Weddings are full of decisions: the venue, the officiant, the food?and whether you’ll allow Post Malone songs to be played during the reception. But one of the most personal decisions during wedding planning is whether or not you’ll change your last name after the ceremony. While this is certainly a decision most brides need to make when they’re about to get married, it can sometimes be more complicated for same-sex couples who are tying the knot.
The landmark decision in Obergefell v. Hodges in 2015 allows same-sex couples in the United States the right to marry in the way that heterosexual couples have always had, which includes the right to change their last names. In “Equally Wed: The Ultimate Guide to Planning Your LGBTQ+ Wedding” by Kirsten Palladino, she writes, “If you, your partner, or both of you are changing your name, you don’t need to go through the hoops that your predecessors did just a few years ago: petitioning the court for permission to take your spouse’s last name, running an advertisement in the newspaper about your plans to change your name, and sometimes paying thousands in lawyer’s fees.” Although it’s less common for married same-sex couples to change their last name, there are many reasons why you might want to consider it. Sharing a last name can be convenient when you’re traveling together abroad, make it easier for you to visit your spouse should they get sick and be in the...