Real Name Change Stories

Ready for Rachael’s real name change story? Don’t miss how a first date between Cancers turned into a military wedding on Veteran’s day! Rachel also shares her name change journey and best newlywed advice!

Rachael’s Love Story

Jean Paul and I met after my sister in law, Jamie Claire, who went to college with him introduced us. I don’t think either of us really expected our first date to be good, but we both went along and that’s where the magic started. We went to eat at an Asian Restaurant called Soji and when we met for the first time it was an instant connection and we have been pretty much in love ever since.

We are both Cancers (Jean Paul July 12 and Rachael July 22) so I think that helps a lot with our personalities meshing so well together. Jean Paul is military so he is deployed right now but luckily we got to get married before he left. Our wedding was better than I could have ever expected. We got married on November 11, 2020; we didn’t realize it was Veteran’s Day until we had already decided on the date!

Our beautiful wedding on Veteran’s Day could not have gone better if we tried. Everyone in our families chipped in to make it happen, from the champagne glasses (thank you Mamel!), to the flowers (thanks Angela.) Also, my mom took our photos and Jean Paul’s sister and his mom decorated Adele’s house. It was all so beautiful and special to us.

Rachael’s Name Change Narrative

We are both very traditional people so it wasn’t really a discussion. We both decided that I would take his last name and put my last name as my middle name. I was so happy to get married and become a Thibodaux.

I enjoy being called Mrs. Thibodaux. I have really enjoyed being able to go to one place to change my name across all of my documents and things. On the downside, I now have to update all of my payment settings online because when I changed my name I had to have all new cards so that wasn’t fun.

The MissNowMrs app has made everything so convenient and easy to remember and it is all in one place. And, if I have any questions I know customer support is always there for me!

Rachael’s Newlywed Advice

Plan together, eat together, and enjoy life together. I can honestly say my husband is my best friend and I am very lucky to have him. He is always my biggest cheerleader and strongest shoulder to lean on so remember who you want your spouse to be for you.

Did you enjoy Rachael’s Real Name Change Story? We’d love to write about your story as well! Email us or message us on Instagram to be put in touch with our features department. And, should you be thinking about changing your name, check our our 20 step name change checklist.

Ready for Ally’s real name change story? Don’t miss how two military members fell in love, overcame COVID-19 wedding drama and how Ally chose to honor her father with a maiden to middle name change. You’ll also love her advice regarding the “love hangover!”

Ally’s Love Story

My husband Cody, and I met in the Army while we were both stationed in Missouri. We were invited to a bbq through a mutual acquaintance. And, even though we could have not been more different, we became inseparable! Only a few short months later Cody went back to his hometown in Alabama. So we began our 3 year long distance relationship. The long distance was hard, especially during my deployment. But after my contract was finished I decided to leave the Army and move to Alabama.

Cody proposed on December 22, 2019 in my hometown of Portland, Oregon on the greenest and most beautiful of hiking trails! Even though we lived in Alabama we decided we wanted to have the wedding in Oregon on November 15, 2020. After booking about half our vendors, COVID-19 hit and the lock down began. I traveled to Oregon in June for a venue walk through. Then I found out it would not be possible to have our wedding due to strict COVID-19 restrictions in Oregon. With so much of our relationship already taken away from us due to our jobs and the distance it was extremely important for us to have our wedding on our own terms. We decided against postponement and chose to move the wedding to Alabama.

Luckily I found the most incredible wedding coordinator, Sheriah Gibson of Posh Occasions. We planned the most beautiful wedding in just four months. One of our original vendors, our photographer, agreed to travel from Oregon and shoot our wedding. He was amazing! True to our original plan, Cody and I were married November 15, 2020 in a beautiful industrial loft in downtown Birmingham, Alabama. The guest list was a little smaller but love we felt from our family and friends, and for each other was even bigger! 

Ally’s Name Change Narrative

My sister and I were out father’s only children and he would always tell us that the “Mayes family name would end with him” unless one of us kept it. Our father ended up passing away when we were young and it then felt even more important to us to keep his name alive. However, I believe it is such a beautiful tradition to take your husband’s last name. It’s a symbol of two becoming one, and of finally establishing your own family.

My husband is an amazing man and always told me it was my decision on whether or not I wanted to change my name because he knew the sentiment behind it. When the time came I decided to take his last name, and moved my maiden name to my middle name. I thought it was a special way to honor my old family and my new one. I feel so blessed to be a Roberts and I know my dad would be proud.

This might be very cheesy but I think the most exciting part about changing my name was the first time I signed “Ally Roberts”! It was for a UPS package at work but I thought it was the coolest thing ever! I also love signing all of our thank your cards “From, The Roberts”.  It feels like a tangible way of officially starting our own little family. So far the hardest part about changing my name has just been the waiting! Waiting for paperwork to be finalized and new documents to be sent out so we can change the big things like health insurance and joint bank accounts. 

The MissNowMrs service is genius. I wouldn’t even have known where to start, and to have it all in one place and sent to my door pre-filled out?! Amazing! I also love how the packet included steps to change your name with various other companies and agencies – I didn’t even think about changing my name on store cards and subscription services. I would recommend MissNowMrs to every single bride!

