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Tag: wedding name change service

  • The Ultimate List of of the Most Expensive Wedding Dresses

    The Ultimate List of of the Most Expensive Wedding Dresses

    Ladies, let’s admit it, the best thing about being a bride is heading to every David’s Bridal in your town and trying on dresses waaaaay out of your budget. I mean, it’s all fun in the end, and it’s an experience some of us only experience once in a lifetime.

    So how much did you end up paying for that white gown of glory? A grand? Two? Hell, maybe it exceeded the threshold of ten grand?

    Maybe you did what I did and googled “David Bridal Discount Dresses” and bought a Vera Wang wedding dress that cost $300 instead of three thousand. Hey, I was looking to save as much as I could and had to be clever about my spending.

    Side note: I looked auh-mazing.

    The list of expensive wedding dresses is a tough one, but I eventually found a few jaw-dropping ones that will have you craving another wedding!

    Just kidding, at this point, I just crave some sleep.  

    1. Angela Yueng

    The first time I’ve heard of this Chinese actress/singer/model (sheesh), it was about how she’s tied the knot with her boyfriend and her $31 million wedding. She wore a custom made Dior gown that took nearly five months to create! According to Forbes, the dress was  “Crafted out of 115 feet of ivory satin organza and 165 feet of tulle, the intricate piece features a 10-foot-long train, and nearly a hundred hand-cut rose bouquets made of Chantilly Lace”.

    Xinhua Press

    Now, the price of the dress was actually never disclosed, which leaves one to wonder: Out of that $31 million, how much did that dress really cost?

    These are the things that keep me up at night.

    2. Kate Middleton

    You better believe a royal wedding is going to make this list. I am utterly in love with Kate Middleton. Her incredible sense of style, her modest looks, her role in several charities, and obviously, that smile. When she wore an Alexander Mcqueen on her wedding, I was in tears. The lace of the dress was crafted at the Royal School of Needlework. I know that sounds fake, but it’s the UK,  so I promise it’s a real thing.

    Kirsty Wigglesworth

    The dress was long sleeve, hand embroidered with flowers on both the bodice and hips and Kate’s train was over eight feet long. The dress reportedly hit a six-figure price and cost $434,000.

    3. Mariah Carey

    ‘Cause when you love someone, you just don’t treat them bad, you messed up all we had, probably thinking I’m coming back.

    See more: Mariah Carey Burns Wedding Dress

    Those are the lyrics of Mariah Carey’s “I Don’t,” where in her music video, she burned her $335,000 Valentino wedding dress to ashes. The singer was engaged to billionaire James Packer at the time, but the two broke off their engagement before we got to see Mimi flaunt her stuff in Bora Bora (planned wedding destination).  You see, ladies, we can all learn a little something here. Next time your man pisses you off…you know what to do.

    4. Diana Spencer

    Really? Another royal?

    Yes, you guys, these guys are flushed with cash, so they’re at the top of most lists.

    Shutterstock

    Lady Diana Spencer wed Prince Charles in 1981 and wore a dress so beautiful that it is still talked about till this day. The dress was embroidered with ivory silk taffeta and antique lace, with a 25-foot train and valued at $115,000. Elizabeth Manuel and her husband created it at the time. Lady Diana herself worked with the designers to ensure that the dress was kept modest and up to expectations.

    5. Victoria Adams

    Formerly known as Victoria Beckham, a world renowned style icon. Now, if you want a reminder of what the nineties were like, then Victoria and David Beckham’s wedding is the perfect visual. The Spice Girl and former England football captain wed in 1999 in a castle in Clonsilla. That’s what happens when you have friends in high places, people.

    Pinterest

    And you’re a famous football player with a successful artist for a partner.

    Regarding Victoria’s dress, she wore a Vera Wang with a 20-foot train that was estimated to have cost $100,000.

    6. Kleinfeld

    You might have heard or seen the name Kleinfeld in movies, magazines, and tv shows including the popular TLC show “Say Yes to the Dress.”

    Fun fact: Kleinfeld wasn’t always a bridal retailer. It started as a fur salon in 1941, until the Kleinfeld realized there was a demand for wedding dresses in NYC. Kleinfeld is known for accommodating to every bride’s request and spending several hours putting in work (and love) into every dress.

