List: Ten ways life changes after marrying the person you live with.

The wedding date is quickly approaching.

July 26, people!!!  Double eep!!!

This means that full stress mode is officially kicking in.

For a perfectionist, planning an event that has so many opportunities for problems is very stressful!

Not to mention, the financial aspect of it is an anxiety killer.  I’ll be lucky if I pay my vendors in full.

Everything tripled its value because it’s a wedding.  The church even takes advantage charging $710!

People keeping asking me if I’m nervous for the big day, and I always say “YES!!!”

You and I know that I’m not nervous because of saying I do, but others don’t know that.

Everyone always assumes that I’m afraid to get married and to exchange vows.

Their assumption is confirmed when they respond with “Why?  You’re practically married anyway.”

Whenever I hear this statement, I get really angry!  You can’t be practically married.  You just can’t!

I understand that my man and I have been living together for the past three years.

I understand that we clearly aren’t virgins and that we’ve been raising a child together.

I understand that we combined our finances and that both our names are on our lease.

So, we moved a little quickly.  Things happen and clearly it’s been working out!

Marriage might not be as huge of a change for us as others, but changes are inevitable.

Ten ways your life will change after marrying the person you already live with.

This list is dedicated to the ones that think practically married people’s lives won’t change.

1.  Commitment

Spiritually and legally we will be making a serious commitment to each other.

While we have been committed to each other the past few years, a marriage solidifies the bond.

In other words, the only way out would be to break our promise to God and to pay lots of money!

2.  Titles

The titles boyfriend and girlfriend or domestic partners will be a thing of the past.

After marriage, we will refer to each other and be referred to as husband and wife.

It’s crazy how simple titles can change how you view each other and how other’s view you.

3.  Tax Status

We will no longer have to spend hours researching and playing with numbers to figure out our taxes.

It will no longer matter who claims head of household or who claims the baby girl.

Besides, word is after we are wed and file joint returns, we should see a much heftier pay back!

4.  Security

After marriage, people may feel more secure in a relationship and more obligated to work through things.

Feeling secure in a relationship makes trivial things less important and helps people open up.

That means I can totally go to bed with placenta in my hair and cream on my zits without feeling shy.

5.  Decision Making

From the day we are wed, every decision we make will directly affect the lives of each other.

Living together means respecting each other’s decisions.  Marriage means deciding together.

After marriage, simple stuff like opening an IRA or getting a ticket will be considered OUR problem.

6.  Name Change

After 26 years of being called Ms. Jax, I will now be MRS. my man’s last name.

It’s the start of a whole new life to be lived under a whole new name.

I’m having a very hard time accepting this.  Changing my name feels like losing my identity.

7.  Gain Family Members

Our extended families will now be doubled and filled with in laws.

It’s no longer just my mom and dad that I will worry about it.  I’ll gain a second set of parents.

Does this mean that I have to memorize a whole new set of birthdays??  Hello, calendar!

8.  Credit

Over the past 3 years we have made countless decisions that affected our individual credit reports.

Our credit decisions may directly affect both of us after we tie the knot.

We plan to get a mortgage after the wedding, so let’s hope we impacted our credit positively!!

9.  Validation

It may be 2015, but I still get funny looks when people hear that I have a child and I’m not married.

In the eyes of some people, getting married validates my family and will legitimatize my child.

It’s pathetic to worry about this, but I’m so sick of being judged as an unfortunate circumstance.  Ug!!

10.  Plans

Planning a future no longer ends at my 401K deduction.  We need to make a plan to suit our future.

Life insurance policies, retirement plans, and investments are all things we need to consider.

The type of plans necessary to support a family are endless and sort of trigger my anxiety.  Sigh!

What do you think changes after marriage, even for those already sharing an address?