Best Marriage Advice for Newlyweds, Unmarried & Older Married Couples

Best Relationship Advice for Couples Who Have Yet to Tie the Knot

1. "Your relationship comes before the wedding day" - Don't let wedding planning overshadow your connection. Set aside regular date nights where wedding talk is off-limits. Go to your favorite restaurants, take walks together, or simply curl up on the couch – just focus on enjoying each other's company without discussing seating charts or color schemes.
2. "A wedding is a day, a marriage is a lifetime" (Myles Munroe) - While planning your celebration matters, investing in your future together matters more. Consider premarital counseling or taking relationship workshops together. These experiences help you discuss important topics like finances, family dynamics, and future goals in a structured, supportive environment.
3. Practice Active Listening: Wedding planning involves countless decisions, and you won't always agree. Instead of trying to "win" discussions, focus on understanding your partner's perspective. Try repeating what they've said to ensure you're truly hearing their concerns before sharing your own thoughts.
4. Set Boundaries Together: Family and friends mean well, but their opinions can overwhelm your planning process. Work as a team to establish clear boundaries about who influences your decisions. Support each other in communicating these limits respectfully but firmly.
5. Schedule Wedding-Free Quality Time: Looking at venues and scrolling through Pinterest can easily consume every free moment. Set aside dedicated time each week – maybe Sunday mornings or Wednesday evenings – where wedding planning is completely off-limits. Use this time to connect over shared interests that brought you together in the first place, whether it's trying new recipes, hiking your favorite trails, or simply enjoying quiet moments together.
6. "Love is the thread that ties hearts together" - Build traditions now that can carry into your married life. Maybe it's a monthly "adventure day" where you take turns planning surprises for each other or a weekly coffee date where you share your hopes and dreams. These rituals create a strong foundation that goes beyond the wedding day excitement.
7. Have the Money Talk Early: Before diving into who pays for the wedding, sit down together and have an open conversation about finances. Create a comfortable setting – maybe over coffee at home – and discuss everyone's expectations and abilities to contribute. This conversation might feel awkward, but it's crucial for preventing stress later. Remember, modern weddings don't have to follow traditional payment structures; what matters is finding an arrangement that works for your unique situation.
8. Dream Together About Your Big Day: Instead of immediately jumping into wedding themes on Pinterest, spend an evening sharing your wedding dreams with each other. Grab your favorite takeout, get cozy, and talk about what matters most to each of you. Maybe you've always imagined an intimate garden party, while your partner dreams of a glamorous city celebration. Understanding each other's vision helps you create a wedding that truly reflects both of your personalities.
9. Keep Your Circle Close, But Your Partner Closer: When wedding opinions start flowing from well-meaning family and friends, make decisions as a team first. Create a signal or code word to use when either of you feels overwhelmed by others' input. This private communication helps you stay united and reminds you both that your relationship comes first – even when Aunt Susan insists her craft-paper centerpiece idea is "absolutely essential" for your modern industrial venue.
10. Create Your Wedding Planning Command Center: Make your planning journey smoother by joining Loverly, where you'll find everything you need in one place. Access our free wedding planning checklist to stay organized, explore endless wedding planning ideas for inspiration, and use our comprehensive wedding planner website to track your progress. Not sure when to start planning? Our timeline tools help you pace everything perfectly. Create your personalized wedding vision board to share ideas with vendors, use our wedding address collector to gather guest information effortlessly, and manage your online wedding guest list with ease. Plus, our curated directory of wedding services connects you with trusted professionals who can bring your vision to life.

