When it comes to planning a wedding, most people spend months stressing over the perfect dress, the dream venue, and even the catchiest hashtag.
But there’s one detail that can cause just as much drama — and sometimes even more: the new last name.
For some, it’s all about a name that fits their personality… or at least looks good on Instagram.
Bride-to-be Brooke Marshall is about to inherit a hilariously awkward last name, and, surprisingly, she’s totally embracing it…
Met six years ago
Planning a wedding usually means obsessing over every tiny detail — but Brooke Marshall has her sights set on the one thing that’s getting everyone talking: her new last name.
Brooke, a 29-year-old neonatal NICU nurse from Dallas, Texas, is set to marry her fiancé, Jake Hornibrook, 29, a fuel operations worker, in April 2026.
The couple met six years ago during their last month of college in Arkansas and managed a long-distance relationship for four years while Jake served in the military.
Now, Brooke is preparing to take the name Brooke Hornibrook — a moniker she calls “hilarious” and “fun,” even if it has sparked strong opinions online.
The bride-to-be first jumped on the trend after seeing a viral TikTok of soon-to-be funny names.
She said: “I thought, ‘Oh my god, if ever there was an opportunity for me to take part in a trend, it’s this one.’ I haven’t responded, I’m not going to get into the drama in the comments. A lot of people were joking and saying ‘congrats to Mr and Mrs Marshall’ as if he should take my last name. A lot of people were opinionated and said I’m ‘not his property’ and ‘it’s not his choice’. Obviously I know this is such a fun trend. It made me realise I’m not the only one having a rather unfortunate or funny name to talk about forever. Everyone said ‘it’s like Bond, James Bond, but in the worst way’. I got that comment a lot and it made me laugh.”
Joked about the name
Brooke and Jake joked about the name early in their relationship, and she’s embracing the humor. “It is funny, there’s no denying it. I’m not embarrassed. I’m excited – I think if anything it will bring a smile to people’s face and be a funny ice breaker or conversation starter,” she said.
She added some personal touches, too. “Despite being ‘sad’ to let my current surname go, I plan to change my middle name to Marshall,” Brooke said. “I knew early on he was very traditional and it was very important that his wife take his last name. I knew that going into it and I come from a traditional family too. My friends all say if anyone can rock that name it’s me, I’m quite the jokester.”
Jake admits he wasn’t initially aware of the TikTok trend, but he knew Brooke would jump on it.
“I’m not on TikTok, so I don’t always catch the trends – but the moment I heard about this one, I just knew Brooke would jump on it. It was only a matter of time! For me, it’s just as much of an honor that Brooke is taking the Hornibrook name as it is an honor for me to be marrying her. And hey, it could have been worse… imagine if her last name ended up as ‘Brookehorni!’ At the end of the day, it’s a fun, lighthearted story that we’ll laugh about and share with everyone we meet for years to come.”
The couple got engaged last December after Jake moved to Texas once his military contract ended. Brooke recalled the proposal:
“After dragging his feet a lot longer than expected he proposed in December. He really put a lot of thought into it and had my friends and family fly out. We had a surprise after party which I kind of suspected as he can only be so discreet. It was really sweet.”
Next April, Brooke and Jake will officially become Mr. and Mrs. Hornibrook in a seaside ceremony in Florida — a name that’s sure to make everyone smile.
