Name Change/Honeymoon Timeline...

christy7211

I need to bounce some thoughts around with the knotties...

I don't know if I'm going to change my name on my passport before we go on our Honeymoon or if I'll go with my maiden name. 

Getting married July 2nd, 2011

Honeymoon Aug 28, 2011

My vehicle registration and license are all due August 15 but will cost considerably less if my name is changed and they are changed to married. I will be married then but if I wait to change my name til after the honeymoon the discounts won't take effect and then I'll have to go do it all again to change my name on my registration. 

My question is, should I just go ahead and pay the $110 to change my name on my passport right away so that I can get all my other stuff changed before I have to re-register and license everything?

Thanks knotties!

lyndausvi

you can get away with changing everything but your passport until after the honeymoon.  The only thing you have to do is put all of your travel reservations in your maiden name.

christy7211

yea but doesn't your drivers license have to match your passport??? I can't change my license and registration without my drivers license being changed too...I don't think.

megandjay

But do you have to wait for your marriage certificate to be processed by the clerk's office? You will need that as proof to change your license.

VESmith25

Your drivers license and passport are not related.  First you visit the Social Security office and then change your drivers license.  You can do your passport at anytime after doing SS. I did mine more than a year apart and still traveled under my maiden name with my passport.  You only need one form of ID for security. 

I don't understand the concern with getting marriage discounts though.  Really none of the name stuff matters anyway b/c you only need proof you are married.  Your last name has nothing to do with that.  Unless I'm not understanding the initial question correctly...

lyndausvi

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_honeymoon_name-changehoneymoon-timeline?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:11Discussion:649770e8-01b9-4a57-bd8b-f00f9b850361Post:a9c68ac7-8359-454c-82d2-addf66902c75">Re: Name Change/Honeymoon Timeline...</a>:
[QUOTE]yea but doesn't your drivers license have to match your passport??? I can't change my license and registration without my drivers license being changed too...I don't think.
Posted by christy7211[/QUOTE]

When you check-in to the airline you just use your passport as ID.  They never need to see your driver's license to even know it's different.

christy7211

We're going on a cruise. Does this make a difference? I watched a show on cruises and some people do not get to go because their travel documents aren't right and their names don't match. Seems like a pretty big risk to take (should they need a second form of id) when you're spending so much on the honeymoon.

lyndausvi

again, as long as you book under your maiden name and you are always using your passport with your maiden name  as your form of ID you will be fine.  

But if you are concerned that you can't handle just giving them your passport then either change them both or neither.

But remember it normally takes up to a few weeks to get your license back, then you need to change you SSN, then you apply for your Driver's license, passport etc.   You have about 7 weeks in between and that could be cutting it close.

lyndausvi

the key is whatever name you book the cruise and flight under is what you need to have the passport in.    People get in trouble because they book using the married name and they have not changed yet.  Or they booked under the maiden name and did change their name.  

As long as your name on the booking and the passport match you will not have any problems.

MissyCee

If I were you I would wait to change my passport and book everything in my maiden name. Like a pp said, it can take a couple weeks to get your marriage certificate, then about 10 days to get your new ss card once you've applied and then you have to get your new license which can also take a couple weeks. I wouldn't risk it.

If you book in your maiden name your passport has to match, that's it. It doesn't matter what anything else says because no one else will ever look at anything but your passport.

christy7211

Thanks ladies! Now at least I can get started with my name change on everything else right away and I don't have to worry about my passport. I already have one so it will be nice to not pay extra to change it.