Honeymoon is 4 months later from wedding - Renew passport or no?

You may be okay leaving it in your married name. In all, my name change took about 3 months, though I did everything the day I was able to (picked up my marriage certificate on the first date it was available, sent it in that day to change my SS#, day I got my new card I went to the DMV to get my license, etc.) I haven't renewed my passport yet since my honeymoon is on hold until 2022, but I think if you put in an expedited request as soon as you have your new SS#, you should be good to go.

If you have a ticket in hand for a flight within 10 days (I believe that is the time frame) you can usually get a new passport same day if you go to the government office in your area. With Covid I would call your local office and check, but in the past I have been able to do this (and is currently my plan if I need my passport between now and getting married).

You should be okay, but the end of your timeline is during the holidays so something to keep in mind. I just got a new passport with my married name. Took about 4 weeks from the day I mailed my old one off to the day my new one came. I had to wait a few weeks for my marriage license to come in the mail, then several more weeks to order copies by mail (I live in a different state). Took about a month for a new SS card (again, by mail). If you’re able to get most of these things in person soon after your wedding, you should be good

I got married a few weeks before covid shut everything down so our marriage license was already processed and only took a couple of weeks (we were able to pick it up at the courthouse since it wasn’t closed yet).

However, I did my name change back in late October. It took less than 6 weeks from mailing out my application and getting my new SS card. I did my passport around end of February and it took me about 5 weeks from mailing out the application and getting my new passport. Driver’s license/Real ID was super quick and easy. Submitted all my documents (had to bring it into the DMV still though) and application online and was able to go into the expedited line at the DMV. Took less than 45 minutes and got my license in the mail about 2 weeks later. Located in Southern California.

I would switch it to your maiden name just to be safe. Many (if not all) Social Security offices are only accepting name changes through the mail. With the passport, even expedited passports are currently taking 4-6 weeks (from the time that the passport office receives your paperwork, not when it leaves your hands). In normal times you can walk into a passport office, however right now your travel has to be within 3 days for an appointment and those are mostly saved for life and death situations (if you can ever get an appointment). I'm in a travel group and there are a lot of people on there that are having to fly to another city domestically within 3 days of their international travel just to get to a passport office with availability.

So, with travel, names have to match up exactly before you fly. If they do not, it will mean additional screening. If you find yourself in this situation, please arrive three hours before your flight, as lines, and travel is unpredictable during the holiday season.

Now, you can take your own passport photo according to the directions on the website, and submit your information by their rules and standards with the documentation.

Please do this no later than the week following your wedding as getting a new passport and passport ID can take up to 3-4 months. Yes, it will cost more, but passports are good for ten years, and you can travel both domestically and internationally with a passport.

Passport cards will act as a good second form of ID, and you may be able to travel to some U.S. territories with them.

Furthermore, if you don't have a real ID by October 1st of this year, you will need a passport to travel domestically at an airport and potentially to cross some state lines.

When I got married, we took our honeymoon three months after the wedding. My passport was set to expire about two weeks after the honeymoon, which they tell you many places won't accept.

I also worried about timing - having to wait for the marriage certificate, then start name change process. The government site for passports said it was taking 2-3 months, and everything has to be sent through the mail.

I didn't risk it. I renewed in my maiden name before the wedding.

I will say I had my marriage certificate in hand a week and a half after the wedding (I expected a month) and it only took one month for my passport. But I am ultimately glad I didn't risk it. It was one less thing for me to stress about.

Also, if your passport is less than one year old, you can change your name for free. So if you renew it in your maiden name, as long as you are within one year of that renewal, you can change to your married name after the honeymoon free of charge.

This is all SO helpful!! Thank you all for your advice/answers!! really appreciate it