    Kleinfeld

    Although their prices vary, the most expensive dress that left Kleinfeld’s doors was custom made Pnina Tornai and cost the bride $80,000.

  • The Importance of Sharing a Surname with Your Kids: What to Consider

    The Importance of Sharing a Surname with Your Kids: What to Consider

    The Importance of Sharing a Surname with Your Kids: What to Consider

    In today’s evolving landscape, many people are thoughtfully deciding to keep their maiden name after marriage. The reasons are diverse and deeply personal, often stemming from a desire to maintain independence, preserve a professional identity, or simply avoid the societal pressure to change. Some feel a strong connection to their birth name, seeing it as a vital part of their identity that they wish to preserve.

    But as families grow and children enter the picture, a new question often arises: Will your children carry your last name, your partner’s, or a combination of both? While the decision about surnames is entirely personal, it’s widely recognized that having a different last name from your children can present unique considerations and, at times, unexpected challenges.

    It’s widely known that having a different surname from your children will produce a few problems. The most prominent one (which is actually not that big of a problem) would always be correcting people’s assumptions about you. Most people will assume you’re divorced, considering that your child has a different name than yours.

    Everyday Perceptions and Identity

    Perhaps the most common experience is the frequent need to clarify assumptions. When your child has a different surname, people may often presume you are divorced or not the biological parent. While this isn’t a “major problem” in the grand scheme, consistently correcting these assumptions can become tiring over time. As children grow older, they become more observant. They might notice that their surname doesn’t match yours, leading to questions about family identity. While many parents are comfortable addressing these inquiries, it’s a conversation worth being prepared for.

    Considerations for Travel and Official Situations

    Beyond daily interactions, more significant issues can arise, particularly when traveling internationally or dealing with official documentation. Consider the experience of Hannah Marshall, who was stopped by border control because her daughter did not share her last name. She was suspected of attempting to abduct the child. This highlights a serious concern: authorities are highly vigilant about child trafficking and abduction.

    Due to these safeguards, if you’re traveling with children who have a different surname from yours, you may be asked to provide additional legal documents. This could include:

    • The child’s birth certificate (listing both parents).
    • A consent letter from the other parent (if they are not traveling with you).
    • Your marriage certificate or divorce decree, depending on the situation.

    UK Home Office clarified this procedure is in place to safeguard children, but it can lead to significant delays and stress if you’re unprepared.

    Administrative Hurdles: School, Medical, and Legal Forms

    The surname difference can also introduce minor administrative complexities in various aspects of your daily life:

    • School Applications and Emergency Contacts: When enrolling children in school or filling out emergency contact forms, a name discrepancy might prompt extra questions or require additional proof of your parental relationship. In an emergency, schools are more likely to verify identity with a matching surname, potentially causing slight delays.
    • Doctor’s Visits and Medical Consent: At a doctor’s office, you might face additional scrutiny when providing medical consent or accessing records if your last name doesn’t match your child’s. Having readily available identification that links you to your child (like a birth certificate) is crucial.
    • Parental Consent for Minors: For situations requiring parental permission, such as a teenager applying for a learner’s permit at the DMV or seeking job employment, you may need to provide robust documentation to prove your legal relationship. While these issues are generally resolvable, they can become roadblocks without proper preparation.

    These scenarios, while often manageable, underscore the importance of understanding potential complications and ensuring you have all necessary supporting documentation readily available.

    Making Your Informed Decision

    Ultimately, the choice of surname for both parents and children is a deeply personal one. There’s no universal “right” answer, and families are increasingly embracing diverse naming conventions. However, being aware of the potential practical implications—from clarifying assumptions to navigating border control—can help you make an informed decision that works best for your family.

    Whatever path you choose, remember that HitchSwitch is here to simplify your name change needs. Whether you’re considering adopting your partner’s surname, creating a new hyphenated name, or ensuring consistency with your children’s last name, our service provides the customized forms and step-by-step instructions to make the process as seamless as possible.

    Ready to simplify your name change journey? Let HitchSwitch take the stress out of updating your identity, ensuring all your documents reflect your chosen surname with ease.

