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Mrs. Cola, Mountain View, CA Age and Occupation: 27, Product Communications and Promotions Fiance's Age and Occupation: 28, Managing Partner and Senior Designer Engagement Date: March 5, 2009 Wedding Date: June 2010 Venue: The Mountain Terrace, Woodside, CA About Me: I’m a Washington State native, enjoying life in Silicon Valley California with my fiancé, our three kitties and one leopard gecko. I like reading wedding blogs, Photoshopping wedding design mock ups, making lists, and planning, planning, planning! I’m a bit of an anomaly, on one side I’m a very girlie girl, I collect shoes, I lay out my outfits 4-6 weeks in advance, and I’d never leave the house without my hair curled and makeup on. But on the other side, I’m a total tomboy, I love to go camping and hiking, play drinking games (hey, I’m Irish!) and most of my closest friends are guys. My fiancé and I are planning a DIY-focused wedding with a balance between easygoing (what he wants) and chic and stylish (what I want), and are tying it all together with elements in lavender, sage, butter cream and chocolate.
About Mrs. Cola

Adventures in Naming

January 11th, 2010 @ 2:44 pm by Mrs. Cola

You know, I don’t really like that just about every wedding blogger feels the need to touch on if they will or will not be changing their name when they get married. It’s not the topic that I’m not a fan of, it’s the need to justify their decision, and then even after justifying it, usually they get tons of comments saying their choice is wrong, even though it’s ultimately THEIR choice.

But here I am, about to jump on the bandwagon, and justify my choice for what I’ll be doing with my name after Mr. Cola and I tie the knot. Sigh. But I really DO feel justified… and therefore have the urge to explain…

See, I don’t really care for my last name. Even though it’s only 5 letters, nobody ever seems to get it right; spelling or pronunciation. It’s not really that hard, just that it’s rare-ish, and there are so many similar spelled/sounding names. So in most cases, I wouldn’t have had a problem with just taking my husband’s name, and dropping my maiden name altogether, or maybe moving it to a middle name, which seems to be common these days.

However, there’s two issues with Mr. Cola’s last name.

The first one being that to this day, after having known each other over 9 years, I still call him by his last name. It goes back to our college days, when we hung out with one of his best friends (who’s now a groomsman) who has the same first name as Mr. Cola. So, they were always called by their last names in our group of friends, and it’s stuck with me. To me, Mr. Cola’s last name is like his first name, and his real first name is like his last name. So it would be kinda weird to be Mrs. HisFirstName (to me). I know, I know, that’s not really that big of a deal, but wait until you hear my second point of justification!

From my Save the Dates and other things I’ve shown you all so far, you already know my first name is Morgan, which in German means ’morning’. All my life I’ve had people say to me “Guten Morgen,” trying to be cute and use my name to say Good Morning. Which is all fine and dandy. Until you bring in Mr. Cola’s last name, which basically means ’wood’.

Anyone see where I’m going here? If I straight take Mr. Cola’s last name, I will be MORNING WOOD! Not cool! Oh, just imagine the playground jokes! Not that I’m in elementary school, but some of my guy friends still have the joking skills of a third grader. Plus, all the other random people will say “Guten Morgen” to me… and then realize my new last name and put it all together… the horror.

Adventures in Naming :  wedding legal Morning  {Source}

So. There you go. Yet another justification why yet another bridal blogger won’t be straight taking her new husband’s name. But, I will be hyphenating. Yeah, yeah, I know there will be issues with electronic forms not liking the hyphen. I know, I KNOW! But I don’t care. It’s what I’m doing, so deal! :) It’s what is going to work best for me, to keep my sanity and not have a borderline inappropriate first + last name, and still become a part of Mr. Cola’s family, as well.

Have you decided what you’ll be doing with your last name after you get married? Do you find it to be a bigger decision than you thought it would be?

