Changing My Name...Step 1

I'm going to try to keep you entertained until I sort through our pictures. I started on Friday, but haven't looked at them again since...so it might be awhile, but I promise they will be coming in the near future! :)

With not much to think about anymore (i.e - wedding planning), I swarmed my brain with all the potential ways I could change my last name. I knew that I would always change my last name, but I was struggling (BIG TIME) with dropping my maiden name...FOREVER! I had come up with the following options.

1. Heidi Marie MaidenName HisLast - thus having two middle names
2. Heidi MaidenName HisLast - dropping my middle and using my maiden as my middle
3. Heidi Marie HisLast - the traditional route

Well we were driving to dinner last Friday, I brought up my indecisiveness to Mr. 2SB and gave him the options. He said either 2 or 3 and thought I was kidding with option 1. I talked to two of my recently married friends (who were also my BMs) about what they did. Both went with the traditional (number 3) route.

After doing some research, I found that Option 1 gave a lot of newly-married ladies some problems (with Social Security and DMV). A lot of places give you a hard time unless you go the traditional way. I was willing to fight my way to have the name I wanted, so I went back to being in 5th grade...I signed all my potential names (you know like you did with your 1st bf back in the day...don't kid yourself, you know you did it!). I decided I liked Option 3...the traditional route the best. Done and done!

Its been fairly slow for me at work, so I left early to get the process started. (Every state is different, so make sure you do your research to figure out what you need to do first.) In CA, you have to go to the Social Security office first. I was not looking forward to going to this office, but I drove a little out of my way to go to an out of the way office...hoping it would be less busy. Turned out, I was right! I arrived at the office at 2:45 and was out by 3:20...not bad at all! I was anticipating at least an hour!

Here's what you need to bring to the SSA:

• Current SS card (this is not listed on their website, but you forfeit it when you apply for your new one...at least I did, so I hope that's normal)
• Photo Identification (I used my passport and didn't need to show any other proof of identity)
• A copy of the Marriage Certificate
• This form - filled out
  

They take the form, verify your information, have you sign a piece of paper (with your new name) and with in 2 weeks, you (and I) should have your new card. You probably also want to bring something to pass the time...I brought a book, but didn't really need it, but you can never be too sure!

So, that's that! My next step is going to the DMV, but in CA, you have to wait at least 48 hours from when you want to the SSA because the DMV verifies your information with SSA. I'll probably hold off until next week beacause I hate going to the DMV (I have never experienced a worse DMV then the ones in CA...last time Mr. 2SB was there, it took him 2 hours to change his address), but I'll get there and be back with Step 2!

Just cause I like to...here's another teaser! I think its self-explanatory and I realized I never showed you my veil (probably because we, I mean my dad, bought it when we were home for Christmas and I didn't see it until the week before the wedding, so I forgot what it looked like)!

Pic from our amazing photographers