Name change headache

You can get a form filled out prior to the marriage (M10 I think) and get the registrar/minister to fill it out.

I've booked our flights in my married name and plan to get the passport changed in advance. I haven't done it yet though so can't comment on how easy it is.

First decision would be to decide what you want your name to be

Yep, as a British citizen you can apply for it in advance...

Lucky you!

I am German and have to do a married name declaration a week after our wedding (at the German consulate) and I know someone who just went through it and it took about 2 1/2 months. Then it is another month or so until I get my actual passport. Luckily my current passport is still valid until 2018 but we are considering traveling at Christmas, and I wouldn't know what name to book my tickets in. :/

I had the same problem with my passport, needed to have more than 6 months left on it, and even though i know i'll be changing my name I got a new passport in current name. Purely because it's easier and doesn't require paperwork now whilst there's enough going on. Honeymoon is booked in my current name also.

As far as I'm aware I can travel on my current passport until that expires also, which shortly will be in my 'old name', as long as I always book the holiday in that name then there's no problem. Granted i probably wont wait another 10 years until it expires, but it doesn't bother me travelling on an old name until I can be bothered to deal with the paperwork!

This is 100% true. I've done it numerous times in the 4 years since I've been married. It's absolutely fine to do. Mine had 5 years to go and as you get no discount nor any of the time remaining added to your new one I just haven't changed it.

I changed my passport before the wedding as it had less than 6 months on it, I filled the form out, the registrar signed it, and that was that (and they'll add up to 9 months on too). As for changing to something other than just your husbands name, I suspect that's another kettle of fish entirely.

If you are going for another option of name and need a deed poll, you could do this in advance of the wedding. I realise it might feel weird though.

My new passport arrived just over a week after I sent it off, and they said to allow 3 weeks so you'd probably manage it.

You'd need to book in the name on your passport, or you'd be refused boarding by the airline, even with your marriage certificate in support.

Im also having my passport post-dated, my last one has expired and I'm not paying for a new one in a name I won't be using for much longer, so my Reverend has said he will fill the relevant form in for me when we meet in September, and I can apply for my new passport from 1st October, 3 months before the wedding. So my honeymoon is booked in my new name :-)

My passport was due to expire whilst we were away on honeymoon so I changed it a couple of months before the wedding with the form which the registrar signs. Took just over a week for the passport to arrive.

If you are incorporating or having a double barrel surname then yes you will have to do deedpoll before to get a passport in that name. You can apply for a passport in advance in your married name but you cannot travel on this passport until after your wedding day I think. My passport expired 6 months before our wedding but I travel with work so my passport remains in my maiden name - in fact most things currently do due to the long time it takes to change everything!

The main thing is the name you book your honeymoon under must match your passport so if you are changing you have to stick to this and get it sorted. I'm simply keeping mine and it given it took my mum 25 years to change from her maiden name in documents I'm not bothered by 10!