Should you change your last name after the Wedding?
You’re about to become a Mrs. Perhaps you’ve been dreaming about it since you were a little girl. Should you become Mrs. HisLastName legally? Do you want to be known to the world together as Mr. and Mrs. HisFirstName HisLastName? It’s a more complicated question than you might initially think. Some brides have very strong feelings about it one way or the other. But there is no right or wrong answer, it’s a personal thing. Your decision should have nothing to do with equal rights, liberal movements or freedoms, nor does it have anything to do with your level of commitment to the marriage. It’s about you and your comfort level.
There are also many options for combining names. Hyphenation to make a new last name, adding a second last name, and taking your Maiden name as a middle name are just a few common possibilities.
Changing your surname also doesn’t have to be an all or nothing deal, at least in Canada, you can assume your husbands’ last name and still keep your birth certificate and SIN in your maiden name. While you become SuperWife (and perhaps SuperMom one day) you will still have your alter ego in your birth name.
Your name should reflect your identity. That may be the one you’ve already established, or it could be a new identity that you’re about to embark on. While we can’t make the decision for you, we did find a fun quiz that might help you think of things during your decision process that you may not have.
