{"id":19915,"date":"2026-03-11T08:29:50","date_gmt":"2026-03-11T08:29:50","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/guideposts.org\/articles\/uncategorized\/how-to-stay-happily-married\/"},"modified":"2026-04-23T05:07:22","modified_gmt":"2026-04-23T05:07:22","slug":"how-to-stay-happily-married","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/guideposts.org\/articles\/positive-living\/friends-and-family\/marriage\/how-to-stay-happily-married\/","title":{"rendered":"Advice for Newlyweds from Happily Married Couples"},"content":{"rendered":"

While not all married couples have wonderful relationships, those who have achieved the magic of a deeply happy marriage have much to share with us. Most will admit that marital joy isn\u2019t magic at all, but a lifelong commitment to building and sustaining a meaningful life together in ways both big and (seemingly) small. Whether you\u2019re about to celebrate your wedding anniversary or just about to walk down the aisle, this advice for newlyweds from the happily married may make a difference in your relationship.<\/p>\n

READ MORE: How to Increase Joy in Marriage<\/a><\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

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7 Pieces of Advice for Newlyweds:<\/strong><\/h3>\n
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1. Greet Each Other Every Day<\/strong><\/h4>\n

Claudia, who lives in California with her husband of 36 years, shares a daily routine that fosters connection first, life stresses second. \u201cUnless the house is on fire, don\u2019t greet one another at the door with a complaint about the job, kid, parent, in-law, or spouse,\u201d she says. \u201cWe have a routine where the first person home greets the second one with \u2018Welcome back.\u2019 The other answers, \u2018Glad to be back.’\u201d This is her advice for any newlyweds looking to start a daily positive habit<\/a>. \u201cIt\u2019s like saying goodnight. If you don\u2019t say it, you miss it. If you do, it provides completeness to the day.\u201d<\/p>\n

READ MORE: 6 Positive Habits for Your New Marriage<\/a><\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

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2. Have a Daily Date<\/strong><\/h4>\n

Lisa and her husband meet every morning at the Starbucks in their hometown of Deerfield, Illinois after they get their three teenaged girls off to school. It\u2019s 20 minutes for coffee and conversation before they get into their days. Their phones are off, and everything is on the table. \u201cEven if we are [angry] at each other, we meet there and work it out,\u201d Lisa says. \u201cThis special time\u2014more than trips to Tuscany and the South of France\u2014has been the secret of our deep love and friendship.\u201d<\/p>\n

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3. Assume the Best of Each Other<\/strong><\/h4>\n

Over 27 years of marriage, Mary and her husband, who live in Moraga, California, have learned not to take personally quips and quirks that don\u2019t have to do with the relationship at all. This is their tip for newlyweds as well. \u201cMy husband and I were taking turns destroying each others\u2019 sleep with our snoring,\u201d Mary recalls. \u201cI was so whacked out from lack of sleep, I convinced myself he was doing it to<\/em> me. He, in turn, had been putting up with my snoring without complaining. We agreed to a gentle pillow tug to turn the snorer\u2019s head. If snoring goes on, one of us volunteers to sleep in the guest room for a night or two. The spirit of compromise and the understanding that we aren\u2019t out to get each other is vital.\u201d<\/p>\n

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4. Be Present to Each Other\u2019s Pain<\/strong><\/h4>\n

Stacey, who lives in Los Angeles, lost her mother recently. She worries about how her grief might be affecting her husband of 8 years\u2014and he is heartbroken that she is in so much pain. Their advice for newlyweds during difficult times like this? Simply be present to each other through it all. \u201cWe\u2019re hanging on tighter to each other,\u201d Stacey says. \u201cRight now I\u2019m picturing how he held me in the driveway of my mother\u2019s now-empty home Saturday afternoon while I wept.\u201d<\/p>\n

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5. Build on Your Common Values<\/strong><\/h4>\n

Wendy and her husband, who live in San Francisco, \u201cbring our values into everyday interactions,\u201d she says. The couple\u2019s oldest child is in high school, and as he grapples with making college decisions, Wendy enjoys how she and her husband are approaching their advice-giving from the same perspective. They encourage their son to take the time to find and pursue his life\u2019s passions. \u201cIf we didn\u2019t agree on this approach,\u201d she says, \u201cwe\u2019d be playing out our values battle through our son. Instead, we\u2019ve grown closer.\u201d<\/p>\n

READ MORE: A Devotion to Help Strengthen Your Marriage<\/a><\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

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6. Compliment Each Other\u2014in Public<\/strong><\/h4>\n

Telling others about your spouse\u2019s strengths reinforces the things you most love about each other. Keith, who lives in Santa Cruz, California, gives this advice to every couple, both newlyweds and the long-time married. \u201cOnce I was in a large meeting explaining to a testy customer that if we planned correctly, we could meet their entire demand. He responded by asking me, \u2018Are you telling me you have infinite capacity?\u2019 I answered, \u2018Sir, the only thing in this universe I am sure has infinite capacity is my wife\u2019s patience.\u2019 Everyone laughed, but I was serious. I\u2019m fully aware every single moment of the day how thankful I am for her patience and love.\u201d<\/p>\n

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7. Learn and Grow Together<\/strong><\/h4>\n

Wendy and her husband, who live in West Orange, New Jersey,\u00a0celebrate their 48th<\/sup> anniversary this month. Her advice for newlyweds to attain long-term happiness is to cultivate a spirit of growth and learning in their relationship. \u201cDo something surprising and adventurous together\u2014going to a yoga retreat, whitewater rafting, taking different courses, traveling, and having other learning experiences,\u201d she says. \u201cOne of the best things my husband and I did was to go to Omega Institute, a holistic learning center, to take workshops. He initially didn\u2019t want to go, but later he became a big proponent, and we went maybe 10 times. We brought the kids!\u201d<\/p>\n

7 Bible Verses for Newlyweds:<\/strong><\/h3>\n
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  1. I am my beloved\u2019s and my beloved is mine.\u00a0\u2014Song of Solomon 6:3<\/em><\/li>\n
  2. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.\u00a0\u2014Colossians 3:14<\/em><\/li>\n
  3. I found the one my heart loves.\u00a0\u2014Song of Solomon 3:4<\/em><\/li>\n
  4. Mercy, peace and love be yours in abundance.\u00a0\u2014Jude 1:2<\/em><\/li>\n
  5. Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves.\u00a0\u2014Romans 12:10<\/em><\/li>\n
  6. My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you.\u00a0\u2014John 15:12<\/em><\/li>\n
  7. Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labor: If either of them falls down, one can help the other up.\u00a0\u2014Ecclesiastes 4:9-10<\/em><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    READ MORE ADVICE FOR NEWLYWEDS:<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n