Relationship

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!

Newlywed Love Is Being Stupid Together

Newlywed love is being stupid together! Most weddings I attend (including my own) have a reading from First Corinthians “Love is patient, Love is kind…” While this scripture is very true, I feel that the strongest newlywed couples understand that love is also being stupid together.

In a world that emphasizes and idolizes “perfect couples”, it’s freeing to know that being goofy is okay. In fact, silliness and inside jokes helps cement your relationship. If you haven’t laughed or been stupid together in a while, here are a few suggestions:

Rent a Comedy – Plop on the couch and reconnect as you laugh at actors antics. You may even pick up a movie quote that will make you both laugh for years to come.
Play Charades – This game is guaranteed to have you both laughing hysterically as you try to guess what your partner is acting out.
Play With Small Children or Animals – There’s nothing like little kid laughter or puppy antics to make you smile and have a good time.
Have a Squirt Gun or Water Balloon Fight – Who can keep a straight face when they’re chasing or being chased by their mate armed with liquid ammo?

How do you enjoy being stupid together with your fiancé or spouse? We’d love to hear them in a comment!

Newlywed Giveaway:Win 101 Quizzes for Couples!

Engaged or Newlywed? You probably think you know just about everything about your partner…well guess again. Wait till you try 1010 Quizzes for Couples by relationship expert and writer for Cosmopolitan & People Magazine (to name a few), Natasha Burton.

This book has over one hundred unexpected quizzes to help you uncover fascinating facts about your partner and learn more about your relationship. Who doesn’t love to take a quiz and get the scoop on things like hidden talents, childhood crushes and the worst lie they ever told?!

Tell us a fun fact about your partner/spouse in a comment below to be entered to win a free copy of 101 Quizzes for Couples. We’ll announce our randomly selected winner on the blog and Facebook next Tuesday!

If you love quizzes, you should definitely play the Married Name Game! It asks a series of questions and then uses an algorithm to determine your ultimate married name. If you find your perfect name, MissNowMrs is happy to help you with the transition!

5 Ideas For Creating A Holiday Moment Together This Year

Creating a holiday moment together is SO important! Whether you’re planning your wedding or celebrating your first Christmas as newlyweds the holidays hold a host of parties, activities, family gatherings and maybe a few stressful questions. What are you buying your spouse? Are you now in charge of his/her family Christmas gifts? Where are you spending the holiday this year? Who’s traditions will be honored? What is your holiday budget?

In the midst of the shopping, baking, wrapping and traveling, I have one piece of advice for you. Plan time for just the two of you to make a memory. If you don’t plan to do this now, the holidays will have already whirled past before you have a chance to connect.

Short on ideas? You could go ice skating, make out under the mistletoe, take a walk through holiday lights, make an ornament to remember your first Christmas or have breakfast in bed together as you exchange gifts. You can also surprise your spouse with a name change. We’ve had clients slip their new driver’s license showing their married name into a card. So cute!

Whatever you choose, you’ll be able to look back over the years and remember “your holiday moment” as a nearlywed or newlywed!

We’d love to hear about how you’re creating a holiday moment together! Please leave a comment below.

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!

Where You Found Your Bridesmaids & What That Means About You

Where you found your bridesmaids is a really interesting snapshot of your life. I recently saw a photo, and thought it was first of all a great wedding photo idea and also a great topic to write about. The people you choose to stand up in your wedding party are supposed to be the most important people in your life that you picture supporting your marriage through all of its ups and downs. This pin made we wonder about the meaning of who your bridesmaids are/were and where/when did you meet them in life?

My bridesmaids included my hometown best friend (we met in Girl Scouts), college & post college roommate and fellow bio major (she was one of the first people I met on campus), my first post college co-worker (who introduced me to my husband and later married my cousin) and my husband’s best girl friend (who helped salvage him after a terrible long term relationship). All of these women have had profound impacts on me and have stood by me through many phases of my life.

Curiously absent from the bridal posse? My sorority sisters. I loved those crazy ladies but while I could picture them holding my hair back, I couldn’t see them supporting my new marriage. Years later, I realize that they would and do, but at the time it was impossible to tell. Do I regret not having one or two of them in my wedding? Yes. But I don’t regret making bridesmaid decisions based on who I though would see me through newlywed and married life.

In the day and age where women factor in who will look best in their wedding photos and ask bridesmaids sign contracts about their weight and hair length, I would like to remind brides of the importance of who they surround themselves with on their big day and beyond.