The Post-Wedding To-Do List | A Guide to Legally Changing Your Name

Congratulations! After months of planning, you’ve had the wedding of your dreams and are living your forever with the love of your life. Yet, there’s just one final detail still to address... Are you changing your name or not?!

If you plan to change your name, this change doesn’t have to happen as soon as your vows are exchanged. In fact, you’ll need to wait until you receive your official marriage certificate. If you’ve booked a delayed honeymoon or have international travel coming up soon, you may prefer to hold off even longer to ensure that you have all the proper identification matching your plane tickets and reservations. There’s no need for an extra hassle while enjoying your vacation!

We know that changing your name can be an overwhelming process for a newlywed. So, we’ve done the homework and are ready to dish the key details if you decide to change your name after your nuptials.

Decisions, Decisions

Nick Gerber

The first big decision you’ll need to make is if you even want to move forward with a name change! We encourage an open and direct conversation about this topic with your partner, it can be a delicate one. In today's day and age, many couples are deciding that their love for each other and consequent union is enough. They opt to keep their own last names. Couples are getting married later in life, remarrying is on the rise and many have strong personal and business convictions to keep their own written identity in tact. We say, more power to these couples!!!

If you do decide to embark on a name change you will have to discuss which partner will be switching their maiden surname. Alternatively, we’ve seen some take their maiden name as a second middle name - and even couples who have combined their last names to create something unique to them.

Once you’re ready, chart your course - changing your name isn’t usually difficult, although it does require paperwork, many details and some patience (Potential hours spent in a DMV or Passport office waiting room).

If you’re managing the process yourself, the first thing to do is change your social security card (here’s how). Once you have that, look up your local state laws and then it’s off to your local DMV, followed by your bank and anywhere else you hold an account or subscription - think through your employer, insurance, credit cards, utilities, schools, mortgage company, doctors, voter registration, passport, online accounts and even your pilates studio! The list goes on. Have a checklist!

Sound overwhelming? No need to fret. There are great services to help you along, including HitchSwitch.com, MissNowMrs.com and NameChangeKit.com, just to name a few. These services help simplify the process, sending you specific directions, forms, letters and checklists.

the simple things

Amanda Leigh

Test Driving a Name Change Service: As an always on-the-go wedding and event planner with an often unpredictable schedule, Brianne recommends working with the Personal Name Change Concierge from HitchSwitch. 

Brianne tells us that her couples have gained more peace of mind in the process - which is PRICELESS! MAE suggest you select the HitchSwitch Premium package (there are three options - ranging from $29 - $89). After filling out a simple online form, HitchSwitch mails out a package with all of the forms completed - all that is left to do is sign where indicated and use the pre-stamped and addressed envelopes to get the name change requests in motion.

And - as if that’s not reason enough to love HitchSwitch, the company donates a portion of all their proceeds to breast and ovarian cancer research along with autism programming for children in New York City (Double Win).

Perfect Penmanship

Leigh & Becca

After completing your name change with all of the right resources, there is just one more thing to do - work on perfecting your new signature! If you’re like us, it might take you a few months for your new signature to feel like your own. Break out that legal pad or cocktail napkin - practice makes perfect! We hope that our notes above gives you more peace of mind with the name change process!

xoxo Tiffany + Team Mae

To see how Michigan Avenue Events can assist you in this process and also help plan your dream wedding or next special event, please visit us at www.michiganavenueevents.com or call us at 312-585-7265.