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39 Responses to “Adventures in Naming”

1 2 

1.
Mrs. Dee to Bee
Member
Mrs. Dee to Bee (message)  816 posts, Busy bee

BOOOOOOO! What a horrible decision! Just kidding. I know what you mean about having to defend yourself no matter what choice you make!

BTW, I wouldn’t change my name either if it obscurely translated as “Morning Wood.” However, this post endears you so much more. Thanks for justifying yourself. (:

 
2.
Member Icon
Member
Miss Politico (message)  160 posts, Blushing bee

I’m not hyphenating it but having two last names, like Hillary Rodham Clinton or Kay Bailey Hutchinson. At work, I’ll go by my maiden name, but otherwise I will be my husband’s last name. It was hard for me. I never thought I’d change my name but it means a lot to my fiance.

 
3.
Bee Icon
Bee
Miss Rainbow (message)  1,535 posts, Bumble bee

oh! hhahahaha! oh no! Morning Wood! oh, I’m so sorry, but that is hilarious!

 
4.
Miss Elephant
Bee
Miss Elephant (message)  6,182 posts, Bee Keeper

Well that is one good justification for your name change.

 
5.
Mrs. Deviled Egg
Bee
Mrs. Deviled Egg (message)  1,250 posts, Bumble bee

Oh my! What a weird coincidence with the name meanings!?! So, just curious, what does Mr. Cola think of your decision?

 
6.
fancygirl
Member
fancygirl (message)  230 posts, Helper bee

Love it! I’m not changing my name, but may add his name onto mine when we have kids. I never realized how much my last name meant to me until getting married became a reality and I realized I don’t want to lose my name. :)

 
7.
Miss Pretzel
Bee
Miss Pretzel (message)  1,893 posts, Buzzing bee

I just about snorted coffee out my nose… too funny!

 
8.
stephk23
Member
stephk23 (message)  126 posts, Blushing bee

My fiance and I got into a tiff over the name thing. I wanted to hyphenate but he wanted our names to match and we couldn’t decide which would come first with the hyphen. Yeah, silly. So, ultimately, even though I’m not Native American or Hispanic, making my maiden name an additional middle name is a common enough thing around here no one would question it. So I’ll just have an extra name.

 
9.
redherring
Member
redherring (message)  1,976 posts, Buzzing bee

If nothing else, changing your name would mean that you’d be the one guest at the party whose name was forgotten by *no one* :)
I’m actually jealous that you have a logical explanation for what you’re doing with your name. My fiance has agreed to add my last name as a second middle name, so we’d both be First Middle MyLast HisLast (no hyphen), but that would make my name a whopping 35 characters long, and his would be 30 characters.
I know he wants me to take his last name but would be fine if I don’t. Between my middle name and my last name, I’m much more attached to my middle name. I’m still not sure, but I’ve been considering the warrants of Dr. MyFirst MyMiddle HisLast. And if anyone calls me Mrs., I wholeheartedly intend to correct them.

 
10.
Ms. Library
Member
Ms. Library (message)  1,251 posts, Bumble bee

Hahaha too funny, but also too true! I have to share that my mom had a best friend and a teacher growing up with the last name of “Giddabonie” (pronounced “Gidd-a-bone-y”). I suppose there could be worse things!

 
11.
Miss Pug
Bee
Miss Pug (message)  3,753 posts, Honey bee

haha! no wonder you needed to think about it a bit!

 
12.
Guest Icon
Guest
Allyn

My mother next changed her name when she married my dad, so to me, I actually find it *weird* when people take their husband’s last name and give up their own identity. But cool, to each their own. I am the first generation to have my very Serbian last name in the United States, so I feel an exceptionally strong connection to my name and heritage. My father passed away (suddenly) when I was in high school so it instilled in me an even greater need to keep my last name and carry it on to my children. While we are still talking about it (wedding’s not until October ), it is most likely that Chris will be taking my last name. And is really excited about it.