  • Color Me Green! St. Patrick’s Day Activities

    Color Me Green! St. Patrick’s Day Activities

    Saint Patrick’s Day. A day where everyone is seen wearing a green shirt with the quote “Kiss Me I’m Irish.” Unless you’re a six-year-old, then you’ve just been coloring in leprechauns and making pots of gold out of construction paper.

    Do you think those people actually know the history behind St. Paddy’s Day or is it just an excuse to get totally sh*t faced? I mean, it was the rage in my early twenties, but once you’ve tied the knot and pushed a couple of humans heads out of you, you’re lucky to squeeze in a glass of wine.

    Getting off topic, I know.

    So I doubt many people know the story of Saint Patrick so to honor the Saint, here’s a quick summary of the infamous holiday.

    First, he was born in Scotland, and his actual name was Maewyn Succat, and he took the name Patrick after becoming a priest. When he was a young boy, the Roman empire was weak and under attack. By the time he was a young man, he was captured by raiders and sold as a slave. He was taken to Ireland where in his confessions, he mentions spending time with the sheep and finding solace in prayers and God. He mentions seeing God in his dreams and believing he had a mission for him.

    Long story short, he brought Christianity to Ireland and drove out paganism which was the dominant religion at the time.

    The Irish celebrate this conversion on the 17th of March every year. Here are a few activities that are adult and kid friendly to get you in the spirits of this Irish holiday.

    1. Teach Your Kids About The Holiday

    March marks Irish American Heritage Month. The Irish know why they’re celebrating this day, but many American households celebrate it because of the fun and sake of the kids. While it’s always great to take part in a foreign holiday, both children and adults should know the history behind it.

    via GIPHY

    Printing out coloring pages with leprechauns, pots of gold, rainbows, and even the flag of Ireland is a great way to hype kids up and get them learning about the holiday. You can also hit them up with some trivia! There are many myths that surround the story of St. Patrick and kids love those! Who knows? You might learn something yourself.

    2. Green Desserts

    I’m talking rainbow cupcakes, shamrock gummies, lucky charms rice krispies, Bailey’s Irish Coffee Caramel Brownies, shamrock pretzels, St. Patrick’s Day cake, and a little something called drunken grasshopper fudge. Good Housekeeping has a ton more recipes but I only picked the ones I’ve personally tried and have fallen drunk in love with, haha.

    via GIPHY

    So a majority of these desserts can be done with the help of a pair (or two) of little helping hands. It’s a great way to bond with children because well, it’s a lot of sugar and kids love helping out in the kitchen. There will be a lot of green frosting, and rainbow sprinkles so have them administrate the final touch.\

    3. Gold Hunt

    You create two teams, and each team gets a “leprechaun” bucket (just a tin bucket I got from The Dollar Store). I painted a four-leafed clover on one and a rainbow on the other to make it more fun, but you can paint anything else that’s related to the holiday.

    Both teams have to scour the area and find as many gold chocolate coins as they can before a certain amount of time. Of course, those gold coins would have been hidden by you the night before. If you want the competition to heat up, you can conceal dollar bills and whichever team wins, gets a payday. The other side gets chocolate gold coins! It’s a win-win!

    via GIPHY

    4. Leprechaun Relay

    For this activity, you do need a leprechaun costume. You can choose to make it at home or take the easy road and purchase it from your nearest Party City. I love the idea of this activity because it encourages kids to get moving!

    You split your players into two teams and have them form two lines. You offer the costume to the first player in front. Then, they must run an obstacle course conducted by an adult, return to the line, take off the outfit, and pass it on to the next player. The process continues until one team uses up all its players and win.

    5. Celebrate With Irish Music

    Finally, some dancing.

    via GIPHY

    I love watching kids dance because they get so creative with those dance moves! You can play Irish music and even hire a dancer to teach the children (and yourself) some new moves. If you want to make it a game, you can play Freeze Jig. It’s the Irish version of Red Light, Green Light. You play music, and when the music stops, the children stop dancing and freeze. The last person to freeze is the winner.

    There are so many activities to choose from! I promised myself I would never get sucked into the Pinterest Vortex, but Pinterest has a ton of great ideas for activities, food, and fun! It’s a day full of luck so you should be just fine! Good luck!

  • Wedding Budget Saving Tips

    Wedding Budget Saving Tips

    Wedding Budget Saving Tips

    If you could describe a wedding in three words, what would they be? 

