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!

Newlyweds: How To Buy Your Dream House

The wedding day was perfection, the honeymoon was even better, but now you are back at home facing a series of decisions to be made as a couple. Perhaps the most difficult of those, is the decision to buy a new home.

Choosing the Right Fit – The first step in the home buying game is very likely the most fun. That is the choosing the right house to make into a home together. This is a very emotional game. While you can look at as many print outs and computer images as you would like, nothing will give the true look and feel of the house without visiting it. While you should always feel free to walk through open houses, it is a good idea (especially for first time buyers) to use a real estate agent. These professionals have access to nearly all houses for sale and can narrow results for you based on the criteria that fit your needs. But, better than that is the fact that they will help you to write an official offer, with the negotiations, and with the buying timeline. Here’s a great place to search for qualified real estate agents in your area.

Soothing the Financing Fears – Let’s face it, for the vast majority of buyers, the main fear in buying a home is the assumption of loan payments. Most mortgages are written for thirty years, and when one stops to consider re-financing in the future and secondary mortgages, those loans can last even longer than that, so it is important to ensure that you stay within a realistic budget. It is always wise to consult a mortgage broker before looking at houses. There is no point in getting your hopes up about the “perfect house” before you know if you can afford it. Mortgage brokers shop around to find you the best lending deal and give you pre-approval for an amount they determine to be the high end of your buying power. That should also mean to you that the amount you are pre-approved is not necessarily meant to be the price you buy at, as you may want to stay within a safer range.

Getting to the Close – Remember, the majority of house transactions come with minor complications along the way. So do not assume that you have the house just because you put it under contract. You will likely have to face other difficult decisions, stressful changes in schedule, and other obstacles before you reach the finish line- closing day. But, it will all be worth it when you walk through the doors of your very own home for the first time. Be sure to savor the momentous occasion with photos and maybe a candle lit take-out dinner on the floor of the empty house that is now your home!

Do you have any advice for newlyweds purchasing their first homes together? We’d love to share your advice with our readers, so please leave a comment!

My Love, My Life… My Jean Size!

Newlywed life is affecting my jean size! After a few years of dating my now husband, I slowly began seeing similarities between the two of us. We found ourselves often saying the same thing at the same time and ordering the same meals out on dinner dates. Our habits and mannerisms grew more parallel, and even our taste in clothing became similar! Now, after 2 years of marriage I have taken notice to more extreme similarities, and some acquired habits that have got to go!

Do you remember having a best friend growing up, and you were often told that you were “two peas in a pod”? You were inseparable, and from spending so much time together your characteristics rub off, and you naturally become more alike!

It has been fun watching this same thing happen between me and my husband. I fell in love with who he is, as an individual, as his own person, and now I love what we have become together, still recognizing that we don’t need to be similar in ALL aspects of life

There is one habit that most women cannot share with a man and that is their eating habits! Men, naturally eat more than women do, and lucky for some they seem to magically not pack on extra pounds and can remain in-shape while doing so!

Unfortunately, this is not the case for all women! My question is, how unfair is that?! I recently came across an interesting video showing that just simply living with a man, women “mimic the food habits of their significant other”, and studies have shown that we tend to eat more when we’re with company.

I know that since becoming a Mrs. I have found myself selecting different food choices when out for dinner, and often eating more than my ‘normal’ portion sized meals, but am now comforted in knowing that this is a proven problem with other couples! However, this is not justifying my increased jean size! I would normally eat chicken and veggies for dinner; however, my diet has now expanded to include other meats and potatoes! Personally, I know that I am not one of those women that can eat and not gain a pound. It is so hard to make dinner while trying to accommodate for both of our taste buds and not cook for an entire army! So what do you do?!

I have decided to take action now before I keep plunging down the slippery slope of poor food choices to get back my old eating habits and my size 6! My husband and I will continue to share similarities and mutual habits in many aspects (as our relationship continues to grow, and I love that.)

BUT when it comes to eating, I will stick to my own habits and begin taking control! So the next time we’re ordering hoagies and chips, I will swap out one unnecessary empty carbohydrate (chips), and substitute with fruit or veggies!

Anyone else feeling me? Please share your stories with us, and what you did to get back on track!

