How to tell People You’re Keeping your last name after getting Married
Deciding whether or not to keep your maiden name or take your husband's last name after you are married is an intensely personal decision. Many women are incredibly attached to their maiden names and are reluctant to give up that part of their identity. Now a days, with people waiting longer to get married, many women feel like they are already very established in their career and their personal life with their last name. To change it at that point feels like changing who they are and that can be very unsettling. There is no right answer and the decision is different for everyone, but once you have made it stick to it and feel good about your decision.
Though some people feel that this is a personal decision - and it certainly is - it is not one of those decisions where you can simply say "none of your business" and walk away when family, friends or colleagues ask whether you will be taking your husband's last name. People do need to know whether or not you will be changing your name in order to determine how they should address you. Employers may need to know so that they can file any paperwork for your name change. This is certainly a personal and individual decision, however, it is one that you will need to share with certain people in your life.
For most people, informing them that you are keeping your maiden name after you are married will be no more complicated than simply uttering the words. In the modern world, few people question the motives behind decisions like this the way they might have in the past. More and more women are opting not to change their names after marriage so it is hardly out of the ordinary.
If your husband and his family are more traditional or old fashioned, the decision might be a little bit tough for them to swallow. Usually all you will need to do is explain your reasons behind not wanting to change your name. Maybe you feel established in your career and feel that changing your name will set you back a ways or maybe you just don't like the way your husband's name sounds with your first name. Whatever your reasons, simply explain them honestly and express to them how strongly you feel about the subject. If they are truly upset, you might compromise by hyphenating your maiden name and your husband's last name or keeping your maiden name only in terms of your job and professional life.
