Groom Plans to Take His Wife’s Last Name After Their Wedding. Now His Dad is Furious

A groom’s father is angry about a recent decision his son made ahead of his wedding.

A woman wrote in to the Dear Prudence column that her son, Ken, recently decided to take his bride’s last name after their wedding — a choice that her husband is very unhappy about.

She shared that the bride, Marie, has no boys in her family to carry on the family name, which was something her father and grandfather were “rather depressed about.” She has three sisters and her cousins are also all women. 

She said that Ken “decided to take Marie’s last name to honor her family’s legacy,” which made her dad and grandfather “elated.” However, the woman’s husband, “was not.”

“I’ve tried explaining to him that this is Ken’s choice, plus we have two other sons who do carry our last name, but he’s still whining about it and is even derisively referring to Ken as ‘Mr. [Fiancée’s Last Name],’ ” she explained.

“What can I do to get him to shut his trap and be happy for our son?,” she inquired to Prudence.

In response, Prudence noted that while it may have come as a “surprise” to the man and can be “hard to accept,” he needs to consider his relationship with his son and future daughter-in-law. She also said that he likely cares about Ken having his last name because “he’s your son” values his “connection to him.”

The columnist suggested that the woman tell her husband that “by being an a——” to their son and Marie over this,” he is “actively chipping away at the relationship and could easily cause them to pull away.” 

She further noted that the decision has already “been made,” and that at this point, his choices are “being close to Ken “with his fiancée’s last name” or “pushing him away” with his “mockery and judgment.” She suggested that the wife tell her husband to “choose wisely.” 

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One man who changed his last name to his wife’s told the outlet, “My last name was always more of an annoyance to me, because it had no sentimental or family value… When the time came to [change my name], it was a no-brainer.”

“I have plenty of friends who would never, ever, ever do that, and would feel emasculated or would feel like they might be made fun of,” he added. “But I think it’s just about being secure and having the confidence to own it.”