“A Rose By Any Other Name Would Smell As Sweet”

The process of getting married involves a lot of things; purchasing a wedding gown, gift registries, centerpieces, etc., but what no one ever talks about are the serious things. Things that need to be attended to before your wedding so making a transition into “couplehood” is easier.

First and foremost, while this doesn’t have to happen before your marriage, it should be something that you decide upon as soon as possible. I’m talking about the age old question, “should I change my name, or keep my name?” As a modern bride, several options are open to you.

1. Keeping Your Name: You can choose to keep your name as it is and not worry about changing your identification. The problem with this is that you may also have to carry around a copy of your marriage certificate to prove that you are married. Problems or difficulties may arise when you have children who have a different last name than you.

2. Legally Changing Your Name: If you choose to legally change your name to your husbands, you are giving up your identity legally. Now sit down for this one girls, because I was shocked to find this out. If you decide to legally change your name, the person you are now will cease to exist. A new birth certificate will actually be given to you with your husband’s last name. And of course, if anything should go wrong and the marriage dissolves, you will once again have to go through a legal process to become who you once were.

3. Hyphenating: Some women choose to have both names to identify their married name, and their maiden name. This can sound great at first, but keep in mind that you still need to change all your identification and paperwork, and when your signature is required, you’ll have to sign using both names.

4. Using Your Maiden Name Instead of Your Middle Name: Choosing this option to keep your name is one that is not used quite as often, but it does allow a bride to keep both names. Using your maiden instead of your middle name can provide you the opportunity to keep both your identities.

5. Assuming Your Married Name: This option allows new brides to be able to take on their husband’s name, without legally having to change their own. This still requires that all identification and paperwork be changed, (except your birth certificate), but you do not change who you are legally.

Whatever you decide, make sure that it’s something that you will be comfortable with. Remember, in the words of William Shakespeare, “A rose by any other name would smell as sweet.”