Not Mrs. Westhydeman?

To Whom It May Concern,

I have kept my last name. I know it's tradition for the woman to change her last name, but this isn't the 1800's anymore. It's expensive and a big pain in the @$$ for what? Even the marriage certificate is just a piece of paper to me and I think that whole unnecessary process is pointless. Ron is so cute because he wanted a ceremony and celebration, and although there are people who think that I'm prideful or bossy for not changing my last name, you're wrong. The Mrs. who never wanted a wedding, had a wedding for my husband. I did that for him, not me. You know what my "dream wedding" was? To say our vows at the court house. But it made him happy and that was a huge thing for me to compromise. I'm not the Disney Princess day dreamer chic and I don't like being the center of attention. So it was actually hard for me to be the center of everyone's eyes. It's nerve wrecking and I don't enjoy that kind of pressure at all. Of course I loved seeing my friends and family all get together with Ron's friends and family. That was wonderful so that definitely made it worth having a celebration and I thought our photographer took some beautiful, natural pictures that I love to look at.

Bottom line: Marriage IS compromise and sometimes when we do things to make someone else happy, it can make us happy too. In this case, that was proven.

Ron was hurt at first that I didn't want to change my last name, but as we discussed the meaning of our names, we realized some things. First of all, we don't plan to have children. Not that we won't consider it later if we're in a position to support a family. For years to come though, this will simply not be on the plate of appetizers unless there is a miracle accident. But that is a big reason why the woman changes her last name. It identifies a family. Okay. I get that. But since it's not happening anytime soon, if at all, there's no rush.

Second of all, even if we do have a miracle accident... I don't care who's name they take on. In that case, we might even make up a different last name just to really mess with people.

And last but not least, Ron and I do not have close relationships with our fathers. What tradition are we carrying on from our names? Neither of us had an answer and concluded that it would be best for us to create our own tradition and change our last names together to start new on our own. But we haven't agreed on any last names and quite honestly, it's not really a priority to us. I call him Ron and he calls me Ana. My friends call me Ann, Ana Banana, Bonanza & Ron is Hollywooooood! And even when someone does call me Mrs. Westhydeman, I don't care or bother to correct them because it's just a name. I'm not dishonoring Ron and he's on board with me about it. We don't need to be labeled.


Sincerely,

The Mrs.