The Name Equality Act: California

Have you heard about the name equality act? Name change is certainly tricky in all 50 states (with each state allocating their own laws on what constitutes a married name change versus a legal name change, etc.), you may be shocked to find out that in California couples can decide to make up a new last name to take after marriage thanks to the Name Equality Act*. While this is not a new law by any means, it’s definitely worthy of talking about!

The state of California allows one or both applicants to elect to change their middle and/or last names by which they wish to be known as after they are officially married. That means if you are planning to marry in CA and haven’t already applied for your Marriage License, this opportunity applies to you, so now you and your future spouse have a decision to make! Will you take his last name? Will he take your last name? Will the two of you have a combination of your two last names? Decisions, decisions!

What you need to know about the Name Equality Act

Only at the time of applying for your Marriage License can you elect to make these changes. Once your name is listed on your Marriage License, that is how it will later appear on your Marriage Certificate. This is the legal document used as proof of your marriage issued by your state. You cannot decide to add or amend this information after your Marriage License has been issued without having to obtain a Legal Name Change through your local superior court system. This can be costly, so it is important to put some thought into the name you will list on your Marriage License Application. After all, this is the name you will ultimately be known as in the future!

Each of you can elect to have one of the following last names:
The current last name of either spouse
The last name of either spouse given at birth
A name combining into a single last name all or a segment of the current last name or the last name of either spouse given at birth

Each of you can elect to have one of the following middle names:
The current last name of either spouse
The last name of either spouse given at birth
A hyphenated version of the current middle name and current last name of the person or spouse
A hyphenated version of the current middle name and the birth last name of the person or spouse

Confused yet?! Here’s an example:
Woman: Jane Marie Doe
Man: John Robert Smith
They can become Jane Smith Doe (and John Smith Doe), Jane Marie-Doe Smith (and John Robert-Doe Smith), Jane Marie Doesmith (and John Robert Doesmith), etc.

Do you and your spouse share a combination last name? Was your family supportive of your choice to make up a new last name? Tell us your story… We’d love to know how you worked through the process and if you used our online service or name change app!

*The name equality act currently only applies to couples marrying in California and to all California Marriage Licenses issued on or after January 1, 2009.

Help Me Change My Name

Stylish September Giveaway: Jewelry from ADORN

Eagerly anticipating our September giveaway? Whether you’re a bride-to-be or newlywed woman, diamonds are still a girl’s best friend. Who hasn’t drooled over celebrities draped in jewels for red carpet events or their fabulous weddings (need I mention Carrie Underwood’s tiara)? Drool no longer ladies!! You too can be decked out in diamonds for your big day (be it your wedding, anniversary or a huge soiree)!

ADORN has partnered with MissNowMrs.com to present our lucky September Giveaway winner with a $200 jewelry rental for free! ADORN is the equivalent of every budget oriented bride’s fairy godmother. You can rent diamond earrings, necklaces and bracelets from their website for a fraction of the cost of buying them.

Here’s How It Works:
1. Go shopping and pick out the pieces you love and add them to your “shopping bag”. Check their availability by entering your event date.
2. Check out using a credit card to order the jewelry for your event date.
3. Look amazing wearing the jewelry on your special occasion
4. Send it back on the first business day after your event using packaging and pre-paid label Adorn provides for you.

Psyched to win our September Giveaway?! Leave a comment on this, or any of our jewelry posts on Mondays this month and you’ll be automatically entered to win. Share your big day dreams with us and how ADORN jewelry will complete your look. The randomly selected contest winner will be announced on September 30^th!! If we don’t hear back from the winner within 2 weeks, we will randomly select a new winner to make sure someone ends up with this great goodie!

Announcing our August Giveaway Winner!

We’re so excited for our August giveaway winner! Congratulations to Courtney!! You read our newlywed blog, left a comment and now have won over $350 worth of custom thank you notes! You can look forward to writing to all of your guests on notes featuring your favorite wedding photo of you and your beloved.

Please check your email for the details on how to redeem your fabulous prize from Forever Friends Fine Stationery and Favors, a newlywed’s best source for fine quality personalized printed products, offering stationery for every budget and occasion.

Bummed that you didn’t win our awesome August giveaway? Stay tuned to see what gorgeous giveaway we have in store for our readers in the month of September!