Does the bride go on the Honeymoon with her maiden or married name?

It's super exciting to finally be able to use your married name, however before you can do it legally, there is a bit of a process to go through.

If a bride wants to change her name to her married name, then she must first obtain a copy of her registered married certificate - the one that is issued by Births, Deaths and Marriages in the state where they were married.  It can take up to 8 weeks post wedding for the certificate to be issued.  The certificate that you sign on the wedding day is a 'ceremonial' one and can't be used to change your name legally.

Once the registered marriage certificate is available, then it is a bit of a process in presenting it to organisations to get change of name activated, such as - drivers licence, bank accounts, passport.

If the honeymoon is immediately after the wedding, then book all formal tickets in the maiden name.  Remembering that your plane ticket and passports must match.  Booking less formal tickets such as hotel accomodations, dinner reservations etc can be done in the married name.

Much Love,

Celebrant Emily x

If your travelling overseas and a passport is involved then it is the maiden name that should be used to match your documentation as you would not have had time to have the changes made.  On your return it is personal choice, today it's no big deal to continue with your maiden name.

I guess it depends how soon you take your Honeymoon after the Wedding Ceremony. You can use your new married name as soon as you're married. However, Bank & Credit Cards, Drivers Licence, Passport, Medicare Card and many other forms of identification won't have changed ~ so you may experience some difficulties matching them to your new married name.

Your Celebrant can apply for an Official Marriage Certificate on your behalf from Births, Deaths and Marriages, or you may do it yourself. Either way we're told  that at present  it will take upwards of 26 business days after lodgement for you to receive it. In effect this delay will prevent you changing any of your important cards, documents etc for quite some time. 

It's your choice ~ good luck!

Short answer is you have to keep using your maiden name whilst on your honeymoon........   It takes a few weeks for your official marriage certificate to be issued by BDM.  In Qld it is an online system where the celebrant can tick a box at the time of registering your marriage for an official certificate to be mailed out to you.  You then of course need to change your name legally.  I always give my couples a quick reference to all the areas of consideration for changing your name, and boy there are a few!  You would use your official marriage certificate to verify you are now legally able to use that surname.

Thats a great question! 

Your Celebrant can order your official Marriage Certificate at the time they registry your marriage, but it takes 1-2 weeks time for the certificate to be issued and sent to you by Registered mail.

You would then need to have all of your documents including your passport and drivers licence changed to your married name by presenting the certificate as evidence. 

Overseas travel documents could not be issued in the married name without your passport being updated, so if you are travelling soon after your wedding day, you do not have the timeframe to safely update everything to ensure there is no issue when you travel. 

My advise is to go on the honeymoon with her maiden name as you need to book everything in advance. Especially in the case of airline tickets, visas and passports are not easily or cheaply updated. Thta does not mean you cannot have your booking marked as 'honeymoon couple' and enjoy the benefits - so take a copy of your marriage certificate with you on your phone to prove it.

If you booked your holiday before you are married with the travel agent and flights paid and booked the holliday in your maiden name then you travel by that name. Cheers, Jane Silich :)

Great response from Kerrie Boag below .... best wishes for your wedding day.  Cheers, Andrew 

With regards to non-legal documentation, you can certainly use your married name on your Honeymoon. From a legal point of view, though, it is advisable to use your current surname (as stated on your passport and drivers licence). If you wish to change your name, you can lodge your application after you return from your honeymoon. The process is completed through Births Deaths and Marriages in your state. Best wishes!

When travelling abroard for your honeymoon, your passport will still be in your maiden name, therefore, book your tickets etc in your maiden name.  Once you return home, your documents will have been lodged with the Birth, Dealths and Marriages and you will be able to change your name, if that is your wish.  

As far as any non legal documentation, or how you wish to be called, is completely up to you.

Congratulations 

Kerrie x