Newlywed Needs

Looking for name change advice or some tips for newlywed life? The MissNowMrs experts have created state-specific name change articles and checklists for you. We’ve chronicled our recommendations for how to travel while changing your name AND how to handle voting during the transition.

We’ve also compiled our best guidance for how to handle difficult sister in laws, holidays as newlyweds, the ever-annoying baby questions, and much more. Why? Because, while we are name change experts, we’re also newlywed wives, moms, and sisters.

We hope our name change advice articles help smooth your transition to your new name, and a whole new phase of life. Congratulations and best wishes from the entire MissNowMrs team!

Weddings: A Sparkler Moment In Life

Do you know what a sparkler moment is? As our country celebrates its independence, thousands of couples will be tying the knot over the holiday weekend. This photo made me think of how a wedding is similar to a “sparkler” in life.

It’s one of those exciting, life-changing events that will always make you smile when you think about it. Think of the fun you had as a child running with sparklers in the lawn. You felt that same thrill as you walked down the aisle and said “I do” to the love of your life.

Cherish the “sparkler moments’ in your relationship…they’re the best parts of newlywed and married life! This Fourth of July I suggest purchasing a box of sparklers with your spouse and saying one of your best relationship moments out loud as you light each sparkler. Then dance and run around like two little kids with fireworks in hand!

Summer As Newlyweds: 5 Things To Do

Spending the summer as newlyweds? The season is full of so many golden opportunities to make memories as a couple and with friends/family. It also has the tendency to be the season that flies by so quickly we all look up and it’s already fall. Take my advice and make a list of summer to-do’s together…right now! This allows you to understand each other’s ideal summer activities and the list can be referenced any time you have a free evening. Below are five newlywed summer ideas to get you started.

1. Pack a Picnic – Pick an afternoon to picnic and be serious about it. Whether you go the fancy route with wine, cheese and crackers or something as simple as fried chicken and lemonade it it the idea of eating together somewhere out of the ordinary that makes this a moment to remember…not just a meal. Leave your phones at home and take time to enjoy each other’s company and the outdoors. You’ll be glad you did!

2. Go to a Theme Park – Revel in being big kids who don’t have kids (yet). Screaming as you ride roller coasters and laughing as you get drenched on a log luge will do wonders for your relationship. Spending a carefree adrenaline filled day together is one of the best ways to celebrate summer as a newlywed. Don’t forget to take a commemorative photo or two.

3. Host a BBQ – Time to break out all of the fun entertaining items that you received as wedding gifts. Make a big pitcher of sangria, put together a salad, throw a few things on the grill and invite your friends over. Good times are guaranteed. You can up the fun factor by lighting sparklers as the light fades.

4. Plan Pool/Ocean Time – Make plans to plunge into a pool or the ocean (or both) this summer.. You can hit the community pool with a bag full of sunscreen and pool toys or get away for a weekend at the beach. There’s nothing better than cooling off in a big body of water with your spouse. Should you be flying to the beach. Don’t miss our travel tips for newlyweds!

5. Attend a Local Concert or Festival – Look for a concert or festival in your area. Groupon and Living Social tend to have discounted tickets to a variety of events from music to wine in the woods. You don’t have to go alone either, coordinate a whole group of friends to come enjoy the festivities. You’ll laugh, dance and enjoy each others company.

What are your summer plans? Did making a list work for you and your spouse? Let us know in a comment!

Ultimate Bridal Shower or Wedding Gift: A MissNowMrs Gift Card

A MissNowMrs gift card makes the perfect shower or wedding gift. It’s Spring and that means the beginning of bridal shower and wedding season. Looking for a unique and useful gift for the busy bride? Give her a MissNowMrs.com gift card to save her 13 hours of hassle on her transition from Miss to Mrs.! What bride wants a cookbook when she can have a gift that saves her from standing in endless government office lines as a newlywed?

Big News: MissNowMrs gift cards are now available at over 4600 Rite Aid locations!!

Instead of ordering our cards via our website, you can pop in your local Rite Aid and stock up for all of your showers or weddings (which is perfect for those who wait to the last minute to shop). For only $29.95 our easy online name change service guides brides through the auto-completion of all necessary married name change forms.

The list includes Social Security, IRS 8822, U.S. Passport, USPS, state driver’s license, vehicle title/registration, voter registration as well as notification letters for all of her banks, credit cards, utilities, insurances, medical providers, mortgages, etc.

Give the gift that the busy bride or newlywed will be raving to her friends about!

Newlywed Mother’s Day: Moms & Mother In Laws

Handling your first newlywed mother’s day? Hopefully wedding planning and newlywed life has improved your relationship with your mother as you now share even more life events in common. Newlywed life has also provided you with another mother to honor on Mother’s Day, your Mother-In-Law. Below are a few tips for incorporating your Mother-in-Law into the holiday.

To avoid any disappointment on either side of the family, it is wise to chat with your spouse about their traditions for Mother’s Day. Some families may simply send a card, while others plan elaborate weekends together. Understanding expectations before the holiday will help you plan a way to make both moms happy and prevent hard feelings between families.

For your first married Mother’s Day, it may be easier to celebrate separately. This is especially helpful if your mother’s live in different states. If both of you plan to spend time with both of your moms, you’ll need to schedule times in advance or see if both mothers would want to celebrate together.
This may sound like a great deal of planning for a single day, but happy in-law relationships can only help your marriage. If you’re planning a family in the future, it will also lay the ground work for your mothers to be flexible when it is your first Mother’s Day.

How are you spending Mother’s Day as a newlywed? Did you have to juggle family traditions or are you celebrating your own first Mother’s Day? We’d love to hear from you in a comment.

Newlywed Name Change & Passports: Answers to the 3 Most Common Questions

Have questions about newlywed name change and passports? As you newlyweds head off for your fabulous honeymoons, heads up: the State Department updated all three passport forms. What does this mean? If you’ve pre-completed the DS-5504, DS-11 or DS-82, you will need to find the latest forms and fill them out again. *If you’re a MissNowMrs.com name change customer, our service has already updated the form in your account and you simply need to re-print it. There were minute changes to the forms, but if you try to file the old ones…they won’t be accepted.

On the topic of newlyweds and passports, below are answers to the three most commonly asked questions:

1. Which name should I use to book my honeymoon travel? Book your flights and accommodations in your maiden name. It will take the county clerk’s office approximately two weeks to issue your marriage certificate, which you will need to file for your passport in your married name. The State Department will then take upwards of 5 weeks to process your filing and issue your new passport in your new married name. So skip name change fights with TSA and travel in your maiden name one last time.

2. What happens to my old passport? No one wants to give up the stamps and memories of travels pre-married name, and don’t worry you don’t have to. When your new passport is issued, your old one will be returned to you with two small holes punched in it.

3. I just filed and paid for a passport in my maiden name to go on my honeymoon…is there a fee for a new passport in my married name? Good news, as long as you file the 5504 form within 12 months of your passport issuance, you will not have to pay a fee. The State Department is looking out for us newlyweds on that front!

If you have any other questions regarding newlywed name change and passports or honeymoon travel free to contact the name change experts at MissNowMrs.com via phone or email. We’re here to help!