as Mrs. Jones, whether you like it or not. (You may even get that personalized doormat as a wedding present) Perhaps going with that flow is not a bad option.

The Cons of Taking Your Husband's Last Name

    * You're getting married, not becoming a different person. Changing your last name may feel like a loss of self or a loss of identity.

    * It may go against your politics – after all, why does the woman have to change her name, and not the man? Furthermore, changing your name may imply that you are more old-fashioned or traditional than you actually are.

    * If you are the last of your family with your last name, you may not want to give it up.

    * If your name is interesting, or alliterative, and his name is hard to pronounce or just dissonant, it may be better to stick with the name you were born with.

    * If you've become known in your career field, it may be hard to reestablish your reputation with a different last name.

Fortunately it's not just as black and white as his name or your name.
Other options besides just taking his name

    * Hyphenating your last names – sometimes just the bride hyphenates, while the groom stays with his last name solo, but most of the time both change their names. You all can decide whose name goes first!

    * Keeping your maiden name as a middle name. This way, you can choose to sometimes put Amanda Smith Jones and sometimes just Amanda Jones, depending on the circumstance

    * If you're worried about being the last in the family with that name, consider taking your husband's name, but using your maiden name as a first or middle name for a child. So if your name was Lisa Alice Fielding, your son could be Fielding Charles Burwell.

    * He could take your last name. While only a small percentage of couples are going this route, it will mark you all as modern folks who aren't afraid to change up tradition. If you've got the cool last name, and his is, well, dorky, both of you can win with this option.

    * You can combine the last names into a new name. If your last name is Miller and his is Peltson, why can't you all become the Millsons? Or there's really nothing stopping you from choosing a new name all together – think of it as a chance to make a clean break.

    * Consider changing your name legally, so as to make traveling with the kids, dealing with schools and other personal matters easier, but still using your name professionally. It will be a small hassle setting things up when you change jobs, but will make day-to-day life much simpler.

By Nina Callaway

This question is no longer just for brides, but is becoming more and more a question for both brides and grooms. Due to the many issues involved the decision can be difficult. Some of the issues to consider include: sense of identity as a person and a family, future family relationships, future children, personal preferences and traveling out of the country (where husband and wife are expected to have the same last name). A friend of mine told me her husband wanted them to have the same last name to be considerate of others - so people wouldn't wonder if they were just dating or married (if they weren't wearing their rings). Another friend of mine warned that when her sister was traveling with her husband in a foreign country (I don't know where this could be in this day and age!) the hotel concierge gave them difficulties when they wanted to get a room together since they did not have the same last name and since they did not speak the language, they had a hard time explaining that they were married. However, there is a contingency of women who choose not to change their name once they are married. Some reasons for this include: they have established a name for themselves in a career that would make it costly and too difficult to change, they want their family lineage to continue, the couple prefers that the husband be the one to change his name.

While the procedures involved in changing your name can be time consuming, having the name you want is well worth the effort. If you are unsure of how you want to change your name, see the list of options below to help you decide which name-change (or not) is best for you.

When should I change my name?
You may prepare the forms anytime before or after getting married. We suggest that you save all your important mail in the few months leading up to your wedding so you'll have a comprehensive list (with addresses) of all the places you'll need to notify. However, you cannot process any of the forms until you receive your marriage license (after getting married). We suggest that you file the forms after your honeymoon (especially if you are leaving the country) to avoid any unnecessary inconveniences.

I'm getting married in a couple of months, what do I need to do to get my marriage certificate?
You must visit your city hall, with your fiancé, no sooner than 30 days before your wedding (this varies from state to state). Not all city halls offer marriage certificates so we suggest you call your city hall ahead of time to find out where to go. While there, you will be asked to fill out forms and make an oath before they give you a preliminary certificate. There is no blood test needed. You should bring this form to your wedding (or make other arrangements to meet with your officiator), and ask your officiator and a witness to sign it. Once this is completed, you can mail it in for your official marriage certificate.

Do I need to change my name if I am only hyphenating my name?
Yes, any modification of your name is considered a name change and the proper documentation should be processed in order to officially change your name.

