Should I change my surname right away, or wait until the honeymoon bubble settles?

Ah, the classic post-wedding dilemma: “Should I change my surname right away?" Honestly? There’s no right answer. Changing your surname to your partner's can feel like a fun next step in your newlywed chapter… until you realise it involves updating everything from your passport to your frequent flyer account (yes, even that). So if you’re not emotionally or administratively ready, it’s totally okay to wait.

Legally speaking, there’s no deadline to change your surname after getting married in Australia. You're not "late" if you're still using your birth name a year (or five) later. Some people jump in straight away with a shiny new signature and a stack of forms, while others take their sweet time — usually until they’re not juggling a honeymoon, thank-you cards, moving house, and finding out what each department requires as ID (spoiler: and what it costs). If you're already deep in post-wedding admin fatigue, it's perfectly reasonable to park the surname change for when life is a little less chaotic.

Plus, it’s worth remembering that changing your surname is totally optional — and reversible. You don’t have to do it at all. So whether you’re embracing a new surname, hyphenating, blending names, or proudly keeping your own, the timeline is yours to set.

If you want my advice as your marriage celebrant? Celebrate first, change later. Pour a wine, light a candle, and tackle it when you’re emotionally ready to spend an afternoon on hold with various government departments. That’s romance, right?

And when you're ready, take a look at the Change Your Name checklist that I give you after your wedding is over.

Changing your surname takes time, so ask Anne for a checklist to help you.