So, after my exceedingly difficult time at the DMV last week, I finally dragged myself over, in fear, to the Social Security office in Queens. It took me about an hour to get there because I live way way way closer to the Manhattan office, but hey, that’s okay! I still love you!
I get out, walk about a block, turn into the office, and go up to the 2nd floor. The guard says to get a number from the machine (side note: this is totally pointless, because then you go stand in a regular line and they call people by “next in line” not by number, and never collect your number either.) I stand in line for about….five minutes…then they call me! 
[I expect to stand in line longer than that at the grocery store, and I don’t even have Harry Potter for that line!]
The woman very pleasantly asks me what I’m there for, and takes all my documents. Smiling (!!!), she makes small talk with me, and answers all my questions extremely pleasantly and helpfully. I ask about the DMV and she says that they have to recognize what’s on my social security card, so I just need to tell them that my new last name is my only “last name” and they HAVE TO write it that way (!!!!). Then, before I go, she takes a moment to compliment my ring (!!!) and wish me congratulations (!!!!!) and tell me I’ll get my new card, exactly how I want it, in the mail within ten days (!!!!!!!!).
So yes, woman of counter 6: I love you. I may just send you chocolates one of these days. You rock.
If there is ever a touch football game between social security and the DMV, you know who I’m rooting for.
Yay! Finally some headway for Mrs. Bluebell!
Maybe that lady is a reader of weddingbee.com : )
starkid - I hope so!! 
jessi & Kiwi - I am still scared to return to the DMV since who knows if I’ll get a reasonable person this time, but I feel a zillion times better getting SOMEWHERE with this, and having a Real Official Document with the name I want on it will give me a lot more confidence for the “but THIS is my name” argument!
that’s awesome! another unrelated question for mrs bluebell-did you like your florist, blomma flicka? I’m thinking of using them also! Thanks!
Oh I’m so glad she was a complete 180 from that nasty DMV person. My jaw just dropped reading that story, so I’m very happy things worked out well with your SSC!
Hey Sarah! Thanks! Also…yes, I LOVED her!! She is incredibly nice and I thought all our flowers were absolutely gorgeous!! The bouquets and bouts were astonishing, and then she brought us a zillion buckets of cut flowers for us to arrange ourselves (she also does table arrangements obviously, but I wanted to play with flowers & it’s an easy way to save money). I told her in relatively vague terms what I like/wanted and was blown away by what she showed up with!! I need to email her and ask what all the different flowers were named again because I’d never seen/heard of the majority of them before. She also brought way more than I was even hoping for, so we got to do lots of fun random extra things with the extra flowers too! My only flower-related regret is that we didn’t specify to my photographer that the “real” flower arrangements were all at the tent so her “Flowers” album is all of the “extras,” with almost none of the real arrangements. 
Oh hooray! Finally! I’m so glad it worked out! Good luck, still, with the DMV!
Yay SSA lady!
I changed my name with Social Security first and I was so happy I did. I read that DMV checks your name and info against SS. I printed the document at home and filled it out before going to the office. When I got there it was a breeze. I actually changed my mind about my middle name and changed again. No problem!
thanks mrs. bluebell-i’m going to try to book her asap!
Yay!! Congratulations!! I hope you don’t get snooty-poop-face lady again. Keep us posted on what happends!
Sarah - YAY! Tell her Laura says hi and loved her flowers!
Everyone else - thank you!!! It really was incredible how completely opposite this experience was from my DMV one!!
bethgraced - I actually think I’m going to go to another DMV location this time, just in case…
So I am about to go to the SSA office tomorrow before I go to DMV…is that the best way to do it? Thanks! Yay for you!
Awww… hooray!!! I’m so happy you’ll be able to get everything straightened out! And you really should send a thank you or a compliment letter (perhaps through PlanetFeedback) … trust me… govt. employees cherish them.
E’s girl - yes, definitely do SSA first!! The way it was described to me, they will honor ANYTHING that is written on your marriage certificate, so if you got whoever gave you your marriage license to write what you want, then the SSA will just copy it exactly. The DMV however, has rules on how you can “change” your name using docs with your old name + marriage license only. BUT! With a social security card showing your new name, they have to acknowledge that it’s really your name, whether they like it or not.
wow! i’m so glad the SS lady was nicer than the DMV psycho! I’ve had ppl like that before at other places, even in retail stores. Unbelievable! Hopefully it will go much smoother now.
random question: where did u get ur veil? Is it a certain style on the lace edge? My dress is similar to yours and I’m still on the fence if I want a veil or not. I liked yours and thought I might look into it. Thanks!
Thea - thanks! I had my veil made at http://www.sposabellalace.com (I reviewed my extremely awesome experience with them here: http://www.weddingbee.com/2007/05/21/veil-a-riffic/ ) They just described mine as “French lace” on my receipt, with a little snip of it to make sure they used the right one, so I have no idea how you’d go about finding the exact same type again. BUT - I didn’t even find this one myself, I showed them my little dress swatch and the guy instantly said he knew what would be perfect with it and brought it over! So if you’re anywhere near NYC, I highly recommend stopping by the store and either browsing the laces, or asking them what they think would go well with your swatch. Good luck!!
Yippeee!!
woohoo for the goof experience. i too had an excellent super fast experience at the ss office when getting a new card. i plan on finally changing my name this year…. 2 1/2 years into marriage so your tips were certainly helpful. 
goof = good.
I had a similar experience to yours today at the Coney Island, Brooklyn DMV. I was trying to change my maiden name to my middle name and drop my original middle name, but I was told unless I had 6 points of proof of that name I was unable to do so. The people there were unnecessarily rude to me, and eventually I just left with a name I was unhappy with. Afterward, I went to the SSA office, and they changed my name on my social security card no questions asked. I plan on updating my passport and then going back to DMV to fix my license once I receive the new documents. Please keep us updated on any improvements with your situation, especially if you’re able to change your license name using only the SS card.
Mrs. Bluebell, New York
Age and Occupation in 07: 26, Finance Manager
Fiance's Age and Occupation: 27, Playing with the cat and/or Consulting
Engagement Date: December 25, 2005
Wedding Date: June 2007
Venue: Bride's family summer home in the Adirondacks
About Me: Trying to find the perfect balance between family tradition (marrying at the house everyone else in my family gets married at), making our's modern, interesting and different from everyone else in my family's, and incorporating some Chinese tradition for my Chinese fiance. I really have no idea what it's going to end up looking like!
Also, I picked Miss Bluebell for my name because I have blue eyes and I'm a loser like that.
so are you headed back to your friends at the DMV after you get your card? Glad you had a better experience than last time! esh!