    If you’ve never had a wedding of your own, then let me take the words right out of your mouth. Beautiful. Elegant. Fun.

    Yeah, yeah, I get it, being a guest is the frickin’ best because unless you’re the bride or groom, you didn’t pay for anything. You went all dolled up, ate a filet mignon steak with a side of couscous, got drunk, and went home. That’s what guests do, and I know this because I attend over three weddings a month. 

    My three words? Too. Damn. Expensive.

    via GIPHY

    According to Business Insider, “The average wedding cost in the US is $33,391”. I’ve been married since 2017, and I am still in debt for the extravagant wedding my in-laws persisted we have. They only have one son so you can imagine how that conversation went.  

    Anyways, there are several things you can do that will help you save hundreds of dollars on your special day.

    Here are our top four.

    1. Scratch Off Anyone You Haven’t Seen In 2+ Years

    Let’s be real. Does your great uncle Paul from your mom’s side that you haven’t seen in over five years really need to be invited? I know when it comes to creating a guest list for your special day, you want the whole world to know, but think of it this way: the more people come, the more money out of your pocket.

    Honestly, I get it. At some point, you feel an obligation to invite some people even though you barely know them. While my husband and I were creating the guest list at the time, we were incredibly stressed out because more than half the people on the list were closer to our parents, not to us. It rounded up to over 200 people. 

    via GIPHY

    A word of advice? Cut out anybody you haven’t spoken or heard from in the past two years. Explain to your parents and future in-laws that you would rather save that extra cash for something that will benefit you and your partner in the near future.

    2. You Don’t Need Filet Mignon With Couscous

    You can’t have starving guests. Even though prices vary per guest in every state, you’re looking at an average of $85 per plate. And that’s the not so fancy weddings. If you want a New York wedding, you’re looking at an $80,000 fee.

    Here I thought California was too expensive.

    So what do you do? If you’re looking to save money, then I’ll tell you what you don’t do, and that is hiring a caterer. As soon as you mention the M word (married), anything that will cost ten bucks will jump to a hundred. We know it’s the same product, but we’re under so much stress at the time that we couldn’t give a shit, am I right?

    via GIPHY

    If you have any close friends that run family-owned restaurants or if your family is in the food industry, you can always ask them to cater! It doesn’t need to be anything fancy because I promise you, people just want to eat. I had a friend who served chicken thighs on top of basmati rice at her wedding, and you better believe it was the best darn thing I’ve ever tasted.

    So no need to over think the food because you’re not going to look back on this day and think, “I should have gone with the $8000 caterers”.

    3. Mother Nature is Your New Wedding Venue

    Haven’t you heard? That’s, like, totally a thing now.

    Renting out a plaza for your wedding reception is crazy expensive. I know this because mine cost me a thousand for the night.

    Lately, I have been noticing a ton of people planning their wedding in their backyard. There are a few who also use public parks because it’s already fixed up beautifully without costing a dime.

    Bridal Musings does a wonderful job on how to set up a backyard wedding.

    4. Skip The Bouquet and Settle For A Single Rose

    For a few of my brides, this might strike a nerve. If you’re one of those brides who want to preserve your bouquet in a glass frame, then by all means, skip this step. Before I continue, I would just like to state that I have been to weddings without a single flower in sight and I have been to weddings where over $2000 was spent only on flowers.

    via GIPHY

    Other than your bouquet, you need to keep in mind the bridesmaids, the flower girls, the corsages, table centerpieces, and much more that I can’t remember at the moment.

    Also, flowers die. Imagine spending $2000 on flowers just for them to die that same night. Holy crap, you can buy a used car with that amount of money. Now, there are alternatives to flowers such as candles, crystal vases, goldfish bowls with petals, and even fake flowers. If flowers are a must, then keep them to a minimal.

    If you’re the DIY’er in the family, then all you need is to pick a few roses from your nearest public park and get to working.

    The list goes on and on…and on. Shop for your dress or tux off the clearance rack, ask family and friends to help with the setup instead of buying professional work, buy affordable wedding rings, stay in state for the honeymoon, set up karaoke instead of hiring a DJ. 

    Ok, maybe that last one isn’t necessary, but you get my point.