Originally Posted by MSPeconomist

Assuming your future wife has a passport, she might be able strategically to change the driver's license early and the passport (or other government ID) much later so as to be able to travel on tickets in either last name during the transition period.

If she doesn't have a passport, she could apply for one immediately in the new name and ask that it be expedited, while postponing changing the name (and address?) on her driver's license as late as legally possible.

An easy way to avoid the hassle would be for your wife to continue to use her own (maiden) name indefinitely for legal matters, perhaps using her married name socially.

Originally Posted by Reindeerflame

As far as I know, airlines do not change names on tickets, regardless of whether a FF account is updated to reflect the name change.

A person whose name changes after a ticket is issued is accommodated, but needs to be prepared to endure some hassles, which may include having to produce various documents, being yelled at for offering certain documents, secondary inspection, and the like. Each encounter likely will vary. These can all be overcome with patience and allowing extra time for the check-in process.

What does not vary is an airline's refusal to change the name on a ticket.