Best Marriage Advice for Newlyweds

1. "Never go to bed angry" (Phyllis Diller) - While this classic advice might sound cliché, there's wisdom here. You don't need to solve every disagreement before bedtime, but make a habit of expressing care for each other, even during conflicts. Try saying "I love you, and we'll figure this out tomorrow" if you need time to cool off.
2. Create Your Own Traditions: Don't feel pressured to copy other couples' routines. Maybe your Sunday tradition becomes making pancakes together, or perhaps you celebrate monthly "mini-anniversaries" with takeout from your favorite restaurant. These small, consistent moments of connection matter more than grand gestures.
3. Build a Shared Financial Vision: Money talks aren't always romantic, but they're crucial. Schedule regular "money dates" where you discuss goals, review budgets, and plan for your future together. Make it fun – maybe grab your favorite snacks and turn it into a monthly ritual rather than a dreaded task.
4. Protect Your Marriage Bubble: In these early days, everyone seems to have opinions about how you should live your married life. Remember that your relationship comes first. It's okay to politely decline advice or set boundaries with family and friends who might be a bit too involved in your decisions.
5. Keep Dating Each Other: Just because you're married doesn't mean romance should take a backseat. Take turns planning surprise dates, leave sweet notes for each other, or simply spend quality time together without screens. The key is maintaining that spark of excitement and anticipation that made you fall in love in the first place.
6. Find Joy in the Little Things: Make time to laugh together every day, even during stressful moments. Share funny memes, recall embarrassing stories from your wedding planning days, or simply be silly together. Pull out your wedding photography album when you need a reminder of that joy-filled day that started it all. Those shared moments of laughter create bonds that help you weather any storm.
7. Choose Your Battles Wisely: Not every disagreement needs to be a fight. Sometimes, the best thing you can do is let it go and focus on what truly matters. Before turning a small issue into a bigger one, ask yourself: "Will this matter in five years?" If not, take a deep breath and redirect that energy into something positive for your relationship.
8. Build Each Other Up: Support one another through both celebrations and setbacks. The best relationship advice would be to become each other's biggest cheerleader. Whether it's a promotion at work or finally mastering that recipe you've been practicing, celebrate the wins together – big and small. This mutual support creates a strong marriage that can handle whatever life throws your way.
9. Address Major Issues Early: Don't let problems simmer under the surface. Set aside regular time to check in with each other about important matters like finances, family relationships, and future goals. Having these conversations early often prevents small concerns from becoming major roadblocks.
10. Practice Grace Daily: Learn to forgive quickly and love deeply. Remember that you're both human and will make mistakes. Instead of keeping score, focus on understanding each other better. Sometimes, the strongest moments in your marriage come after working through challenges together with compassion and patience.

Best Advice for Married Couples Who Have Been Married a While

1. "Love is less about looking at each other and more about looking in the same direction" (Antoine de Saint-Exupéry) - Keep sharing dreams and setting goals together, even after years of marriage. Plan regular "vision dates" where you discuss what you want your life to look like in 5, 10, or 20 years. Maybe it's traveling to new places, starting a business, or simply creating new traditions as your family evolves.
2. Embrace Change Together: You're both different people than when you first met – and that's beautiful. Support each other's personal growth, whether it's pursuing new hobbies, changing careers, or exploring different interests. Make space for individual pursuits while maintaining your connection through shared experiences.
3. Keep Surprising Each Other: Daily life can fall into comfortable routines, but don't let predictability dim your spark. Leave unexpected love notes, plan surprise date nights, or learn something new together. Even small gestures like making their favorite meal or sending a midday text can keep romance alive.
4. Practice Gratitude Daily: Instead of focusing on what might be missing, actively appreciate what you have. Share specific things you're grateful for about each other – maybe it's how they always remember to make your coffee just right, or the way they light up when talking about their passions. These moments of recognition strengthen your bond.
5. Maintain Physical Connection: Touch doesn't always have to be romantic – hold hands while watching TV, hug each other good morning, or simply sit close together during dinner. Physical closeness, even in simple ways, helps maintain intimacy and emotional connection throughout the years.
6. Celebrate Your Evolution: Your relationship has likely changed a lot over the years, especially while raising children or pursuing career dreams. Instead of resisting these changes, celebrate how you've grown together. Take time to look back at old photos and reminisce about your journey, but keep dreaming about future adventures too.
7. Master the Art of the Daily Kiss: Small gestures carry immense value. Make it a point to kiss hello and goodbye, hold hands during your evening walk, or leave sweet notes for your spouse to find. These tiny moments of connection often mean more than grand gestures, especially during tough times.
8. Keep Having Fun Together: Whether you've been married for 5 years or 60 years, playfulness matters. Schedule regular date nights, try new hobbies together, or simply dance in your kitchen while making dinner. Finding joy in ordinary moments gives your relationship lasting strength.
9. Choose Love and Respect Daily: In the heat of an argument, remember why you fell in love. Take a pause, breathe, and approach disagreements with kindness. Your partnership will last longer when you treat each other with grace, especially during challenging conversations.
10. Create New Chapters Together: Just because you've been together for years doesn't mean you can't start exciting new traditions or adventures. Take that cooking class you've both been curious about, plan a surprise weekend getaway, or start a shared project. Keep writing your love story – the best chapters might still be ahead!

Just for Fun, What's the Best Piece of Marriage Advice You've Heard?