What forms do I need to change my name?
For a comprehensive name-change you'll need the following forms: social security, drivers license, passport, voter registration, (IRS - address change only), vehicle title/registration, and a series of notification letters to your workplace, financial institutions, insurance, medical, utilities, frequent flier programs, magazine subscriptions etc. There are a number of online kits that have the forms you need (you can fill out forms online and download them from your home computer), and detailed instructions on where to send each form (or if you need to make a personal appearance) as well as what additional documentation you'll need.

Do I need to change my name in person everywhere?
The State level Department of Motor Vehicles, and some financial institutions, require you to make a personal visit. All other agencies allow you to change your name through the mail.

What are my options for changing my name?
Taking Partner's Last Name: This is the traditional method whereby the bride, traditionally, takes the last name of the groom in place of her last name. However, the groom may take on the bride's last name in place of his own instead. Some reasons for taking on your partner's name are: to have a reminder of your commitment to them, allow any existing or future children have the same name as their parents, and doing so reminds others that you have are a family, regardless of whether or not there are children.

Hyphenating: is the increasingly popular choice with couples today. One or both partners may hyphenate their last names and have the benefits of retaining their last name as well as the benefits of taking their partner's name.

Middle Name Change: One option is for the couple to replace their middle name with the last name of their partner. In this instance, Jennifer Diane Simmons would become Jennifer Smith Simmons, and Jonathon Taylor Smith will become Jonathon Simmons Smith. This allows for a sense of unity, while both partners are still able to retain their last names from birth. I'm noticing that more and more women are choosing this option, like the former First Lady: Hillary Rodham Clinton. The benefit of this name change is that can create a smoother transition because you'll always have proof of your maiden name. However, this doesn't always turn out to be the prettiest name and I know some women who did not choose this option because their middle name had a special meaning to them.

The following options require different procedures (filing a name-change petition at your local Superior Court).

Last Name Combination: This option allows each partner to bring part of their name into the marriage (and keep a form of their identity) while also gives a sense of unity between the couple. This choice is pretty rare, however.

Entirely New Last Name: Some couples choose a name that has a special meaning to them like choosing the name of a favorite, deceased relative or a parent. Middle names can be used as a last name, if you prefer. Yet another way couples can choose a last name is to choose something such as their favorite place or activity which defines their character. This is not common, but is chosen to allow couples to express themselves through their name.

by Jessica Ruby Riester

As our society evolves so do the demands of career, education, family and personal growth. The average age of the first time bride is now at 27, a dramatic increase in the average age of a bride from just 20 years ago. Our modern bride now enters marriage established in her career, financial foundation, personal and professional contacts, and an impressive list of personal records that she maintains.

The transition of Miss. to Mrs. can be for most brides, well let’s just say… overwhelming. Just ask any bride who’s gone through it. With too much to do, and too little available time, the name change process can really amount to quite a large task. But still, most brides want to take their husbands name, or a least hyphenate, and nearly all husbands anticipate this tradition.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
A few frequently asked questions with answers provided to assist in understanding the name change process.

Can I change my name before I get married?
No, you must have your marriage certificate to change your name, this comes after the wedding from the county or country in which you were married and has an embossed county/country seal on the document.

When can I start the name change process?
After you receive your certificate of marriage, approximately 2-3 weeks after your wedding.

I am getting married in a couple months, we are going to honeymoon out of the country, do I need to change my passport?
You will have to wait until you get back from your honeymoon to change your passport. Therefore, you will still be using your maiden name when traveling on your honeymoon. Make your flight reservations in your maiden name so your passport/driver license match.

What if I want to hyphen/non-hyphen my maiden and married name, do I still need to make a name change?
Yes, even if you are hyphenating/non-hyphenating your maiden with your married name you must notify the appropriate government agencies and your personal records to effectively change your name.

What record do I change first?
The kit walks you through six steps and provides all the official forms and addresses of your area taking you through a complete name change process. Our recommendation is to start with your social security record (our 1st step).

Can I change my name by mail?
Most all records can be changed through the mail. All forms and addresses are included in the kit to facilitate your mailing option. The record you must make a personal appearance for will be your State Driver License or State Identification Card.

Do I have to change my name on everything?
Our recommendation is that you make a complete and comprehensive name change, the reason being there can be considerable confusion if you do not. Our kit is designed to take you through every conceivable record you may have and provide a name change form for those records.

by Katharine Weissmann