I've been dreaming of my wedding day ever since I was a little girl. My favorite show is and has always been TLC's Say Yes to the Dress, and I watch it so much that I might actually be qualified to be a Kleinfeld's consultant. I cannot wait to find the man that I will celebrate marriage with and spend the rest of my life with, and I am certainly planning on a traditional wedding. However, there is one tradition that I am not planning on following: changing my last name.

For me, I look forward to being a team with the man I marry. I look forward to contributing equally to our partnership, to working together, and to building each other up and making each other better. I look forward to being equals, and to me, being defined by the man I am married to is not quite representative of the equal part that each of us will have in our relationship. This is a completely personal choice, and for me personally, following this tradition does not represent what I want out of my marriage.

I really just don't think it's anyone's business whether I'm married or not. Why does society demand to know the marital status of a woman, but not of a man? I am my own person, defined by my actions, aspirations, hard work, and my own unique personality. And just like the unique person I am, my birth name is unique, too. I plan on keeping it.

I think the traditional aspects of marriage are so sacred and beautiful, and finding a husband who will support me in all that I do, and who I can support in all that he does, is something that I simply cannot wait for. But, I want us to be able to support each other in the unique individuals that we are. I want us to see each other as equal members of our little team of two, each contributing unique (but equal) aspects. We are both individuals. We are both unique. I do not want to be defined by my marital status, or to be considered the subservient member of my marriage. Of course following this tradition does not mean that any woman is lesser than her husband, as times have certainly changed. For me, however, I'd just like to stick with who I have been from the very start.