Picture it- You’re heading towards marital bliss and you and your soon-to-be spouse are excited to be a bit daring in your life choices.

“Hello, Mr. Right and Miss….Always Right. It looks like you’re changing your names due to marriage. What Surname will you be taking?…

Wrong? No problem! Sign here and pay $$. Congratulations Mr. and Mrs. Wrong on your upcoming nuptials!”

You leave the administration building ready to set a new legacy for your family! And then you tell people…

“You can’t do that! It’s Wrong! What kind of name is that?!” Your sister shrieks.

“I’m not good enough for you!?” Your mother-in-law sobs into a kerchief.

Okay, maybe it’s not always that dramatic. Truth be told, many couples are opting to choose a new last name entirely due to family history, profession, or a number of other reasons. In a generation of breaking generational cycles we see this happening more and more.

So what is the right last name for you?

Traditional last names are actually being used more now than in the 70s-80s. Women were keen on equality stances much like today, but then they realized that it’s actually much easier to have one last name. You can actually start the name-change process as soon as you have your marriage license. Drive right from city records to social security administration to get that ball rolling (trust us- it can take a bit of time so you can’t start too early).

The wife’s surname is being chosen more now days due to male family history or her profession being a major career that would be a difficult swap.

We know of couples who choose a spouses last name in lieu of wanting to set a better legacy than the name has held in several generations.

There are so many factors when taking last names and it shouldn’t be swayed by outside voices. Names are what history remembers- faces, not so much (also, ironically, height seems to be remembered if you’re uncharacteristically short). You should consider this long before the wedding day approaches. Ask each other questions like- What do we want our name to stand for? Would we want our children holding that name? Can we afford a complete name change? What are our reasons for NOT taking that name? What are the repercussions of that choice and are we able to live with them?

Our best advice when making this decision is- don’t settle. Decide together and voice and all concerns and opinions so they don’t come out 7 years down the road in an argument of who forgot to switch the laundry.

Drop us a comment on why you chose your last name? Why? Would you do it again? Even if you chose the last name “Wrong” 😉

-CGP