HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 1988-02-10, Page 22PAGE 22. THE CITIZEN. WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 1988.
You can choose your name after marriage
It used to be that when a
marriage contract was signed, a
woman’s name, without question,
became that of her husband. Today
a woman, for personal or profes
sional reasons, may prefer to retain
herbirth-given(maiden) name.
Social change and court rulings
have provided a choice about your
name.
Inherent in identity is what you
are called, and legally, that can be
any name you choose. Practically,
however, you’ll want to make one
of these choices: (1) Take your
husband’s surname. (2) Combine
both of your names with a hyphen.
(3) Retain your birth-given name.
Name changing is strictly a
social custom in North America. No
law dictates that you use your
husband’s name or that you must
automatically change your name
upon marriage. Neither does it
Plan the wedding
for your lifestyle
take a court ruling to make a
change in your name.
To switch to your husband’s
surname or for both of you to switch
to a hyphenated version, you
simply amass identification in the
new name, and consistently and
exclusively use it. This name also
should appear as your married
name on your marriage license.
The name becomes established
through common law usage.
Some cards and documents you
should have your named changed
on are Social Insurance, driver’s
licenses, car registration, employ
ment records, insurance policies,
regular creditor’s records, bank
accounts, leases, credit cards,
voter registration, investment
documents, and passports.
Because of the many battles
fought by feminists, beginning
with Lucy Stone's victory to retain
her name in 1855, you should not
have to go to court to be allowed to
continue using your birth-given
name.
If you wish to retain your
birth-given name, you should
chance nothing and record it on
your marriage license as your
name after marriage. By consis
tently and exclusively using it, you
show your intent to keep it. You
will, however, have to watch for
bookkeepers and creditors who
automatically change your re
cords.
Some women send out notes to
friends and business acquaintan
ces stating that they will retain
their birth-given name for legal
and social purposes. At-home
cards, sent out after your wedding
to inform friends and relatives of
your new address, can be equally
effective.
Whatever nameyou decide to
use, the 1975 Equal Credit Oppor
tunity Act has gone a long way
toward ensuring that a married
woman is not discriminated
against in credit dealings.
A wedding is a celebration
universal yet diversified in style
and presentation. No other event
creates as much joy and excitement
- not only for the bride and groom
but for everyone involved!
What makes it even more
exciting today are the different
options that are available to
couples. Marriage today has no
one formula. Whether you opt for
getting married when you are older
or younger, decide to have a
dual-career marriage or a more
traditional union, the one thing
most brides and grooms agree on is
that you can make your marriage
what you want it to be.
This idea also carries over to the
actual planning of the wedding.
Most couples today share the
responsibility of planning a wedd
ing.
Getting involved in the planning
of the ceremony as well as the
celebration afterwards is the best
way to make your wedding a
personal statement of whom you
are.
Choosing the vows with which
you feel comfortable, or writing a
good deal of the ceremony your
selves, can help make you feel that
your wedding is a reflection of
whom you are as a couple.
Your reception, too, should be
planned according towhat you as a
couple want and enjoy.
There are many types of recep
tions from which today’s bride and
groomcanchoose. Atraditional
being circulated, or a buffet table
with hors d’oeuvre that people can
help themselves to, and a bar
complete with wine as well as hard
liquor.
Forthose more interested in a
reception with a “country feel
ing,” outdoor luncheons complete
with tent or awning are always
nice. You might even want to serve
a picnic lunch complete with
individual baskets that would
make the event fun as well as easier
to serve!
It is always the small details that
really stand out when it comes to
judging which receptions are the
most special.
Balloons, ribbons or netting - all
relatively inexpensive - can add a
special flair when it comes to
decora ting for a wedding recep
tion.
Flowers-whetherexoticorwild -
add to the ambiance, as does
music. Both flowers and music can
run into some money, so it is best to
research the different types avail
able to you.
Flower arrangements range
from potted plants on tables and
arranged strategically throughout
the reception area to wild flowers
strewn in baskets, to the very
delicate single white lily in a vase.
There is music to suit everyone’s
taste and, because it is a universal
language you can be sure that no
matter what type you choose, it is
sure to be enjoyed by most
everyone.
YOU
Shop
DESERVE
OUR FULL
ATTENTION!
Have your names to us by April 30,1988
with your FULL WEDDING ORDER
and you will receivea FREE
Throw-away
Bouquet!
Denomme Flowers are Specialists
in both
Fresh & Silk
Arrangements
Evening consulting can be arranged by
calling Chris or Jo-Anne...
524-8132
Of course we have wicker standards
and candelabras available
Denomme
I Fir* 140THESQUARE
■v. GODERICH
sit-down dinner is as popular as •
ever. Many couples like the
orderly, organized feeling this type
of seating arrangement conveys.
Large as well as small groups can
accommodate themselves to this
type of arrangement.
A buffet dinner is also very
popular. More casual in feeling,
this type of reception allows people
to move freely amongst the other
guests.
A buffet dinner also allows the
bride and groom more freedom
when choosing a menu. With this
type of dinner, an appealing
variety of dishes can be served.
Also, in many cases, a buffet
dinner is less expensive than the
traditional sitdown reception.
Another alternative that is be
coming increasingly popular is a
cocktail hour reception. Similar toa
buffet reception, a cocktail recep
tion usually includes champagne
withhotand cold hors d’ oeuvre
Thursday, February 11th
/ p.m.
Knights of Columbus Hall
In keeping with the theme of Valentine's Day. Brides.
Grooms and loue. this fair will be donating all net
proceeds to
THE ONTARIO HEART AND STROKE FOUNDATION
ONE GRAND PRIZE VALUED AT sl,700.
AS WELL AS sl,000. IN ADDITIONAL PRIZES TO BE WON
FASHION SHOW
With Commentator Tino Monte of CFCA-FM Stereo 105 Kitchener
Ideas for . . . Fashions, gifts, flowers, honeymoons,
bridal stationery, iable top design hair styling and photography-J—-J Ul IUrrom . ,
Bradshaws
Prout and Lamont
,'<i Rosemarie of Mollys
//'Dorothy's Specialty Shoppe Cozyn's Greenhouses and P H Hiller Realty Ltd
,T Kitchen Detail Carden Centre McIntosh Video Productions
Everyone is welcome. Tickets are available at participating merchants
Get yours now as they are selling quickly.
Tickets s4.00 or s7.00 for the Bride & Groom
Festival Travel The Skin Care Boutique
Hair Fashions Unlimited Royal Bank
Mary Layton Photography Swanson's Jewellers
Silhouette Productions
Elite Limousine
Inniskillen Winery
Keep-U-Neet Cleaners
Mark Johnston Disc Jockey
Pumpkin Patch
ey I
J