I had my first pre-wedding panic this week; the first of many, I'm sure.
We decided a long time ago that I would take my husband's surname when we marry, no longer would I be Emma Heseltine. I'd be Emma Beer - easier to sign, quicker to write on forms, and I wouldn't have to explain to every new person I spoke to that I'm not related to Michael Heseltine.
But suddenly now I've been hit with a crisis of identity. I'll no longer be Emma Heseltine, does that mean I'm no longer me?
My nicknames through life have always been based on my surname (the polite ones anyway). At school, I was Emma H (to differentiate me from Emma D), and I've been Hezza, Miss H and all sorts of other things. What now?
I'll be honest, I'm a little bit scared by suddenly being known as something else. I've lived nearly 30 years with the same name. And my whole career is built on it, too. And actually, I quite enjoy answering 'no, no relation' over the phone at least once a week when I'm asked about the famous politician.
We've compromised to an extent - I will keep my surname professionally, but for all other purposes I will be Mrs Beer. It's a scary thought, but I suppose I'll get used to it.
And no doubt, with a surname like Beer, there'll be a whole load of jokes when I tell people my full name.
