There are a lot of decisions you need to make when planning a wedding. From choosing your dress and picking your venue to selecting a menu and deciding on a colour scheme, you and your partner will need to be decisive all the way through the wedding planning process.
One of the most important decisions you’ll need to make is whether or not to take your partner’s name once the ceremony is over. According to @sprucemagazine, ‘Somewhere between 60 percent and 80 percent of brides take their husband’s last name when they get married, while 20 percent choose to keep their maiden name and about 5 percent chose to hyphenate.’ To help you decide whether to change your name or keep it maiden, we’re taking a look at the pros and cons of taking on a new moniker.
Pro: Tradition
One of the main reasons that women choose to change their names when they get hitched is because it’s traditional. For years, changing your surname from that of your father to that of your husband was essentially a way of showing there had been a change of ownership. The woman would join her husband’s family and, in many ways, become his property. In modern times, a lot of women see it as an easy and convenient way of creating a new identity for their new family and drawing a line under their old, single life.
Pro: Keeping it simple
Taking your husband’s name when you get married does help to keep life simple. It means that you, your partner and your kids will all have the same surname, something that can make life a lot easier when it comes to travelling with your kids and doing admin further down the line.
Cons: It’s a hassle
There’s no denying the fact that changing your name is a bit of a hassle. You’ll need to get in touch with your bank, your employer and any other person or business you have a financial or professional relationship with to notify them of the change. You’ll also need to alter your passport and your driving licence to reflect your change of name. All this admin can take a great deal of time and be inconvenient.
Cons: Changing your identity
Your name is a big part of your identity and losing it can be hard for a lot of women. If you’re attached to your surname, you could always hyphenate it with your partner’s to create a new family moniker. Hyphenating allows you to keep your name while also acknowledging your married status.
Cons: It’s old fashioned
While some people may see taking your husband’s name as being traditional, others see it as old fashioned. These days, many women, and men, don’t see why the bride should automatically be expected to drop her surname in favour of her husband’s.
If you’d like help with other aspects of planning your wedding, or if you’re still on the lookout for that perfect venue, we can help. Get in touch with a member of our expert team today to find out more.
