Brides Who Are Keeping Your Own Last Name. . .

Im def NOT keeping my last name

On the invitation its will say "Mr&Mrs Williams"

How about the "xxxxxx-xxxxx" household? Like the "Smith-Jones" house.

Or just don't put last names.

Well, I was going to hyphenate, but it's been nearly 3 months and I haven't changed anything yet. It was first due to the gov't shut down, but now I've gotten lazy. I'm been referred to my last name, my last name-DH last name, and DH last name. I'm okay with all three. I've kept my maiden name more so in my professional life, and the hyphenated name or DH last name in my personal life.

For your thank you cards, you can do what you said or keep it generic like "love, the newlyweds your first name & DH first name" I think that's what we did!

@Erica, the thing with that is if do "XXXX-XXXX Household", then I feel like people are going to assume we have hyphenated our names - which we haven't we are both keeping our own names.

If I don't put last names at all (and don't address this situation in some other way outside of thank you notes) people will assume I have changed my name to his.

This will be the first time any of our extended family and many of our friends have encountered a non-traditional naming situation and I want to be clear about it to them.

I'm keeping my name

(If you put Smith-Jones house or something people may think you are hyphenating)

I've seen Smith/Jones which actually is what me and FH do if we have to put surnames on things and I know a lot of people who use that.

We will be signing cards just as our first names. Will make a point of having the return address as Smith/Jones as we do now.

We will be making a point of it being said at the wedding as well

But if we get something as Mr and Mrs Smith then I have no issue putting them right and will continue to correct them until they stop.

@Ella, thats funny! I know a few people who married during the govt. shut down and still haven't gone about making their changes. It's nice that you're ok with any name combo. I'm planning to use my last name both socially and professionally and while I don't foresee myself getting angry or upset if people use my wrong name - I will find it very annoying and I will correct them (politely, of course). But, I'd rather just announce in a way that makes it clear to everyone upfront.

@Mallory THANK YOU! I hadn't thought of doing it Smith/Jones. That's a great idea. So you did announce at the wedding? I've been debating that b/c I don't want this to become a big distraction at our reception with people asking about it then. I was just going to have us announced by our first names - but maybe acknowledging the name thing in both places is a better way to get it across.

I'm not sure what I'm doing with my last name and have most recently decided to wait and see how I feel. A related question: how are you having DJ and officiant announce you after the ceremony or during your reception entrance?

Ps I really like Smith/Jones. Could you also include something in the program or on the wedding website? Not sure if that takes away from anything, but most people read the program while they're waiting.

@Chrissy! Those are all things I have considered. I'm struggling to find the balance between not wanting to be too in-your-face about it and wanting people to know the situation. I worried the program or the website may be too much, but maybe not?

Yeah we will be announcing it,

both when the officiant says "I now present you with the newly married, FHfn FHsn & Mallory Surname, (or something like like as long as both our surnames are said)" and at the reception as well

I don't think it as distraction mainly because that is what I did at my first wedding as well and people just accepted it.

I would have the DJ say something to the effect of "now introducing the newlyweds YourFirstName Yourlastname & HisFirstName HisLastName!"

I think your thank you note wording is good as well.

We are both changing our last names to something completely different. We will have it announced at the wedding, sign thank yous as mr and mrs completelynewlastname and continue to (politely) correct people until all is well =]

@Leblancly, thank you! I think I might have the DJ do it now after hearing @Mallory's response.

@Danielle- I LOVE the idea of creating a new name! It is something we considered, but it just wasn't right for us right now. We've discussed reconsidering it when the time to start thinking about kids comes.

We planned on signing our legal names. Most people have already assumed we'd keep our own names, so no need for any announcements. It's also fine by me to socially say Mrs. HisName, but written would be my/our legal name(s).

I've also seen what Mallory said "Smith/Jones". I really like that.

@Storm: We're the opposite in that most people just assume I will changing my name to his!

Technically its really no ones business...I would just sign it the Newlyweds...plain & simple.

Our return address on the Thank You cards was Deborah MyName and Spouse HerName. Problem solved.

@Milwaukee I think it's very appropriate to want ones correct name used.

I've thought about it but didnt make any decisions on how to go about it. Im keeping mine and wont mind socially if I get called Mrs Hislastname. I will be writing name the same way. If the dj introduces you I'll probably ask him to say Introducing Mr his whole name and Mrs My whole name. When people ask, I tell them now so alot know already