Changing your Last Name

So I'm coming up on my 1 year wedding anniversary! WHAAAAAT?! Time, sloooow down please.

There is a lot to do before your wedding, but the journey to becoming Mrs. doesn't end there. Today we are going to go over "the name change". 

I personally chose to hyphenate so that I could keep my maiden name (and my family roots) and add my spouses name to that. So I'm going from Lacey Johnson to Lacey Johnson Rootness.

I'm not sure if a name change is something you have thought too much about, but if you have then you might know what's involved, you will need to consider changing your: drivers license, passport, bank accounts, insurance, company employee information, car registration, gym membership, credit cards, social security card... basically everything.

But don't feel overwhelmed, I'm breaking it all down for you.

If you handle the paperwork within the first year of marriage (while you are still a newlywed) it saves you a lot of complications and fees down the line. So, right now you can come along with me on my journey to becoming Mrs.

Follow these 5 steps below...

The below links are specifically for California residence living in Santa Clara County

Before the wedding ceremony...

 

MARRIAGE LICENSE

Before you get married both you and your fiancé will need to hop into the County Clerk-Records Office to obtain a marriage license.

If you are a resident of Santa Clara County in California here is a link where you can expedite the process and fill out this form. This can also be done in the office.

A standard marriage license in Santa Clara County, California is $80.

Once you complete this process you will receive the following documents from the clerk:

  • License and certificate of marriage

  • An envelope pre-addressed to the County Clerk-Recorder

  • Instructions for the Officiant (if applicable)

From here...

  • Give these items to the person performing your marriage ceremony.  That person will complete the rest of the information on your license and your two witnesses will sign after your ceremony.
  • Post ceremony, your efficient will then mail the license and certificate of marriage to your County Clerk-Recorder’s Office for recording no later than 10 days after the ceremony.  

After the wedding ceremony...

 

MARRIAGE CERTIFICATE

After your wedding you can go to your County Clerk-Record's Office to obtain your marriage certificate.

For Santa Clara County California peeps, It's $15 per person per marriage certificate. Fill out your marriage certificate here to expedite the process. Check out the California in Santa Clara County  website for more details. 

 

SOCIAL SECURITY

Based on the research I've done it seems like the best starting option for a name change is to start with your social security card. So grab that marriage license and download and fill out the social security form and book an appointment at your local social security office. You will need to bring along proof of your identity along with a copy of your marriage license. For more information on name changes for your social security card click here.

 

DRIVERS LICENSE

Next let's get that drivers license changed! You will need:

Form DL 44

Unfortunately you cannot grab this form online because original signatures are needed. So you can either... 

  • Have the form mailed to you. Just call the DMV To obtain a DL 44 or DL 44C form, at 1-800-777-0133 (available 24 hours a day, 7 days per week).
  • Or visit your local DMV office to pick one up 

 

PASSPORT

To get yourself ready for your next international adventure you will need to obtain a new passport by mail! You will need

  • Form DS-5504 (for US citizens)
  • Your current valid passport
  • Your original or certified name change document, such as a marriage certificate or court order (no photocopies or notarized copies)
  • One color passport photo. Check out the photo requirements here - to get a passport photo you can pop into a local drug store or take your own photo.

For more information on changing your passport click here.

The Knot also offers a really cool name changing service called Hitchswitch, a hassle free option.

I know paperwork is not the most exciting, but hopefully this will be a valuable resource to help you get all your ducks in a row and get your name changed in no time!

 

XO,

Lacey

Why I recommend a "first look"

Your wedding day timeline, how's it going?

This is one thing I work very closely with my brides and grooms on. 

A well thought out wedding day timeline lets me and other vendors know exactly what needs to be happening when. It allows me to plan accordingly for a long list of family portraits and reminds me when key moments will be taking place! 

The biggest problem I have come across with timelines? After finalizing a timeline the one thing most brides want is... more time to enjoy their friends and family!

Many modern brides want to take part in the cocktail hour, after all it's their party right?! So I'm giving you some insight to a major time saving secret here and one way to get all your beautiful must have photos and still catch the tail end of your cocktail hour.

The solution is this... the first look!

If you haven't yet heard about the first look you'll want to. Sure it goes against traditional values where the groom doesn't see the bride until she walks down the isle, but here's what it does provide:

  • Makes for some adorable photos
  • Gives the bride and groom an intimate and quiet moment alone to see one another for the first time
  • The opportunity to spend a good amount of time with your loved one smiling, kissing, hugging and chatting (because you know on a busy day like your wedding day it's somewhat challenging to squeeze this in)
  • Gives your photographer an amazing opportunity to capture BEAUTIFUL memories of tenderness, excitement and "hearts bursting with love" moments!
  • Gives the bride and groom more flexibility with their timeline. Now you can handle all your bridal party, portrait and family photos before the ceremony and actually be a guest at your own cocktail hour!

So if you are open to something non traditional and you'd love to spend more time with those who are there to celebrate you I highly recommend you consider doing a first look.

All of my brides that have done so remember this as one of the most special moments on their big day. We have 100% no regrets to date!

But if the first look isn't for you there are always other tricks to working your timeline so you can enjoy your party. If you have questions, just ask!

 

XO,

Lacey

Wedding planning overwhelm?

This time, about a year ago, I hit a wall. THE WEDDING PLANNING WALL!!!

I was at the tail end of planning my wedding, feeling chaos and overwhelm with my list of to do's.

I wasn't feeling creative, I wasn't feeling motivated and I wasn't feeling excited about the dream wedding I had been planning for months now. 

I was tired.

To be honest, I wanted to ditch all the panning, grab Erik (my now husband) and go elope on top of a mountain!

Then I thought of this...

I thought about my mom, who had been so helpful and wanted to witness our marriage and be a part of our day. My friends who were flying in from overseas to be there. Our plan of honoring Erik's mother who had passed away years prior. Erik's grandma, our only living grandparent, being able to witness our ceremony and take part in the celebration. My bridesmaids who would be by my side when I said I do. Celebrating with my brother and all the new siblings I would be getting that day. My first dance with my dad. Being able to celebrate with Erik and the rest of the people we loved the most...

There were so many reasons why I wanted this wedding, those listed above were most of them.

So if you're like me, and you are caught in the state of overwhelm with your wedding planning process I want you to do this...

List out all the reasons you want the wedding you are planning. Have your fiancé do it too.

Read your reasons to one another. Get on the same page.

Hold onto that vision and make sure your vendors family and bridal party is in alignment with that vision as well so everyone closest to you knows what matters most!

Be excited and breathe because it really will be the best day ever.

 

XO,

Lacey