Newlywed - 2 questions

Got married August 10 so I guess Ive graduated to this site. I spent a good time of my planning in the Brides Helping Brides site and found it to be very helpful. My first question to all the newlyweds out there is what should I do first to change my last name. Can I change my license without changing my social security card? Do I have to change anything at work? I will be taking my husbands last name but don't know where to start. Second question is regards to thank you cards. Does anyone know where I can find thank you cards that would fit a picture horizontally (landscape)? Did anyone else find it difficult to get the thank you cards done? I can't seem to get into it and I know I'm falling behind. How long are you allowed to send out the cards? Thanks.

Newlywed - 2 questions

Congratulations on your move to the Newlyweds board! If you do a search on this board you`ll find some info on the name change process. In a nutshell, you need your marraige certificate to change your drivers license and SS card. You can do them in either order but you definatly do need to change the SS at some point soon. You just show the marraige certificate for the drivers license and SS#. For a passport you have to send in the actual document and they will send it back. Contact your Human Resources representative at work and they can help you with that process. I had to change me e-mail name, internal records relating to my health insurance, prescription card, 401K, etc. Don`t forget things like: Utility bills and Credit Cards Medical and Dental offices / records Loans Car Registration Insurance - car, home and life IRA Accounts Bank Accounts When you search, you`ll find a site I posted that gives some advice on the change process and shows a form you can use for most changes. I made a customized version for myself and have just mailed a copy with many of the bills as I pay them. I`m still working on changes and got married last April. As for Thank You notes - the sooner the better. Definately try to have them done in under 2 months and try to send family groups at the same time so you don`t have people calling to say Aunt Marge got hers but I didn`t get mine... I found it helped if I set a goal - I did 10 per day and got it done quickly. I also would pre-address the next 10 envelopes the night before, then take cards with gift-notes to work with me, and try to knock out a few during a lunch break. Once I got rolling, I`d find that I`d do an additional 2 or 3 if it was going well. It`s getting started that`s hard. Good luck! I don`t have any advice on the type of card style you are looking for. I don`t think I`ve ever seen any that way.

Newlywed = 2 answers

Karen H had a ton of good advice on the name change process. I would add that you can also visit theKnot.com for a checklist of important name change items. My advice is to go to SSA first. Get there right when they open, and have your marriage cert. It takes about 5 min. and they give you a letter to take to the DMV with you. If possible, make an appt. at the DMV so you don't have to wait in line. Once you have these 2 things done, the rest is pretty simple. Credit cards can be changed over the phone. Airline frequent flyer programs take a bit longer, and have to be done by faxing or mailing a copy of the marriage cert. Bank accts have to be done in person. If you have to travel at all before you receive your SS card and driver's license, I advise that you keep your passport in your maiden name, and make this the very last document you change. It happened to me, and it was a lifesaver! Regarding thank-you cards, my cousin sent hers as a landscape orientation photo. She used the standard cards that the studio should provide. The orientation doesn't matter, b/c the studio prints all the thank you photos at the same size. All you have to change is the direction your write when filling out the card. Personally, I didn't choose the studio cards. Someone gave us cards with our marriage monogram, and I just slipped the photo inside b/c there was no "holder." Plain cards might be a good option for you if you are concerned about the photo. Good luck, and feel free to email me with more Q's...MiniBride@hotmail.com

Newlywed = 2 answers

I think Karen and MiniBride gave you all the good answers! I did SS card just like they suggested - I got there right when they opened and it took 5 mins. You can download all the forms you need for both SS and DMV from the web so you can have them all filled out and ready to go. I'm still waiting to get my passport back but I didn't mail everything in until about 2 weeks ago, so I'm not sure how long it will take. The only thing I haven't changed is my frequent flyer stuff yet, because I just haven't been motivated! I also haven't changed the mortgage records yet, because that will involve a change on the title for the house and who has had time?!? I got my thank yous out at the 2 month mark and what a relief to get that done. I did not use the studio cards, I ordered notecards that matched my invitation and just slipped the picture inside which is what MiniBride suggested. It was fine.

one other thing about DMV

Change your car registration to your new last name while you are there for your license, it will save you another trip back. Good luck, I found it somewhat painless to do-it was harder to get use to being called by the new name than it was to change it. Welcome to the Newlywed side of town :o)