Just another spin

 
13.
Lo
Member
Lo (message)  538 posts, Busy bee

I too met by boyfriend in college and called him strictly by his last name for over 3 years (I didn’t even know what his first name was for the first year I knew him haha). After spending more time with his family I’ve learned to call him by his first name and that seems more natural to me now. However, my friends and even my dad and brothers still call him by his last name so I’m sure it will be weird to one day share that name with him.

 
14.
Bee Icon
Bee
Miss Guinea Pig (message)  1,377 posts, Bumble bee

Ha! That is too funny. I guess it’s good you realized it before changing your name?!

 
15.
Mrs. Mouse
Bee
Mrs. Mouse (message)  5,844 posts, Bee Keeper

No need to justify, Miss Cola. It sounds like you’re making the decision that’s right for you–and that’s all that matters!

 
16.
Bee Icon
Bee
Miss Cola (message)  2,870 posts, Sugar bee

Thanks for the support on my decision everyone, you’re so sweet! And glad I could make some of you laugh too! ;)

 
17.
Bee Icon
Bee
Miss Cola (message)  2,870 posts, Sugar bee

Oh, and @ Deviled Egg, Mr. Cola said he didn’t care what I did with my name, since I was the one who has to live with it. And once we realized the whole “morning wood” thing, he was totally on board with the hyphen!

 
18.
Member Icon
Member
KB (message)  169 posts, Blushing bee

lol thanks for a good laugh this morning! I needed it :D I don’t blame you. My choice is easy. I’ve always known I would change my last name. and I am thrilled. I have a super easy last name. Three letters, and it’s a word people use VERY frequently…and some how it still gets missprounced. and spelling it always turns into a conversation. It’s so simple it’s difficult. My s/o has an Irish O’ last name. I can’t wait to have it! It also comes down to family. I don’t have the same name as any of my siblings, it’s my mum’s maiden name. My name to me, is just a name. Changing it, doesn’t change me, who I am. I’m still ME in every way. His name is important to him, and so I’m happy to take it. It’s like he’s giving me a very important gift. Plus my name will look even. lol from 8-4-3 to 8-4-8. I like things even :)

 
19.
Member Icon
Member
KMSull (message)  6,442 posts, Bee Keeper

I’m hyphanating too! Yay for hyphen girls!

 
20.
lkbphmd
Member
lkbphmd (message)  662 posts, Busy bee

I have never giggled at a name change blog or question/comment until today. Thanks for bringing some humor to the subject! I was all set to get rid of my short and sweet last name that I just don’t like until I realized with over 10 years of work experience and the extent of my connections, people would lose track of me if I changed my name. So I’m keeping mine and adding his last name, no hyphen. Socially it’s his last name, work its the combo or maiden. I told him over dinner last Friday and he was beyond thrilled with my decision. I’m still getting used to the idea!

 
1 2 

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Mrs. Cola
Mrs. Cola

Mrs. Cola, Mountain View, CA Age and Occupation: 27, Product Communications and Promotions Fiance's Age and Occupation: 28, Managing Partner and Senior Designer Engagement Date: March 5, 2009 Wedding Date: June 2010 Venue: The Mountain Terrace, Woodside, CA About Me: I’m a Washington State native, enjoying life in Silicon Valley California with my fiancé, our three kitties and one leopard gecko. I like reading wedding blogs, Photoshopping wedding design mock ups, making lists, and planning, planning, planning! I’m a bit of an anomaly, on one side I’m a very girlie girl, I collect shoes, I lay out my outfits 4-6 weeks in advance, and I’d never leave the house without my hair curled and makeup on. But on the other side, I’m a total tomboy, I love to go camping and hiking, play drinking games (hey, I’m Irish!) and most of my closest friends are guys. My fiancé and I are planning a DIY-focused wedding with a balance between easygoing (what he wants) and chic and stylish (what I want), and are tying it all together with elements in lavender, sage, butter cream and chocolate.

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