The Newly-Wed’s Guide on How to Build a Strong Marriage: 8 Top Tips

The average cost of a wedding in the USA is almost $40,000.

If you’re spending this much on your special day, you want to make sure that your marriage will last! But, have you considered how to build a strong marriage?

There are many tips that you might want to take on board to ensure relationship success. Let’s take a look at just a few of the top relationship tips.

1. Communication Is Key

You can learn a lot from this old phrase. Being open and honest with your partner is the single best way to ensure they know how you’re feeling.

Set aside time to chat every day or at least every single week. Perhaps you can go for a long walk at the same time.

Everything from your weekly schedule to your hopes and dreams should be discussed with your partner to ensure you feel close and cared for.

Furthermore, as well as sharing your feelings, you should also listen carefully to your partner to make sure they feel truly understood too.

2. Put Your Partner First

Becoming selfless is very difficult for most people. But, it’s important that you always think of your partner when making decisions.

To have a strong marriage, don’t hoard money to yourself, never do the washing up, or forget to make their dinner when making your own!

It sounds simple, but after a long day at the office, it can be very easy to slip into selfish ways.

3. Encourage Space and Privacy

Just because you’re married doesn’t mean you have to do absolutely everything together. In fact, spending time apart will help strengthen your relationship.

Encourage your partner to take that solo trip they’ve always wanted to go on, see friends separately one night per week, and have your own hobbies.

When you come back together, you’ll have lots to talk about and will have had the luxury of missing your partner!

4. Be Patient and Accepting

Your partner is inevitably going to irritate you. But, practicing patience is one of the best ways to ensure your relationship lasts.

Rather than trying to change their ways, try to be more accepting of their behavior. To avoid nagging, try having an adult conversation where you sit down and come to an understanding.

We need to appeal to our partners when asking for their help and forgive them when they occasionally let us down.

5. Don’t Forget to Be Romantic

When you’re married, it may feel as though the romance can now be put on a back burner. But, this simply isn’t the case.

To keep things hot between you and your partner, continue to make little romantic gestures every once in a while.

This could be preparing their favorite meal and watching their favorite movie.

Place a love note in your partner’s briefcase or lunch box and buy them a treat when you see something nice. A little romance will help keep the fire burning.

6. Sort Out Your Finances

Before you get married, you need to discuss how you are going to separate your money. Unsurprisingly, money is one of the biggest reasons why marriages fail.

Will you choose to write up a prenup? Will you have your own separate accounts and pay into a joint account every month? Or, will you simply merge all of your finances?

It’s important to regularly discuss how you want to spend your money, whether you want to save, and how you want to do this. Try drawing up a budget that you both agree on so you’re on the same page.

7. Respect Each Other During Arguments

It’s expected that you will argue. But, what’s most important is remaining civil during these scraps. Do not debase your argument with personal attacks.

Always try to understand where your partner is coming from and see the argument from their perspective.

Avoid using nasty ammunition that you simply won’t be able to take back after you’ve cooled off. If you need to, leave the argument to calm down and come back later.

Finally, being quick to apologize will ensure you can move on quickly. Don’t sulk and ruminate on the problem once it is dealt with.

8. Set Relationship Goals

Although marriage is seen as the ultimate goal in our society, it’s worth considering future relationship goals. For example, where do you want to be in five years or what do you want to achieve together in ten?

Are there any trips you want to take together? Do you want to learn how to dance the cha together? Do you want children?

Why not write down your goals and hold yourselves accountable to ensure you achieve them in years to come! Then, check out more relationship success tips.