This year, we celebrate our tenth wedding anniversary. And we have to say, we don’t know where all the time went! Between raising our three wonderful children and running our business as a wedding planning and DJ duo, it’s been a beautiful, fun, and occasionally chaotic journey. But one thing’s for sure: we love each other better now than we did ten years ago.

From surviving year one to learning how to balance business with romance, it hasn’t always been easy. And as we’ve made mistakes, learned from them, and spoken to other couples, we’ve picked up plenty of marriage advice along the way! Today, we’re sharing some in the hope that it will encourage you. Whether you’re two years in, twenty, or still engaged, let’s look at the best habits for building a happy, successful marriage!

Marriage Advice for the First Year

The first year of marriage is like the final plot twist of wedding planning. It’s exciting and infinitely sweet, but can also be oh-so challenging. For us, one of the most surprising things we discovered was that though we loved each other deeply, we still had to learn how to live with each other. Marriage is more than sharing a closet—it’s sharing space, a routine, expectations, and even an Amazon Prime account (yes, that caused an actual argument in our household!).

We also learned that true communication is more than talking. In fact, it’s about listening, really listening, as in hearing your partner out with grace and patience (and maybe a bowl of snacks to share) instead of just waiting for your turn to speak.

And honestly? The importance of laughter surprised us! We found that humor softened the hard moments and sweetened the good ones, reminding us why we fell in love in the first place. More than anything, that first year taught us that marriage isn’t about being perfect, either individually or together. It’s about being fully present, honest, and willing to grow.

5 Healthy Habits for Life Together

We’re believers that the little things are actually the big things in marriage. The habits that have strengthened our relationship the most aren’t grand gestures ,they’re shockingly simple! The key lies in being intentional and consistent. Here are the five relationship habits that we consider non-negotiable in our marriage:

Saying “Thank You” for Everyday Stuff

We’re talking something as simple as taking out the trash or making the morning coffee. Constantly showing appreciation has kept us from taking each other for granted. We like to say that gratitude is our love language!

Regular Check-Ins

For us, as co-business owners, it’s been imperative to schedule regular check-ins that aren’t about The Wedding Duo. It can be easy to focus too much on work and neglect our relationship as spouses. So, we make the time—even if it’s just fifteen minutes—to check in as husband and wife, not DJ and planner. 

Having Fun Together on Purpose

Whether it’s a spontaneous dance party in the kitchen or a phone-free movie night, choosing fun reminds us that marriage should be joyful, not just functional.

Giving Each Other Space

This one surprised us at the start! Time apart—whether it’s to run errands solo or enjoy a night out with friends—helps us come back together refreshed and more connected than when we spend every waking minute together.

Apologizing Without the “But”

Game-changer. When we learned to say, “I’m sorry I hurt you,” without defending ourselves, it helped us build real trust.

What We Wish We Knew Before “I Do”

This one is for the engaged couples! Before we tied the knot, we wish someone had looked us in the eyes and given us one of the best pieces of marriage advice we know: you’re marrying a human, not a mind reader.

Seriously. We went into marriage believing that loving each other meant always being on the same page. But we quickly realized that most days, we weren’t even reading the same chapter! There’s this idea floating around that if you’ve found “the one,” everything should just click. The truth is that real love takes effort, patience, and about 47 debates about how to load the dishwasher. 

We also wish someone had told us that hard moments don’t equal a bad marriage. They just mean you’re learning! Growing together means bumping into each other’s rough edges, but choosing to stick around anyway. 

Lastly? Don’t forget to date each other! It’s easy to fall into a routine, but keeping romance alive takes intention. And it doesn’t have to be expensive or fancy! Some of our favorite dates have looked like takeout on the couch in sweatpants after a long wedding weekend.

Marriage is a beautiful and messy journey, marked by evolution both as individuals and in your relationship. If you expect it to look and feel like a fairytale all the time, it will disappoint you. But if you expect it to be worth the effort and the hard conversations? It will amaze you—we guarantee it. 

Become a Wedding Duo Member

Planning your wedding isn’t just about the party, or even about memorizing all the best marriage advice. It’s about the partnership—finding ways to create a wedding that’s uniquely yours, while enjoying your engagement so you can step into marriage stronger than ever. We designed the The Wedding Duo Membership to help you do just that! 

With instructional videos, wedding planning templates, and comprehensive checklists at your fingertips, the Membership poises you to avoid the stress and confusion that plague so many DIY couples. We don’t want you to sacrifice date night so you can squeeze another dead-end vendor call or Reddit binge into your busy schedule! In addition to these exclusive resources, you’ll have access to our weekly Q&A call (hello, unlimited personalized advice!) and a supportive community of like-minded couples—all for just $27/month.

Are you ready to get started? Join today and get your first two months FREE with our limited-time offer!