NER - Honeymoon after name change

linnyv27

I think I know the answer to my question, but just wanted to double check.

I am getting married at the end of August but we won't be taking our honeymoon until mid January 2014. I will start changing my name on everything right after the wedding, so I should book everything under the new married name correct?

I am second guessing myself but my new driver's license shouldn't take more than 4 months to come in. I just remember reading some stories where changing names took a long time so I was thinking to perhaps hold off on changing it until after the honeymoon - but I would rather not.

How was the name changing process for you? Fast, slow, difficult?

Loopyseven

I'd go ahead and book everything as your married name.  Typically, you need to wait a couple of weeks (usually 2-3 max) for your marriage certificate to be filed by the county, then you go get an official copy.  I used that to change my drivers license, (took less than a day once I had the license) then that and the marriage cert to change my social security card.  You'll have to send a copy of the marriage certificate with a renewal application to get a new passport (if you need one) which could take about 6 weeks to get back, but I got mine back in less than 3.  It's definitely do-able in less than 4 months if you take care of it.  The passport is the most time consuming, everything else was just about making the point to go to the DMV, social security office, etc, but, if you're really worried about it, you can expedite a passport by paying extra and they'll have it back to you in 2 weeks I think it is.  (or my idiot brother just got one in 3 days when he realized he lost his 4 days before his trip to Mexico - but that is mega $$$ so I wouldn't recommend it ).  

We went on our HM right after our wedding so we booked that as my maiden name.  We went to Mexico with my family about 5 months after the wedding and I had everything I needed to travel switched over well before we left.  I found the DMV and the social security websites to be helpful as far as knowing what documentation I needed to take ahead of time so I only had to make one trip.  

ericaandtom2012

Make sure you check the rules for your state. I needed to go to the social security office (with my marriage certificate) and change my name with them before I could change my name on my drivers license. It took about 2 weeks to get my new social security card back before I could do the other things. I have not changed my passport yet (and won't unless I need it before it expires). 4 months should be plenty of time to make all the changes, provided you are on top of it, especially if you need a new passport. 

Kate61487

Honestly you could go either way.  I had completely changed my name except for my passport about a month after the wedding.  (The important things anyway.  a year and a half later I still find random memberships that have my maiden name...) 

The passport I held off on until I needed it; b/c it was going to be the full fee redgardless, so I wanted to get as much time out of it as possible.  I found out H's cousin just never changed hers.  If she was traveling out of the country she just booked her airline ticket in her maiden name; since they only ask for one form of ID. 

You could always book it in your maiden; go ahead and change everything but your passport, and then use your passport at the airport (even if you're traveling within the states) if you're worried about it.

[Deleted User]

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_etiquette_ner-honeymoon-after-name-change?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding BoardsForum:9Discussion:ad11537d-1337-41d5-8079-19f72588cc50Post:343b066e-f26a-47ea-bf57-98b97b27a72d">Re: NER - Honeymoon after name change</a>:
[QUOTE]I found out H's cousin just never changed hers.  If she was traveling out of the country she just booked her airline ticket in her maiden name; since they only ask for one form of ID.  You could always book it in your maiden; go ahead and change everything but your passport, and then use your passport at the airport (even if you're traveling within the states) if you're worried about it.
Posted by Kate61487[/QUOTE]

This is risky if you get asked for a second form of ID. This could happen if you use your credit card in your married name and they ask for ID, or heaven forbid you get hurt and need to access your travel insurance. In either case your ID will not match your passport. Best to make sure all of your IDs are in the same name when you travel. Wait until after or get it all done before you leave.