The article discusses the importance of changing your name on your passport after your honeymoon, even if you legally changed your name in the United States before leaving. It advises booking travel arrangements in your maiden name to avoid confusion at TSA, customs, or your resort. If you decide to change your name, it is essential to update passports, licenses, and other documents as well.
If you are leaving on your honeymoon within two months of your wedding date, it is recommended to wait until you get back to change your name. If your profession is closely tied to your name or you are the last member of your family to carry your name, keeping your maiden name is a good option.
When traveling to your honeymoon destination, remember to book flights in your maiden name. The process of changing your name depends on the day of the week your wedding is on and the day you leave for your honeymoon. Christensen recommends signing your name as “FirstName NewLastName (OldLastName)” for at least six months after you marry.
The passport name change FAQ provides answers to frequently asked questions about how to get and/or use a passport based on marriage, divorce, adoption, or legal name. To file for the name change, assemble your documents and submit Form DS-5504 with proof of the name change.
In most cases, it is best to change your name after the honeymoon to avoid confusion when traveling through TSA, customs, and checking into your hotel. If you plan to apply for a new passport right after the wedding, you can book with your fiancé.
📹 Why I Didn’t Change My Last Name + Tips on Changing Yours & Doing it Uniquely
Why I Didn’t Change My Last Name + Tips on Changing Yours & Doing it Uniquely. All about why I chose to keep my “maiden” …
Can I go on honeymoon with my maiden name?
Don’t worry! A NYC-based travel advisor who specializes in honeymoon planning has some good news for you. “I get asked this a lot. Your ticket name doesn’t matter. Your passport and tickets must match, says Laura Freeman of The Trip Trotter at Tzell Travel Group, a Virtuoso agency. If you’ve taken your partner’s last name or chosen a new last name, or if you’ve legally changed your last name to your partner’s, you can fly as long as you still have a valid passport with your former name. Wait to change your name on your passport. “My clients usually wait to update their passports until they return home, so they don’t have to worry about getting it back in time,” says Freeman. “I can advise your honeymoon resort or hotels to address you as you’d like as a married couple,” she explains.
Should I change my name before or after honeymoon?
Change your name after your honeymoon. Before marriage, couples often discuss changing a last name. It is usually the bride who makes the change by tracking down, organizing, and submitting the information and documents needed to make the new name legally recognized.
How you see a name change affects what you and your spouse decide to do.
Options for a Post-Wedding Name Change. Some women take their husband’s last name and give up their own. Some women change their name legally by taking their husband’s last name and adding their maiden name.
Is it disrespectful to call a married woman by her maiden name?
Is it offensive? Use her chosen name. If she kept her maiden name, use that. Use her married name.
Do you use Mrs for a married woman who keeps her maiden name?
Mrs. Meaning. The word “Mrs.” is used to describe married women. Many women keep their last name after marriage. These women are still called Mrs. A widow is also called Mrs. out of respect for her late husband. Some divorced women still prefer to go by Mrs., but this varies by age and personal preference.
In the past, this title was used with the husband’s name (Mr. and Mrs. John Smith). Now, it’s less common. Use this title to address married women or when speaking to a woman in authority.
Mx. Meaning. Mx. is a gender-neutral honorific title. This prefix is for non-binary people or those who use the pronouns “they” or “them.” If you’re unsure, ask what pronouns someone prefers.
What are the benefits of changing your last name?
You’re in control. It provides a fresh start. It allows for reinvention. It may help avoid discrimination. It can make life easier. Name changes can be beneficial. Many people spend time thinking about why they want to change their name. It’s not something to do lightly. A name change is a legal process that takes time and money. It can be beneficial. You’re in control. People are born with their names. Parents usually give their children nice or meaningful names. As the child grows, the name may not fit.
What percent of brides change their name?
Many women take their husband’s last name. Most women in opposite-sex marriages in the US changed their names, according to a new survey by Pew Research Center. Fourteen percent kept their last names. The youngest women were most likely to change their names. A quarter of 18-to-34-year-olds kept their names. Thank you for your patience while we verify access. If you’re reading this in Reader mode, exit and log in to your Times account or subscribe to The Times. Thank you for your patience while we verify access.
Is it better to change name after marriage?
Your family will all have the same last name, which will make life easier when you have kids. Going on trips and dealing with schools will be easier when you take your husband’s name. Taking your spouse’s name can help you feel more connected. Also, changing your maiden name shows you’re committed to each other. Changing your last name can help avoid misunderstandings. Your last name will make your life easier. If you have the same last name as your husband, you’ll be more connected. You’ll avoid confusion and unpleasant situations. When Shouldn’t I Change My Name After Marriage? The study found that about 20% of brides keep their maiden name after marriage for various reasons. Do you have a reason to keep your family name?
