Six Lessons Learned in the First Six Months of Marriage
Six months ago today, I got to marry the man of my dreams. May 20, 2016 was the best day of my life so far and each day since has been a new adventure. Nick and I have experienced a lot of firsts during our first six months of married life. I’ve learned a lot, but here are my top six lessons so far.
6. Adulting & Responsibilities Are Real
Before marriage, Nick and I had never lived together. The only bills that we were responsible for were our car insurance and phone bills. You can imagine the adjustment we made when we got married and bought our first home! Paying bills, cooking dinner, and separating chore duties are all tasks that we had to add to our married-life routine. Luckily, we both knew we were in for a lot of firsts and had realistic expectations of adulting in my opinion!
5. Compromise is So Important
When you’re in a marriage, it’s not all about you anymore. Whether it’s home decor, televisions, or what type of puppy you’ll be buying, all of your decisions are made together. Within these first six months Nick and I were able to successfully choose a style for our home together, agree on big ticket purchases like our living room television, and search together for the puppy that was perfect for us. Compromising for decisions has been reassuring for me because I love knowing that we are both happy with the outcome!
4. Communication is Key
Whether we have a bad day or we have somewhere we are dying to go for dinner, we always make an effort to talk it out. In a marriage, you get an in-home counselor and advice giver! What I like most is that while we are so similar, we are still able to provide different points of view that the other might not be able to see. What I lack, he has and what he lacks, I have!
3. Everyday Won’t Be Perfect
Nick and I may be alike, but no marriage lacks an occasional bad day. Some days are not as fun, but we work through life’s obstacles together and that gives me peace to have a partner in this life. Whether it’s a tiff over what we watch before bed on Netflix, or who is taking Roux outside this time, our conflicts are always minor which I am thankful for! After going through pre-marital counseling and dating for four years, we knew not to expect perfection everyday.
2. We’re Still Family-Oriented
As I said before, Nick and I have never lived away from home. I had been living the dorm life at school, but came home on the weekends to visit my family. We have always made time for our family before and that hasn’t changed with marriage. The dynamic has only gotten better now that we are all connected forever. I’m so thankful that I married someone who loves my family as much as I do and vice versa.
1. I Married My Best Friend
The last thing that I’ve learned these past six months is that I truly married my best friend. Between becoming puppy parents, being co-decorators in our new home, or even our daily smoothie routine, I’ve loved all of these new things and doing them with my one and only! He takes me for who I am and I couldn’t ask for more.
After the wedding day has come and gone, the reception has ended and you put your wedding dress away, you realize that you’re a part of something bigger than yourself. I’ve got a partner for life who loves me unconditionally. This first six months has been very memorable and quickly flew by! I’m so excited to see what’s in store for us in the years to come. Six months down, forever to go.
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Kintan
November 20, 2016 at 3:10 pmAmazing post and very interesting story. This is also what happened to me when I want buy something for home, as decoration and other thing that I have always to make agreement with husband at first. Even watching TV, we have sometime a bit different opinion but finally always to find an agreement too. 🙂
Kintan XO,
http://kintanfashion.blogspot.com
Heather
November 20, 2016 at 3:23 pmThis is so cute! I hope someday I can have a marriage like yours! The idea of marrying someone you want to spend every day with really is magical and an aspiration someday! Also, gorgeous wedding photos!
nicole steinthal
November 20, 2016 at 4:04 pmGreat job and so true…..I love the photos of your wedding!!!! XO
Karoliina Kazi
November 20, 2016 at 5:50 pmI’ve been married for over ten years and agree with every one them. Wonderful post!
Breyona Sharpnack
November 20, 2016 at 7:32 pmThe first year was the hardest to me but I enjoyed every minute of it. Good and bad. I wish you guys a happy, healthy and fulfilling marriage ! Congrats!
Abby
November 20, 2016 at 7:38 pmAh, I can so relate to this Kait. My husband and I are about to celebrate our first year of marriage. I can so agree with the first point since we never lived together before tying the knot either. But you are right on every point – it is all about compromise. But knowing that we married our best friend, makes all the struggles worth it.
Abby of Life in the Fash Lane
Sabine | so far so Sabine
November 21, 2016 at 12:35 amGreat article. We are now married since September and we have the same topics that we’re going through. Interesting to see what you have done and learned during the first 6 months.
Monica
November 21, 2016 at 1:14 amYour wedding looked like it was beautiful. I’ve been married for a year, it’s not always easy but I can totally agree that I married my best friend too.
Mimi
November 21, 2016 at 5:17 amYou are a great inspiration to go over and take the next step. All your learnings are great to have a vision how it can feel like after 6 months of marriage.
Rachel G
November 21, 2016 at 5:18 amAww, happy 6 months to you guys! We’re celebrating 6 years in a week and a half and I feel like it’s flown by! I wish I was blogging when I was newly married, I think that would have been really fun. It’s awesome that you get along so well with each other’s families! All of my siblings are younger than me, and some of them were very young when we got married (my baby sister was 3), so to them, it seems like they’ve grown up knowing Angel for nearly as long as they can remember, and they love him like crazy. That’s pretty cool.
