Name Change Advice

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!

3 Tips to Make Your Name Change Decision A Snap!

Your name change decision is a big one. While some of us newlyweds don’t want to change our names (and shouldn’t.) 88.6% of brides/newlyweds are still making the switch to Mrs. What if you can’t decide if you want to change your name? Read on for 3 tips to make your name change decision a snap!

Tip 1 –Talk to your spouse. Find out if they want you to change your name and why. There may be some fact or factor that you are unaware of that will make the decision easier. Perhaps they’re the last to carry the family name or have spent a lifetime imagining introducing their wife as Mrs. XYZ. Conversely, you may have assumed they want you to change your last name, but they might be happy to take yours.

Tip 2 – Figure out your options. There are SO many ways to change your name these days! You can take two last names, hyphenate, take your maiden as a middle, replace your middle with your maiden or even blend last names (in some states). Check into your state laws or play the Married Name Game to find out all of your married name change options…you may feel much better when you find your ideal compromise

Tip 3 – Try it out. Test your new name out by introducing yourself as such and signing it on a few things (nothing official)…you may feel less awkward than you thought. You can also talk to your friends about the whole new name idea and see what they think about your situation.

At the end of the day, married name change is entirely up to you. Do what feels best for you and your relationship. There is no official time limit on name change, so you can take your time to make the right decision. If you do decided to go from Miss to Mrs. be sure to use MissNowMrs to streamline the name change process and save 13 hours of hassle!

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Would You Could You In A…(5 Unique Newlywed Dates)!

Are you looking for unique newlywed dates? It’s busy being a newlywed! There’s the whirlwind of post-wedding thank you, possible moving/merging of your stuff and lives as well as your jobs, families and friends. You may find yourself going on fewer dates and recycling the same restaurants or activities over and over again. The solution? Try something new!

I was inspired by Dr. Seuss’s book Green Eggs & Ham….what better way to keep your dates interesting than adopting the mantra “Would you, could you in a…”? Whether you’re planning a weekend getaway or a weeknight meal start asking that question. Below are a few ideas:

1. Would You, Could You In A Tent? I think it would be incredibly romantic to drink wine and watch the sun set in a hanging tent. You could enjoy a trip to the circus or even plan a camping trip/date.

2. Would You, Could You In A Train? Imagine hopping a train for a weekend getaway in New York, Cape Code, the Grand Canyon…the adventure would be something you’d share and tell friends about for years! Check out a list of romantic train rides at vacationsbyrail.com. If that’s a bit much for you, consider looking for a train museum or a restaurant built in a station or train car.

3. Would You, Could You On A Roof? While it might be dangerous to picnic on your own roof, consider having cocktails at a bar with a roof top deck or find a restaurant on the top floor of a building. The views will be lovely and will help you feel far away from everyday life (unless you’re a roofer).

4. Would You, Could You In A Library? Channel your inner sexy librarian for a date night at a library. The older, bigger and more interesting the library, the better. I recommend a college library if you live near one. Snuggle up and share a saucy book of poetry or pass each other notes as you read. You can whisper about your all time favorite books…and connect on a new literary level.

5. Would You Could You In The Mud? There are two drastically different ways this idea can go. First way: train for a tough mudder together. You’ll burn calories, build a closer relationship and end up with some amazing muddy finish line photos! Feeling less than thrilled about dirty athletics? Book a couples mud massage at a local spa. You can relax and let the mud remove toxins from your body…together.

I challenge you to sit down with your spouse and make a list of “would you could you” unique newlywed date scenarios. It will be entertaining at a minimum and could result in your most memorable date as newlyweds. Please post comments with the dates you end up trying!

Top 5 Honeymoon Travel Tips For Brides

In the passport of life, marriage and name change are two very big stamps! On your actual passport, you’ll get a stamp for your honeymoon (should you travel outside the U.S.) But, the name on that passport can cause problems if you aren’t prepared. Read on for our Top 5 Honeymoon Travel Tips for Brides.

1. Maiden Voyage – Book your honeymoon travel and reservations in your maiden name. It will take 2 weeks for your marriage certificate to be issued. And, you’ll need that to file for your new driver’s license and U.S. Passport. It will take the State Department 5-6 weeks to send out your new passport.

2. Invest in Insurance – Worried you or your spouse will make a name mistake somewhere along the way? Invest in travel insurance to protect yourself from potential change fees or being required to re-purchase your ticket. TSA is no joke when it comes to name change.

3. Destination Wedding Do’s – Make sure that the Social Security Administration will accept your marriage certificate. Call 800.772.1213 to get the scoop on whether you’ll need to translate and/or authenticate your marriage license before it is legal in the U.S.

4. Stock Up – Request 2-3 additional certified marriage certificates while you’re at your destination. They’ll help streamline the name change filing process when you get home. And, save you the nightmare of long distance logistics around obtaining additional copies once you’re home

5. Save Time – Change your name with MissNowMrs. Our app or easy online name change service will help you go from Miss to Mrs. in a matter of minutes!

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Now that you know our honeymoon travel tips for brides, you can stop worrying. The entire MissNowMrs team wishes you bon voyage. You can can look forward to a lifetime of love, happiness, and a marriage that grows stronger with every passing year.

Kim Kardashian’s Name Change Plans

Have you heard about Kim Kardashian’s name change plans? Whether you’re Kim Kardashian engaged to Kanye West, or the average American bride, married name change is a big decision. Do you take your spouse’s name, hyphenate, take your maiden name as a middle name or just use your married name socially? With so many options and various state laws allowing or disallowing certain naming choices, it can be down right daunting to decide which names is right for you.

According to the Huffington Post, Kim Kardashian has decided to take Kanye’s last name, but keep her maiden name as a middle name. I’m curious how she came to this decision. Did she do some soul searching or try to find the ideal balance between her “brand” and the family she has started with Kanye? I think she should play the Married Name Game to see what the patent-pending algorithm determines as the best fit for her life. If any of you out there know her…please share this post with Kim!

Curious about what your ideal married name change option might be? Give the quiz a try. It’s fun, fast and very informative! If you’re thinking about changing your name, the MissNowMrs app and online service can save you 13 hours of hassle!

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5 Tips For Including Pets in Your Wedding

Everyone loves their pets, and more and more brides are finding ways to include them in their engagements and weddings. I love the originality and the inclusion of something meaningful and personal in their a wedding!

Pets can be difficult to “pose” in photos, but portraits are a great way to include them in your Big Day. Finding a photographer familiar with animals as subjects will make your shoot much less stressful. I suggest factoring photographers’ levels of experience and openness to including pets into your decision making process for your engagement/wedding photographer.

Including your pet in your wedding is another big decision to make. One bride’s thoughts are “Our dogs are like family that’s why we wanted them included. We are going to try to incorporate them into the wedding probably wearing some sort of here comes the bride sign or something.” If you feel the same way, read our five tips below to ensure success.

5 Tips for Including Pets in Your Wedding
1. Make sure that your ceremony site allows pets on site.
2. Consider your pet’s temperament before adding them to your wedding. Are they comfortable in large groups? Obedient under pressure?
3. Do any of your family members or bridal party have an allergy to your pet (that would make for uncomfortable photos)?
4. Who will be “in charge” of your pets during and after the ceremony? You & your spouse will have many other obligations during your Big Day!
5. Practical Attire: consider the safety of your pets if you dress them up for your wedding. If they hate and/or eat costumes regularly, you may have to compromise with fancy collars

Considering these 5 tips should save you stress and help you decide if including pets your wedding is a good idea, or possibly better for photo ops before and after!