You don’t like his last name. If you don’t like your spouse’s name, it’s better to keep yours. A good husband will let you keep your last name if it sounds confusing or is a clunky surname.
Is it normal to change your name after marriage?
Most heterosexual couples take this traditional route, with the woman taking the man’s last name. Some men also take their wives’ surnames. Some couples adopt a double-barrelled surname. This works well if you both have short, easy-to-pronounce surnames like “Sullivan-Jones” or “Smith-Patel.” Longer, more complicated surnames might not be appealing, but you can double-barrel your name. For women who want to keep tradition but not their family name, they can change their maiden name to a middle name. Their partner could also adopt their maiden name as a middle name.
How long after marriage should you change your name?
You can change your name to your spouse’s at any time. Show your marriage certificate to prove it. Other situations for changing your name after marriage. Sometimes, a couple may want to change their last name entirely. Each spouse must file a name change petition with a local court. If your marriage ends, your name stays the same unless you change it.
Whose name goes first after marriage?
What’s the right way to list names on wedding details? After talking to many brides, I decided to ask this question and share what we’ve seen in designing favors and welcome bags. Prior to the wedding, the bride’s name should come before the groom’s. After the wedding, the groom’s name goes on thank-you cards and address labels. Does this make sense for the wedding weekend? On hotel welcome bags, programs, favors, cocktail napkins, etc. Follow the above protocol and decide per item based on whether the vows have been said. Should the welcome bags at the hotel have the groom’s name on them? Not married yet, so use the bride’s name first. Favors at the wedding? You’re now Mrs., so put the groom’s name first. The second choice is to stick with your preference. The strict etiquette mostly applies to formal stationery, so use your preference for other items. A couple is often known to friends and family in a certain order, so it feels funny to mix that up!
Why do ex-wives keep their last name?
Your kids. Many women keep their married name after a divorce because of their children. Women feel more connected to their children when they share the same last name. It can also help younger children feel more stable.
How long you were married. Think about how long you were married. If your marriage was short, few people in your community may know you by your married name. Your married name may be the only name people know you by if your marriage lasted decades. If you’re known by your married name, it’s easier to keep it.
Emotional ties. Are you attached to your married name? Some women want to keep their married name because they have good memories of it. Some women want to drop their married name to regain independence and start a new chapter. Think about what your married name means to you. If the name makes you feel bad, don’t keep it.
Does a bride have to change her last name?
Can I keep my name after I get married? Before getting married, people wonder if it’s okay to keep your name. When you marry, you can keep your name or take your partner’s. It’s your choice in most countries. It’s a matter of preference. Some people keep their last name because they marry later in life or their career is already established. It could be risky to choose a new name, which could affect their career and finances. Personal branding is powerful. Name recognition is powerful, and many people aren’t ready to give that up. What do you call a married woman who keeps her maiden name? You can keep your maiden name after marriage. You can use “Ms.” or “Mrs.” You can also go by “Ms.” if you don’t want your title to be about your marriage. It’s your choice. Before you decide, learn why people change their name.
📹 What to do After Marriage? & Name Change Process!
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Love this article, I feel so similarly. I kept my name after I got married too. And same- my last name is my dad’s name BUT he actually changed his last name to his mom’s last name & stopped using his father’s last name. So I feel better about having my father’s name knowing it’s more of a matriarchal line. Plus, I like feeling connected to my nuclear family with my last name. ☺️
I’m definitely leaning towards hyphenating my name for a few reasons: I’m the only girl among 4 brothers so I will be the only one of my siblings with a different last name if I changed. I’m also a PhD student who will enter a career where people refer to me by Dr. my last name exclusively and Dr. his last name doesn’t quite capture my work to get there in my opinion. And then I also didn’t want my future children to have a different last name from me. I also don’t want them to have a hyphenated name or my last name because my fiancé is the only male in his family in his generation so he is their only real hope of continuing his last name. I will happily go by his last name socially because I like us being considered one, but professionally and legally, I’m thinking I’ll be hyphenated.
Thank you so much for including that tip at the end about putting your spouse’s last name on the marriage license so you have the option to change it later in the future! I had no idea that was an option and I’ve been going back and forth for months, thinking I had to make a final decision before the wedding. I just breathed a huge sigh of relief!
