Couple who didn’t want to drop either last name let wedding guests vote — reveal was 'closer than Brexit'

Most couples send out RSVPs asking guests to decide on trivial things like chicken or fish, or if there will be extra guests, but Jasmine Moodie and Elle Upshall added one more box to tick: help them decide on their new last name. Wedding videographers Steff and Ells captured the moment and posted the story on TikTok through their account @rebelloveclub_ with the caption, "Closer than Brexit." The video shows the dramatic name reveal and the couple's reactions, but the decision behind it started long before the ceremony.

The couple, who had been together nearly ten years, got married on July 13, 2024, at The Red Barn in Norfolk, England. While planning the day, they realized they didn’t want either of their family names to disappear, but they also couldn’t agree on how to order them. Both options — Moodie-Upshall and Upshall-Moodie — felt meaningful, and both had their supporters.

"As a queer couple, it often feels like there’s traditions in marriage that don’t fit our story — taking the 'man's' surname has no relevance in our relationship, so we knew we had the freedom to do something differently!" Moodie told People. Instead of deciding, they invited their 60 guests to vote.

"That’s when we had the idea that we could get them to vote for our surnames — it doesn’t get more involved than that! We asked for the usual response, dietary requirements, and then the surprise surname vote!" Elle said. To make sure the results stayed secret, they worked with the officiator Louise Gather, who managed the vote. She collected the ballots privately and kept the outcome hidden until the wedding itself. "This way, we had NO idea what way the vote would swing. And when she pronounced us as wives, we’d get the surprise gift from all of our guests — a new surname!" Jasmine said. Leading up to the wedding, the decision became its own source of conversation. Wedding guests debated "for months" on which surname option was best. Some guests stayed quiet about their choice, while others "needed to talk it through."

"Funnily enough, the Upshalls were mostly team Moodie-Upshall, and the Moodies were cheering for the Upshall-Moodies!" Elle said. During the ceremony, the officiator stepped up with a gold envelope containing the results. As everyone watched, she pulled out the paper and read the new name aloud: Upshall-Moodie, with a final tally of 29 to 24. Looking back, Jasmine said the idea ended up meaning more than they expected. "It felt like a joyful way to include their voice in our future — and the vote reveal was hilarious! We’re so happy! We couldn’t imagine it any other way," she said. Elle added, "No matter what they’d voted, everyone got behind the new name in that moment." The video sparked a wave of responses from people who connected with both the humor and the sentiment behind the idea.

@oscurrrrrr commented, "The fact that 24 people voted for Moodie-Upshall is wild." @a.sinclair01 said, "Upshall-Moodie is far better than Moodie-Upshall. Can’t believe it was so close." @nuggetwilf2806 wrote, "I LOVE this! so cool! But also, Moodie-Upshalls sounds like a description, not a surname, so I was manifesting the other one." @kshsujdbeb added, "Can't believe anyone voted for Moodie-Upshall, it doesn't roll off the tongue at all compared to Upshall-Moodie!" @lilmiffypuddinpie shared, "My wife and I double-barreled our names and now my name doesn’t fit on paperwork."

You can follow Rebel Love Club Photo & Film (@rebelloveclub_) on TikTok for more wedding videography content.