Newlywed Blog

We recently received our Spring 2010 copy of Get Married magazine and were elated to see that Stephanie Davis Smith, Editor of the magazine used our service and loved it!  She called MissNowMrs a “Life saver” in her Editor’s Note and said, “Someone gave me a gift card to this incredible service called MissNowMrs.  You sign up and they take care of all that messy paperwork, tracking down office hours, etc. when it comes time to change your name on your driver’s license, social security and other documents.  Genius.”  You can get your own copy of Get Married magazine via their website (it’s the perfect guide for savvy brides in need of creative wedding ideas): http://www.getmarried.com/magazine/.

You would think that in 2009, changing your name after marriage would be easier, but to most people it is an overwhelming process that can cause unnecessary stress! This is why it is important to know your resources! We at www.MissNowMrs.com have happily assisted in making brides-to-be and newlyweds a little less stressed and worry-free with our easy online nationwide name-change service! Here are some details for you below…

One of our prominent findings has been to recognize your options before it is time to change your name.  Will you hyphenate, take your spouse’s last name, replace your middle name with your maiden name, or simply keep your maiden name?  You should spend time prior to the wedding discussing these options with your fiancé to ensure that you come to a conclusion that makes both of you happy.  Whatever decision you make, you should be sure to book your travel plans for the honeymoon under your maiden name because you  most likely will not have enough time to change your name on your social security card, driver’s license, and passport before you depart!

Regardless of what state you reside in, you will benefit from requesting additional certified copies of your marriage certificate after your wedding, to use during the name-change process.  Several state and U.S. government agencies require a certified copy of your marriage certificate as legal proof of your marriage before they will proceed with your name change.

Now, you are ready to begin the name-change process!  There is a certain procedure required when submitting your State and U.S. Government name-change forms, luckily we have already taken the research out of the picture for you. We will also offer you our inside details and recommendations coming straight from the U.S. Government office personnel themselves!

Once you have changed all of your state and U.S. government documents, it is equally important to notify creditors of your name change.  You may elect to make phone calls to each office or write a letter stating your previous name, new name, and that you are changing your name due to marriage.  Some offices will require you to fill-out a name change request form or letter (along with a certified copy of your marriage certificate) before they will process your name change.

After planning a wedding the last thing you want to do is stress out about a name change!  This is why we, at MissNowMrs.com offer you an online account for a one-stop-shop to provide you with a simplified transition, from Miss…to…Mrs.!  Come visit us at: www.MissNowMrs.com and register for your account today!

Remember the old days when a groom’s wedding involvement consisted of renting a tux, having a bachelor party, and showing up on the wedding day to smile for photos? Luckily for all of you brides out there, those days are over.

It’s no secret that grooms today are getting more and more involved with the planning of their wedding. TheManRegistry.com gives those grooms an outlet to register for gifts, research their wedding responsibilities, and buy groomsmen gifts.

Our industry-first groom’s wedding registry offers couples a chance to register for the wedding gifts that are more geared towards the guy. We offer thousands of products in categories such as tools, outdoors, bar, grill, and sports-themed gear. Our content section features how-to guides on topics ranging from buying the perfect ring to planning the honeymoon to writing vows. We give the groom the tools to make his wedding planning experience as painless as possible. Furthermore, we post weekly entries on our blog that are written by experts on the bride’s side of the wedding (including the inside scoop from www.MissNowMrs.com). These entries give grooms a look at wedding planning through the eyes of a woman.

www.TheManRegistry.com

During the month of June, David’s Bridal will give each lucky bride a MissNowMrs.com gift card when she purchases her wedding gown or bridesmaid’s dresses at one of their stores nationwide!  What a great idea…buy the dress of your dreams AND save 13 hours on your name change!  Check out David’s Bridal for more details on the promotion and how to plan the wedding of your dreams.

Have you been wondering what to do with your wedding gown?  Should you preserve your gown for future generations or will it collect dust for decades only to be discarded?  The Making Memories Breast Cancer Foundation has a fantastic way for you to make sure that your dress continues to help dreams come true. 

You can donate your gown to Brides Against Breast Cancer!  This fund-raising extension of the foundation sells donated bridal gowns (new and used) at a series of 32 shows nationwide.  The proceeds are used to grant wishes, including memory-making events, for metastatic breast cancer patients, while continuing to support, educate and increase resource awareness.

If you are interested in the Making Memories Foundation and the Brides Against Breast Cancer fund raiser please check out their website: www.makingmemories.org. MissNowMrs.com feels strongly about supporting breast cancer patients…and we now donate 5% of profits to the Making Memories foundation.

News Flash! MissNowMrs.com was included in InStyle Weddings "The Best Wedding Websites, from A to Z" article!  You can read all about our name-change service on page 184 of the Fall issue under the letter "Y" for Your New Last Name!

Did you know that the State of Virginia recently updated their driver’s license form again?  This will be the second time this form has changed since January of 2007.  Changes to a driver’s license form may seem like an irrelevant fact, but it may very well impact you.  If you purchased a name-change kit or CD and are planning on using the Virginia driver’s license form in them, you are probably wasting your time. Unfortunately, books and kits are printed in bulk and cannot be updated until all of the supply is used and a new edition is printed.

The MissNowMrs.com online name-change service has the advantage of being able to immediately update forms and directions as state and government offices make changes.  Once a new form is issued our service is updated and our customers receive the benefit of the new form instantly.  Giving brides access to the latest Virginia driver’s license form is just a recent example of our dedication to Making New Beginnings Easier!

The number of marriage certificates that a person needs is very dependent on how and where they are changing their name.  The DMV, State Department, and Social Security offices all require a certified marriage certificate to process a name change, but they will return them.  Name change with many banks and creditors will require marriage certificates and they are not obligated to return the certificates.  The average number of marriage certificates a bride uses for a name change in the United States is three.

If you are changing your name you may be concerned that your maiden name is printed on your certified marriage certificate or that you signed the certificate with your maiden signature.  As long as your name and your husband’s name are listed on the certificate you can use it as legal proof of marriage for name-change purposes.  The name you are changing to does not need to be listed on the certified marriage certificate.

The official that performed your marriage ceremony will submit your marriage certificate to a county office for recording.  Certified copies of that certificate are typically available ten days after your ceremony.  You can personally go to the county office where you applied for your marriage license and request certified copies, or you can request your certificates on line.  www.MissNowMrs.com is a site that guides brides through the name-change and marriage certificate request processes.