Newer blog post
more in Blog
Older blog post
Newer blog post by Mrs. Snow Cone
more by Mrs. Snow Cone (oldest)
Older blog post by Mrs. Snow Cone
Mrs. Snow Cone's Picture
Mrs. Snow Cone, Pittsburgh/Johnstown, PA Age and Occupation: 23, Public Health Graduate Student Fiance's Age and Occupation: 23, Engineer Engagement Date: April 9, 2010 Wedding Date: August 2011 Venue: OMOS Church ceremony/Sunnehanna Country Club reception About Me: I’m one of the lucky ones---I met my future husband at the ripe old age of 13, started dating him as a mature woman of 15, and have been enjoying the ride ever since. Here we are, 8 years later, living in Pittsburgh, planning a "homestination" wedding in the place our school romance began---Johnstown, PA. I thrive on talking a mile a minute, eating my weight in chocolate, and internet shopping. I love a lengthy to-do list almost as much as I love a healthy amount of chaos in my life. Mr. Snow Cone and I watch countless episodes of Friends and The West Wing on repeat, root for rival college sports teams, and make each other laugh each and every day. We’re putting together a small-town wedding with a big personality and a classically modern (or modernly classic?) look for 250 of our closest family and friends. It’s been 8+ years in the making, and sometimes I still can’t believe I’m finally getting to marry my high school sweetheart!
About Mrs. Snow Cone

Changes and Oreos

July 28th, 2011 @ 5:18 pm by Mrs. Snow Cone

Somewhat intentionally, and somewhat unexpectedly, I am right smack dab in the middle of a maelstrom of change right now. In the upcoming days and weeks, I will have:

  • A new address
  • A new job
  • A new name

Sure, three things may not seem like that much, but I feel pretty safe in saying that all three are kind of doozy-sized changes!

Changes and Oreos :  wedding emotional legal pittsburgh Change1 change-

Image via The Heart of Innovation

We’re moving into our first shared apartment this weekend, which is simultaneously exciting, nerve-wracking, and a little stressful.

I’ll be glad once this weekend has come and gone, resulting in a shiny new apartment with shiny new things, and, more notably, without the perma-smell of cardboard that has developed in our current apartments.

The job is definitely a bit of a surprise; I don’t finish my degree until December but started casually applying for positions a few weeks back to avoid the pitfalls of this less-than-stellar job market after graduation. Thankfully, I got hurriedly ushered through a pretty intensive interview process, culminating in a job offer this week. I’m obviously very excited, and I’m still trying to fully grasp how much this changes things.

Last, but certainly not least, my new name. I never debated whether or not to take Mr. Snow Cone’s last name. I definitely have a feminist streak in me, but I believe that feminism most appropriately manifests itself in a woman’s ability to make her own decisions and not face any backlash because of her choice. So, I still think I’m being a darned good feminist by choosing to take Mr. Snow Cone’s last name. I am choosing to adopt a new surname to reflect my new identity as a wife and future mother. I am choosing to have my future family all share the same family name, because that bond is important to me.

I’m also choosing to not give up my current last name, or my middle name, or hyphenate. Confused? Allow me to explain. My new name will be: First Middle Last HisLast. Or, in slightly more understandable terms, something like this: Elizabeth Jane Smith Johnson. Using this example, I would have two middle names, Jane and Smith. I am too attached to my current name as it stands to relinquish any part of it; at the same time, I’m too attached to the idea of having Mr. Snow Cone’s last name to surrender that privilege. Fortunately, Mr. Snow Cone has two middle names, too, so he didn’t bat an eye at the idea of making my name something of a Double Stuf Oreo.

Changes and Oreos :  wedding emotional legal pittsburgh Oreo oreo

Image via Rants and Ratings

Sure, it’ll be a bit of a hassle to write it out, and sure, it’ll complicate monogramming anything, but all of those concerns are frivolous when they’re compared to the bigger picture. And given how many disagreements over future baby names we’ve had, maybe we’ll take the double middle name approach with the kids, too, to appease both of us! A family of Double Stufs!

Changes and Oreos :  wedding emotional legal pittsburgh Oreos oreos

Image via Teeter Tottering

Anyone else out there have a world of change immediately prior to the wedding? Or, any other Double Stufs names??

