Marriage isn’t just about wearing a fancy outfit once and eating cake in front of everyone you know. It’s the after-party that lasts forever! Complete with dirty laundry, shared Wi-Fi passwords, and occasional arguments about where to order takeout. A successful marriage isn’t about never fighting or being a picture-perfect couple. NOBODY IS. It’s about learning how to love each other through the chaos, laugh at the small stuff, and keep choosing each other, day after day, year after year.
So, before anything else, remember this: the most important foundation of marriage is God. When He is at the center of your relationship, love becomes stronger, forgiveness comes easier, and every challenge becomes a little lighter.
These 20 tips are helpful, but they work best when your marriage is anchored in faith and guided by Him.
1. Marry Your Best Friend
Not your literal BFF (though, hey, that a win-win!) But marry someone you actually like hanging out with. Looks fade, Netflix passwords expire, but laughing through life's curveballs together? That's forever.
2. Communication is Vital
Silent treatment is not communication. Neither is "I'm fine." Talk it out, even if it's uncomfortable. Yes, that includes the tough conversations about money, in-laws, and whether pineapple belongs on pizza.
3. Practice Forgiveness
Your spouse will annoy you. You will annoy your spouse. Forgive, move on, and resist the urge to bring up that one time they forgot your birthday three years ago...every argument since.
4. Quality Time
"Netflix and chill" is great, but try "Netflix and actually talk". GO ON DATES. Learn their hobbies. Pretend to enjoy their favorite show - even if it's the 14th crime documentary this week.
5. Remember You're a Team
Marriage isn't a solo sport. Teamwork means sharing responsibilities, supporting each other, and occasionally letting them win at board games (even when you're crushing it).
6. Enjoy Time Alone
Marriage doesn't mean you're surgically attached. Go out with your friends, read that book, or binge a show solo. Space makes the heart grow fonder, and keeps you from strangling each other.
7. Build Trust
If you can't trust your partner, you're in a bumpy ride. Trust is built daily through honesty, reliability, and not eating the last slice of pizza without asking.
8. Listen (Really Listen)
Nodding while scrolling instagram doesn't count. Active listening means eye contact, questions, and maybe even remembering what they said. Bonus points if you don't interrupt.
9. Accept Disagreements
Spoiler alert: you won't agree on everything. That's okay. You're two humans, not clones. Respect each other's opinions, even if their favorite ice cream flavor is clearly wrong.
10. Keep it Spicy
Yes, we mean that. But also keep flirting, keep surprising each other, and keep the romance alive. Think of it like keeping a houseplant alive - water it, give it attention, and occasionally talk dirty to it.
11. Establish Boundaries
Your spouse isn't a mind reader. Spell out your "no-go" zones. Boundaries can be about anything, from finances to how much of your fries they're allowed to steal.
12. Address the Little Things
Small annoyances pile up. Don't let socks on the floor turn into World War III. Talk about it before the anthill becomes a mountain.
13. Don't Take Them for Granted
Familiarity breeds.. well, sometimes laziness. Don't let your marriage go on autopilot. Compliment them. Surprise them. Remind them they're still the one you'd swipe right on.
14. Learn to Fight (Fairly)
You're going to argue. The trick is to do it without screaming, name-calling, or referencing that one embarrassing thing they did in 2009.
15. Agree on Big Things
Kids? Finances? Moving across the country? You need to be in the same page. Don't surprise your spouse with a new dog, a new job, or a new tattoo of their face.
16. Remember Romance
Romance isn't just roses and candlelit dinners. Sometimes it's doing the dishes so they don't have to. Or sending a flirty text. Or bringing home spaghetti unannounced.
17. Laugh With Them
Life is stressful. Laughter is a medicine. Find the silly, share the jokes, and don't be afraid to laugh at yourself (or at each other, kindly)
18. Embrace Change
You're not going to be the same page at 25, 45, and 75. Change is inevitable. Grow together, not apart. Bonus: your partner might develop new cooking skills.
19. Express Appreciation
Never underestimate the power of a "THANK YOU." or a KISS. Or coffee in bed. Small gestures go a long way, bonus if they come with snacks.
20. Split Responsibilities
Chores, bills, errands (divide and conquer). No one wants to feel like the unpaid housekeeper. And remember: laundry counts as foreplay if you do it right.
At the end of the day, marriage is basically a lifetime sleepover with your favorite (and sometimes most annoying) person. You’ll laugh, you’ll argue, you’ll share snacks, and occasionally you’ll want to smother them with a pillow but in the cute, non-criminal way. The secret isn’t about being perfect; it’s about showing up, choosing love, and keeping things fun along the way.
So, follow these tips, embrace the chaos, and remember: if you can survive assembling IKEA furniture together without filing for divorce, you’re probably doing just fine.
❤️❤️❤️
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