Ally’s Newlywed Advice

First piece of advice, is to bask in the mushy love fest that being newlyweds is! We have so enjoyed one another in our wedding and honeymoon “love hangover!” Second piece of advice, is to be patient – with each other and with life. My husband and I have felt this pressure to hurry up and start our lives, but luckily we have lovely family and friends who have reminded us we have an eternity to do life together so just slow down and soak in the moments. 

How sweet was Ally”s Real Name Change Story? We’d love to write about your story too! Send us an email or message us on Instagram to be put in touch with our features department. And, should you be thinking about changing your name, check our our 20 step name change checklist.

Gorgeous photos by Daniel at The Indigo West

Ready to read Alexa’s Real Name Change Story? You’ll love her spontaneous elopement with family…. her new married ABC initials, and Alexa’s great advice for fellow newlyweds!

Alexa’s Love Story

My husband Tyler and I have always been a bit on the adventurous side. We met while working at a skydiving company and got engaged while on a 3 week cruise from LA to NY! Our wedding was one of a kind!

New Years Eve 2019 we were debating on if we should elope and on New Years Day 2020 we were married! We knew we wanted Tyler’s dad to marry us, so he had already been ordained in mid 2019. For New Years we we flew out to Arizona and had rented a cabin with his entire family. While driving to the cabin we saw a snow covered dirt road leading off the main road. We went on google maps and saw where it lead. It was a hidden treasure!

On New Years Eve when we were debating on getting married, we drove to the spot and scoped it out – it was perfect. There was no doubt in my mind that this was where I wanted to get married! We got all dressed up, went to the spot, did the thing, got some awesome drone footage went back home and ate tacos! We are also huge Mexican food fans! There wasn’t a single thing I would have changed about the day! Also, eloping is WAY less stressful than planning an entire wedding!

Alexa’s Name Change Narrative

Well, it was never a question in my mind that I would change my last name. For starters, my maiden name started with a W and I was SO TIRED of getting picked last in school HAHA. But when I was younger, I knew I wanted to marry someone with the last name of a C so my initials could be ABC – stupid I know. But that’s just another reason why I know I married my soulmate! 

My new last name is the best part of my name change! Honestly, my last name was always hard to say so people would always butcher it. Cary is just much easier and I don’t have to awkwardly try and spell it out over the phone for people!

The hardest part of my name change is how ambiguous it was. Strangely enough, it seems like the places where you go to get your name changed, don’t always know how they are supposed to do it! There were a lot of questions for me because I had no idea where to start, what I needed for what and where to go. 

MissNowMrs gave me everything I needed to get everything going on my name change. Unfortunately, when I was finally able to get my Social Security card changed, COVID-19 hit and I figured it would be best if I waiting to finalize everything after! But I already have everything filled out! I just have to walk into the DMV and mail the remainder of items out! 

Alexa’s Newlywed Advice

Tyler and I have always been adventurous. Don’t let your honeymoon be your only adventure. Don’t just get right back to work after – still have date night, still surprise each other with little things. You got married because you want to spend the rest of your lives together – live it up! 

How sweet was Alexa’s Real Name Change Story? We’d love to write about your story too! Send us an email or message us on Instagram to be put in touch with our features department. And, should you be thinking about changing your name, check our our 20 step name change checklist.

We can’t wait to share Savanna’s real name change story with you! Read on to learn how two people fell in love over street tacos and football, and eventually eloped. Savanna also shares her name change experience and advice for fellow newlyweds.

Savanna’s Love Story

Terry and I met during our senior year at Oklahoma State where we quickly bonded over our love for college football and street tacos. We started hanging out after work, between classes, and found any excuse to be around each other. I didn’t know it yet. But, I was already so in love with this man from Texas.

That fall we met up to watch the OSU vs Baylor homecoming game and afterwards we took a drive in his truck. We drove all over Stillwater talking, laughing, and finally I asked him if we were going to do this thing or what? He took my hand and from that moment forward life as I knew it changed. By winter we’d moved in together and by Spring we graduated and moved back to Texas. Last October, we eloped to Telluride Colorado where we exchanged vows on a mountain side and afterward found a place to watch the OSU vs Baylor homecoming game like we’d done six years ago.

Savanna’s Name Change Narrative

We talked about name change a few months after we started dating and it was just something we always agreed upon. I was excited at the thought of changing my name once we made it official. The best part is getting to see his last name next to my name now. It still gives me full body chills! It wasn’t really hard to change my name, but honestly sitting at the DMV for 6 hours had to be the worst part. That’s just to be expected though!

I honestly cannot say enough good things about MissNowMrs! It was so easy and saved me so much time and stress. I didn’t have to worry if I was missing a document or important information that would just make the process more stressful. It was a relief knowing I had everything I’d need in the folder I received.

Savanna’s Newlywed Advice

Actively pursue the “honeymoon” phase everyday! It doesn’t have to end after the wedding or after the honeymoon. Be persistent in cultivating those feelings you felt on your wedding day for your partner. It’s not always easy because like any good husband mine drives me bonkers some days. But, its those small choices everyday that will make all the difference!

Did you enjoy Savanna’s Real Name Change Story? We’d love to share your story too! Drop us a note or message us on Instagram to be put in touch with our features department. And, should you be in the process of changing your name, check our our 20 step name change checklist.

Photo credit: Wild Opal Photo