Tags: emotional, legal, pittsburgh |
advertisement below
Newer blog post
more in Blog
Older blog post
Newer blog post by Mrs. Snow Cone
more by Mrs. Snow Cone (oldest)
Older blog post by Mrs. Snow Cone

22 Responses to “Changes and Oreos”

1 2 

1.
amethystmeg
Member
amethystmeg (message)  135 posts, Blushing bee

I want to do something similar, but I want to have two last names without the hyphen. Essentially I want “Smith Johnson” to be my last name. Is that possible? I think people will assume that my last name is Johnson, not Smith Johnson, which sucks because also being known as Smith is important in my career.

 
2.
aquawater
Member
aquawater (message)  244 posts, Helper bee

Double stuffing is what I am looking at for my name. That way you can have the best of both worlds. I heard somewhere that you can’t have two middle names according do Social Security people?? Do you know anything about that?

 
3.
Mrs. Elephant
Bee
Mrs. Elephant (message)  6,182 posts, Bee Keeper

Congrats on the new job!

 
4.
Bee Icon
Bee
Miss Sparkler (message)  423 posts, Helper bee

I am doing THE EXACT SAME THING! And can please just tell you how good it feels to know someone else is doing this? My mom looked at me like I had 2 heads when I told her I wasn’t dropping my last or middle name or hyphenating anything. But it’s what I really want… although I didn’t think about the monogramming issue. Guess I can choose a different initial each time! ;)

Congrats on the new gig and all the positive changes!!! :)

 
5.
Member Icon
Member
aggiebride10 (message)  89 posts, Worker bee

I’m facing a new job (well…looking still), new city, and new name too…but in December/Jan. I think I’m going to do the same with my name, too!

 
6.
TankGirl
Member
TankGirl (message)  463 posts, Helper bee

Gah! I would love to do the same with my name, but I come pre-hyphenated (Dad’sLast-Mom’sLast), which would kind of overstuff the Oreo, eh? Love the general idea, though!

 
7.
Guest Icon
Guest
leanne

I did this! I actually had to make the decision when we got our marriage license - I had to list what my new name was going to be. I don’t know if that’s the case with other areas (we’re in San Diego, CA).

The guy at the SS office wasn’t going to list both middle names (instead of Liz Jane Smith Johnson, the records would have showed Liz Jane Johnson) but when I pointed out that my marriage license/certificate had my new name with two middle names, then he put it into the system that way. So, my new SS card has it the “correct” way.

Oddly enough, my new driver’s license shows it correctly, but when I got the new title for my car, it shows my last name as SmithJohnson. Since my (new) full name is on all my identification, I’m not too worried about it. It’s obviously in the DMV system correctly or my license would be all screwy, right?

I haven’t gotten a new passport yet, though, so I don’t know if that will be a hassle.

I think it’s a great way to keep your maiden name but still be a Mrs. Johnson. Congrats!

 
8.
Miss Bacon
Bee
Miss Bacon (message)  656 posts, Busy bee

I’m doing the same thing, too!!! The way I see it, I’m becoming part of a pair, not losing me, so there was no reason to lose any part of the name I was born with. Love the Oreo analogy, too! Nom Nom Nom…

 
9.
Sunlavender
Member
Sunlavender (message)  553 posts, Busy bee

I’m doing the same thing as well. I love the oreo comparison. :)

 
10.
Bee Icon
Bee
Miss Pony (message)  4,171 posts, Honey bee

What a great solution, I might end up doing this too, I’m just not ready to drop my last name even though its ridiculously long.

 
11.
Mrs. Tartlet
Bee
Mrs. Tartlet (message)  3,207 posts, Sugar bee

Congratulations on your new job, Snow Cone!!! We had a lot of big changes right around our wedding, too. :) And OMG–how great is it to not smell/look at cardboard boxes anymore?

 
12.
Bee Icon
Bee
Miss Ladyfingers (message)  1,119 posts, Bumble bee

It’s so cool that you’ll both have two middle names. Also, that picture of the little girl with the stack of Oreos made me hungry. And congrats on your new job!

