So you’re spending your first Christmas together as a married couple. Congratulations! How can you make this Christmas a special event you’ll remember for years to come? Your first Christmas together is a chance to set the tone for the coming years of marriage. It also offers a wonderful opportunity for establishing new traditions and making memories you can take through the decades. Most importantly, Christmas is a time to focus on the love you have for one another and the future you’re envisioning together. We’ve gathered some tips and ideas to help you make this Christmas with your spouse…
Do marriages work well when spouses have a significant age gap? Love knows no bounds, and that’s true regarding age. You and your dating partner, fiance, or spouse might be ten, fifteen, or twenty years apart. Regardless of your age difference, a happy and fulfilling marriage is possible. Marriage generally has its ups and downs, without factoring in significant age differences. An age gap creates different circumstances than marrying someone around the same age. In contrast, there are some unique considerations to consider before marrying someone much older or younger than you. Age Differences vs. Differences in Core Values Age…
Are you engaged or hoping to be engaged soon? Planning your wedding is one of the most important seasons of your life, but there’s more to prepare for than the ceremony itself. Today, we’re sharing some fresh resources to help you along your way, all in one place. We believe you can never have too many trusted resources while you prepare for your wedding – and the life you’ll build together in the years to come. Marriage is a wonderful and exciting journey. It takes knowledge, preparation, and a willingness to grow together in order to achieve lifelong love. Ready…
If you’re engaged (or planning to get engaged in the future), it’s important to make sure that pre-marriage counseling is on your radar. While pre-marriage counseling isn’t necessarily required, we don’t believe any couple should skip this important step. Going to counseling before you marry can help you get to know one another on a deeper level—and possibly prevent certain problems before they arise. Before we go any further, yes; we highly recommend pre-marriage counseling. Now, let’s go over a few reasons why. A Trusted Counselor Offers Objective Feedback It’s so important to have a source of objective feedback, especially…
Family problems are common for many individuals. If you don’t have issues in your immediate family, you likely have extended family members with their own problems. When a couple brings two families together for a wedding, it’s possible that some of those issues could surface. If the two of you are facing potentially significant family problems surrounding your wedding, you might have discussed eloping instead of having a ceremony. After all, avoiding family complications would give you the much-needed peace you desire. Eloping could allow you and your fiancé to truly focus on one another, rather than any drama that…
It’s almost wedding season, and many engaged couples all over the world are getting ready for their big day. Your world has likely been engulfed by flowers, cakes, dresses, and catering menus. Engagement is an exciting time, but like all seasons, it has its ups and downs. Wedding planning should be an enjoyable experience for engaged couples, but often, it’s stressful and intense instead. It’s disheartening to experience family drama before you’ve even said, “I do.” So how do you respond to them in a loving way? Should you entertain their suggestions, change your wedding plans to fit their wishes,…
Thinking about moving in with your significant other before you tie the knot? Many dating or engaged couples question whether they should live together before marriage. While cohabitation might seem practical on the surface, research suggests that it’s actually not as good for your relationship as you think. Before you make this life-changing decision, it’s important to think about the potential outcomes. Take a Look at the Science There’s a longstanding moral debate about whether cohabitation is healthy. Rather than leaning into that side of the argument, we’ll take a science-backed approach. Researchers Scott Stanley and Galena Rhoades from the…
In our last post, we shared nine reasons why you shouldn’t rush into marriage or remarriage. Whether you’re getting married for the first time or remarrying after divorce or loss, committing to life with another person is a major step and must be taken with caution. When it comes to remarriage, in particular, there are a few important factors that help determine whether you’re ready to move forward. Even if you’ve thought, prayed, and planned extensively for your remarriage, how do you know whether the timing is right? Today, we’re going to talk about how to know you are ready…
Getting married–whether it’s your first marriage, or whether you’ve been married before–is a major step in your relationship and your life. It’s a decision that will have a ripple effect on your future. Because who you marry so deeply affects the trajectory of your life (and oftentimes, those around you), it’s not a decision you should rush into. There are many reasons why you should approach marriage in a measured, cautious manner. Let’s look at nine of the top reasons why. 1. You’re feeling intense outside pressure. It’s common for unmarried individuals to feel pressure to marry or remarry. Pressure…
Wedding season is approaching, and many couples all over the world are getting ready for the big day. Are you and your fiance prepared–not just for the wedding, but for your married life, too? Whether you’re newly engaged, planning your wedding, or walking down the aisle this year, there are some important things you need to know before you get married. In this post, we’ve pulled together some helpful resources for you, all in one place. We want to equip you with the knowledge and tools you need to succeed for years to come. Ready to dive in? Let’s go….