This article made me like you more. I see so much of myself in you and it’s so awesome to see someone (finally) talk about how it’s okay to not be traditional. I’m so tired of our society and (mostly) older ladies talk about “wedding etiquette” and things you HAVE to do. It’s my life and my money! Anyways this article is awesome.
If it helps concerning the part about your name being “a man’s name” or “your father’s name” – this old “gotcha” trope is based on a sexist notion that women can’t own their own names but men can. Think about it this way: your husband’s name is also his father’s name but no one is saying it’s not his name. To say that your name isn’t your name is pretty much saying that no woman on earth have her own name as she may have shared it with a male ancestor at some point, whether that’s father/grandfather, etc. Your name is just that – it’s your name. You were born with it, you lived with it, it’s yours. I applaud your choice to keep your name.
Wow this article was legit helpful for me. I didn’t know that you didn’t have to go through with changing your last name even if you sign your new husband’s last name on your marriage license. I actually think I might do when I get married that so I can make it easier to change it later if I want to. Thank you so much! And I didn’t know you had such strong opinions on traditions! I actually really like your view points!
This article actually ended up being more relatable to me than I thought it was be. I’m doing basically the opposite as what you did but I don’t feel so strange for it now. I’m going from a “Ts” last name to a “Ps” last name which probably doesn’t do so much about the fact that my last name is hard to pronounce, but I didn’t feel as though I identified with my maiden name (even though I LOVE my dad). On top of that, I’m actually changing my first name and adding in a middle name since I never had one. It’s going to be complicated but worth it in my opinion 🥰 I’m really liking your non-traditional vibe
I messed it up on the marriage certificate and had to petition through the courts. I thought that if i put my new last name that I’d have to change it right away and I wasn’t ready to change it. It’s been 3 years since we wed, just got the documents from the court back in Dec after paying $600ish and now I’m awaiting my social security card. My husband and I agreed that if we had a son, his first name would be my maiden name which I’m very happy with!
YASSSSS!!!🙌🏻🙌🏻🙌🏻 all of this!!! A fully knowledgeable choice is at the core of all this. I’m not changing my name either. I totally get the oh the “maiden” name is also your father’s name but that’s the name I was born with and it’s fully part of my personal identity and totally different from changing it for a man… even though we are high school sweethearts who have known each other for over half our lives. And personally my moms maiden name that she used here in the US was her fathers name who I was never close with anyway so changing it to that name would be meaningless in my book however everybody has their story. In most Latin American countries however you legally have two last names from both your parents. And while my parents didn’t do that with me, I would still like to pass on that tradition as both my fiancé and I have parents with Latin roots….so ideally if and when children come into the picture they would have both our names (possibly hyphenated bc the US doesn’t know how to deal with two last names lol… think like aoc’s name lol). My mom has already started calling me like Mrs(fiancé last name) and I’m like mother whyyy😫 and we aren’t even really religious (not even christian) but in the US it’s like the expected thing to do. personally i hate the assumption that that is what you’re going to do. Whenever I see weddings like in shows or articles etc the DJ almost ALWAYS introduces the couple as mr and mrs guy’s full name.
I’m glad we will fuse our last names. I think it depends per person just as you said, also my boyfriend’s view is love shown by it, so I will do the same since I see him as my equal. Also after he proposes I will also put a ring on his finger too😍😂. I want him to also have that feeling to look down at his hand and feel amazing that I want to marry him. The ring signifies my doing in this too, is how I see it❤️ I love the articles and the community we are building here.
My fiancé and I come from different ethnic backgrounds (I’m white, he’s Mexican-American), so he didn’t feel comfortable with the idea of merging our names. I was completely fine with that, since we’d have a ridiculously long name if we did that. He’s completely fine with me doing whatever I want, but I think I am going to end up taking his last name. For one thing, it’s a place name (a place we’ve visited together, which is cool) and for another I’m not attached to my Dad’s surname. I do feel slightly weird about it, but I do like the idea of sharing a name.
So I feel like our story is unique. My current surname is not native to the UK and so no one else has the surname – even where it’s originally from it’s uncommon now. I’ve had the name for almost 29 years and become fond of its uniqueness. My partners surname is so common, I could list ten famous people with the same name! I didn’t want to take it. He also didn’t want to take mine but we did want to share a surname. His parents never married and have since married other partners. So I suggested his middle name (his mums maiden name), and he loved the idea! So we are both changing. His Mums family name stops with his Mum so I love that we get to carry it on for her! Plus, its super unique and Ive not heard it before, and its beautiful!