 
13.
Member Icon
Member
philabride2bee (message)  316 posts, Helper bee

I can definitely relate…so much change going on! Finishing school, moving, name change, new house, new car…on the bright side, I have the feeling I won’t have to worry about boredom post-wedding!

 
14.
Guest Icon
Guest
Lauren

Yes! My wedding is Saturday and I will be first middle maiden his last =) It’s a great option when battling the traditional and feminist streaks within!

 
15.
mrsbowieii
Member
mrsbowieii (message)  692 posts, Busy bee

That sounds like a great idea! I have been debating this issue for quite a while now and this makes perfect sense.

Congrats on all the new changes.

 
16.
Seaside
Member
Seaside (message)  635 posts, Busy bee

We are in a similar position! I just got a new job and we are moving in together for the first time, also this weekend! Our wedding is still far off though. And I have a friend doing the same thing with her name- it’s a good idea!

 
17.
soon2Bfournames
Member
soon2Bfournames (message)  87 posts, Worker bee

For those asking, I also had firstname 1middle 2middle newlast and had no issues with SSA, DMV, or my passport. Just communicate clearly what you want & always have them double check if they tell you it’s not possible (’cuz it is). The only hitch I had was that the DMV had to hyphenate my two middle names due to their system. Personally I am really happy with my decision and feel its the best of all worlds.

Also, congrats on the new job Snow Cone!

 
18.
Bee Icon
Bee
Miss Honey (message)  1,069 posts, Bumble bee

I know a few people right away that gave their children two middle names and I think it’s so clever…so stick with with double stuff theme :)

 
19.
Guest Icon
Guest
t

I really like how you’re not giving up your last name even though you are taking his, because I get sad when people completely “give up” their last names :( Although as a disclaimer, I know that there are many people who have a good reason to! But still, what you’re doing makes me happy :)

 
20.
Member Icon
Member
KWebs (message)  102 posts, Blushing bee

I did the double stuff too and had no problem with SS or the RMV. My advice would be to decide how you want it to appear on all your documentation early on– like, do you want your license to say initials, both, one? And the same for mongrams.
For me, I think the easiest is just First M (middle initial) Last, ignoring the maiden name initial for ease of documents matching. Just a hint.

 
1 2 

Leave a Reply


You can also just...

Newer blog post
more in Blog
Older blog post
Newer blog post by Mrs. Snow Cone
more by Mrs. Snow Cone (oldest)
Older blog post by Mrs. Snow Cone

Visit our sister sites eHarmony
Online Dating
eHarmony Advice
Dating Advice
Project Wedding
Wedding Songs
JustMommies
Pregnancy Calendar

Copyright 2004-2012, Weddingbee.com
 

Find your vendors on Weddingbee

Real reviews from brides in your area!

Favors by Weddingbee

  • Favors by season

Shop Now »

Mrs. Snow Cone
Mrs. Snow Cone

Mrs. Snow Cone, Pittsburgh/Johnstown, PA Age and Occupation: 23, Public Health Graduate Student Fiance's Age and Occupation: 23, Engineer Engagement Date: April 9, 2010 Wedding Date: August 2011 Venue: OMOS Church ceremony/Sunnehanna Country Club reception About Me: I’m one of the lucky ones---I met my future husband at the ripe old age of 13, started dating him as a mature woman of 15, and have been enjoying the ride ever since. Here we are, 8 years later, living in Pittsburgh, planning a "homestination" wedding in the place our school romance began---Johnstown, PA. I thrive on talking a mile a minute, eating my weight in chocolate, and internet shopping. I love a lengthy to-do list almost as much as I love a healthy amount of chaos in my life. Mr. Snow Cone and I watch countless episodes of Friends and The West Wing on repeat, root for rival college sports teams, and make each other laugh each and every day. We’re putting together a small-town wedding with a big personality and a classically modern (or modernly classic?) look for 250 of our closest family and friends. It’s been 8+ years in the making, and sometimes I still can’t believe I’m finally getting to marry my high school sweetheart!

Boards
Classifieds

Blog Calendar
February 2012
SunMonTueWedThuFriSat
2930311234
567891011
12131415161718
19202122232425
26272829

Weddingbee Bios
Wiki
More