The Stroud Family (I'm last on the right)
Most brides only have two options for their last name after they're married (a third if you count the hyphen). My decision comes with a twist: I'm torn between two last names, but neither of them are mine, and only one belongs to my fiancé Corey. Let me explain...
Corey’s last name is "Allan," but unlike most last names—which date back decades and encompass a rich sense of family history—"Allan" isn't old, it's new. Corey's dad, a news anchor, was born a "Trojanowski," but decided to make the switch after he graduated from college and began his career in broadcasting. His original name was too difficult to pronounce by TV standards, so he came up with "Allan" after adding an extra "L" to his middle name ("Alan").
What complicates our decision even further is that the Trojanowski family line will officially end if we decide not to take that last name. Corey's grandparents immigrated from Poland, and his dad has a brother and a sister, but neither ever had children. This is something that has bothered Corey for a while now, and family history is important to both of us. When Corey turned 18 (a few years before we met), he considered reverting back to the original "Trojanowski," but decided against it after finding out how much work was involved in a legal name change.
The Allan Family (Corey is last on the right)
I have loved being a Stroud my entire life. I considered keeping my maiden name, but Corey and I hope to have a family one day and I want my children to share my last name. (Therefore, it didn't make sense for me to keep "Stroud" after the wedding, only to have to change it after we have kids.) However, I've always wanted to include the Strouds in my future family somehow, so my original plan was to name my child after my dad's middle name...Alan. What a coincidence!
So which name should I choose? Although "Allan" doesn't have a rich family history, it's been my groom's last name for his entire life and it's what others know him and his parents by. I also think it's ironic that the universe brought me an Allan to marry, long after I came up with the idea of using it to name my future child. However, I have this vision of our future son or daughter in elementary school being assigned the family tree project and not understanding why there were no Allans before his/her grandparents. As for "Trojanowski," come on, it's just an awesome last name! It's a nod to Corey's polish heritage and he could change his name along with me. If we became Trojanowskis, we would finally have a sense of family history, and we could still name our future son "Allan" to honor the newer name.
Real brides, help me out: Which last name should I choose, "Allan" or "Trojanowski?" Are you changing your maiden name? Why or why not?
—Nikki Stroud
Nikki Stroud is a real bride who is learning every step of the way when it comes to wedding planning. She and her fiancé, Corey Allan (both Ball State alums), will be married in September of 2012 in front of their friends and family in Indianapolis. Glittering ivory lights, exposed plumbing and sleek wood floors depict their romantic yet rustic venue in the Downtown area. The couple hopes to incorporate personal touches to make the celebration truly reflect their relationship.