Hyphenating isn’t possible anymore in Switzerland. My partner decided to take my name since I’m kinda more proud of it then he is. We decided to have just one name because we wanted to have one name for the whole family. Plus, you have to note the name that the future children will have when you fill in the forms for the marriage license. In Spain, the spouses usually keep their names and the kids go with the mother’s name first and the second last name is the father’s.
For my first marriage (100 years ago), I hyphenated my birth surname (my dad’s surname, which I happen to like & will always keep) & his name. So when we split up (also 100 years ago), it was really convenient to just drop his name. Now I’m getting married again & I’m doing the same thing but my fiance is thinking about hyphenating his last name with mine. I’m not sure that we can legally do it for him, but I think here in CA, it should be easier for him to than some other states. Good for you, Cavin! I love how independent you are & how awesome your husband is being so respectful of your feelings. Changing names is a giant pain the rump. I am so with you on name changing & so are many of my friends, my daughters & their friends. This is 2023…a lot of male-created traditions for females are fading away. (YAY!!)
Have lived both in Texas & California…dont ❤ the patriarchy – did not change my name in my 1st marriage, husband said ‘I think it will be a hassle for you either way – paperwork or explaining yourself’ & he was right. Just married my soul mate last month & though he would never say it, I suspect it’s important for him to see us as a team. I’ve been a staunch feminist my whole life – throughout career & personal life but for the love of a non-misogynistic partner who has supported me far more than the father whose name I inherited…I’m more than ok becoming the new version of me!! Taking his name – changing my middle name to my ‘maiden’ name bc its super cool anyway = )
I like the idea of each of us keeping our last names and my kids having hyphenated last names because I know people who grew up with a different last name from their moms it WAS indeed an issue where people would assume they weren’t related, or assume the wrong last name for one of the two, etc… but… if you do that, your kid has less options to hyphenate later etc… so idk. I am single at the moment but in my last relationship my partner would have wanted to take my last name, which I as a woman had never expected was a possibility growing up, and that would’ve been interesting but kinda cool, I realized once I was wrapping my mind around it. But yeah changing your name for everything like your social security card ahh sounds like more trouble than it’s worth.
I am changing my last name to my husband’s but I put a lot of thought to it, considered hyphenation, but both are long, but what spoke to me was that we want to live abroad, we live in a country where you typically alter last name depending on the sex so I would be -ska (or -ska-ska or -ska-ski) where my husband is -ski soooo for foreign people would still consider it two different names. That’s why I’m changing my last name to exactly his 😉 so tradidional yet not quite in my culture
I was in fourth grade when I learned that women change their names when they get married. So I said at that point I would never get married, because I did not want to change my name, I didn’t think it was right or fair. Then I found out that just because you get married doesn’t mean you have to change your name, so I decided that I’d be willing to get married, but I would not change my name. I always start the explanation off with that, because 3 years after I made that decision I met the guy who would eventually become my fiance, and it was years after that before we started dating. My last name is a lot easier to spell and pronounce than his, so people are assuming that I’m keeping my name because I don’t want to deal with a harder to pronounce or spell last name, that is definitely not the case, I made that decision before I even met him. That assumption really annoys me though. As for what he thinks about it, well he’s a really traditional type who one day pulled a bouquet of roses out of his trunk and asked me to be his girlfriend. First thing I said was that I couldn’t believe he had finally come to his senses, and then I said I didn’t want kids. Not having kids it’s important to me, and I wanted to be very upfront about it. Years later he said that he would like to have kids, but I had been upfront about not wanting them and if kids were a deal breaker for him then he had plenty of opportunity to break things off much earlier. But he didn’t, so as he says it, we’re stuck together.
You could keep a totally new last name and if that is too much of work, you could just accept your last name (your father’s last name) because you did not have a choice when you were named. Patriarchy reflects in our lives in many forms but we can stop the patriarchal tradition by not taking our husband’s last name and naming our children differently. We can’t change the past, but can try to make a better future. 🙂
My husband and I come from different backgrounds culturally and I decided to keep my last name because I have a lot of pride in my family history. When we have kids, we talked about incorporating my last name into our future children’s last name so they honor both of their parents’ roots. I often considered putting my mom’s maiden name in my children’s name as well. We have the right to keep our last name as equally as a man wants to keep his. If your man doesn’t respect that,….. Bye. Lol
“I grew up in Alabama…” Oooooh now I know where that southern accent that sneaks in every so often comes from! I didn’t change my name after getting married because I see my name as part of my identity and not my marital status. I agree you can be a feminist and still take your male partner’s name but at this point in my life I just don’t want to because I don’t want to!