Leanie
November 21, 2016 at 5:54 amI’m actually glad to hear that their are still couples that doesn’t live together before they get married these days! I love the photos of your wedding. I wish for well for the years to come…
Leslie Soto
November 21, 2016 at 6:23 amWhat an awesome post. I’ve been married for a year and two months and have learned so much. I’ve always believed that communication is key but i’ve learned the compromise thing the hard way. I love your advice that everyday isn’t perfect. I think I went into our marriage thinking that, because we were friends for 13 years before we dated that everyday would be the best day of our lives. It’s not always but we always communicate through those times.
Sheri
November 21, 2016 at 7:07 amHappy 6 months. There are so many things I have learned over the years but for me the most important which I think applies to all situations in a marriage is being able to say “please”, “thank you” and “I am sorry”. It ties in with everything you listed here. Wishing you many happy years to come.
Mimi Rose
November 21, 2016 at 7:14 amAw I love this post so much, it sounds like you guys are set-up for a very happy marriage. I would agree that compromise and communication are so key for any relationship. Thanks for sharing such a lovely post. 🙂
Sarah
November 21, 2016 at 8:30 amGreat post and such an interesting story! I’m not married, but those things you wrote are totally goals for me. I’d love to be able to say the same things about my relationship when/if I’ll get married. Also, the pictures are so gorgeous.
Happy six months!
Alexandra Yargeau
November 21, 2016 at 9:13 amThis is so nice! I’m so glad that you found your best friend and partner! I’ve been married for four months, but have been dating my husband for almost 11 years. All of these tips are so right!
David Lee
November 21, 2016 at 9:41 amGreat points all married couples can relate to. I’ve been married for 15 years and have 4 kids. Kids change just about everything, but you just have to go with the flow.
Marissa Pedersen
November 21, 2016 at 10:13 amAww this is so sweet. Compromising is so important in a relationship, so I’m glad you’re doing well at that!
Jasmin N
November 21, 2016 at 10:52 amI agree with everything you wrote here 🙂 wonderful piece! Communication is the key, definitely.
~ Jasmin N
littlethingswithjassy.blogspot.fi
Chelsea Pearl
November 21, 2016 at 10:57 amVery honest and insightful! Best wishes for all the years ahead!
Katrina Jean Carter
November 21, 2016 at 11:35 amCongratulations on the 6 months, hunni! I can only imagine the change you both went through. What I love most is you saying “we knew not to expect perfection everyday.” So simple yet so profound.
I got married last year and it has been a very interesting ride. 🙂 I wrote the things I learned after one year of marriage here: https://katrinajeancarter.wordpress.com/2016/09/07/what-i-learned-after-1-year-of-marriage/
Sabra
November 21, 2016 at 12:13 pmWhat an adventure! Sounds like things are going well for your first half year. Congrats to you both!
Sabra of Great Green Heron
Tilley
November 21, 2016 at 1:37 pmAhhh cuteness overload! And yes, all these things are forreal!
Nicole Booz
November 21, 2016 at 1:59 pmCongrats to you both! This is one of the most realistic pieces I’ve read about the early months of marriage. Thank you for being honest!
Ashley Stephenson
November 21, 2016 at 2:05 pmAwww congrats! We are celebrating our 1 year anniversary today and these are all so true! The best friend part is the most important!
Elizabeth Ann
November 21, 2016 at 2:40 pmCommunication is so key! More than five years into my own marriage and my husband and I still make sure we make an effort to keep communicating . I have a tendency to over communicate and he has a tendency to under communicate. Happy six months!
Elizabeth Ann // http://www.lovedoinglife.com
Seersucker Sass
November 21, 2016 at 2:42 pmWhat a sweet post! Congratulations on six months of marriage!
XO, SS || Seersucker Sass
Anna
November 21, 2016 at 5:03 pmGreat post! I like how you included that he’s your best friend 🙂
-Anna | http://www.fivefootandfabulous.com
Casey
November 21, 2016 at 6:20 pmThis is so cute!!
-Casey
Adolescentadulthood.co
Kitty
November 21, 2016 at 7:18 pmTotally agree with all the points :D… Especially the 3, 5 and 6 are ideal for a good marriage relationship 🙂
Jenny
November 21, 2016 at 7:52 pmThis is too sweet! I got married a week ago so I’m a new wife but I hope to have learned many of the same things over the next 6 months.
Katie
November 21, 2016 at 8:22 pmThese pictures are gorgeous and these lessons are awesome, I love how honest you are!
xoxo,
Katie
chicincarolina.blogspot.com
Debra @ Traveling Well For Less
November 22, 2016 at 12:00 amCongratulations on your six-month wedding anniversary. 🙂 You made some great points and it’s a testimony to how committed you are to your marriage that you’ve taken the time to stop and reflect. I wish you many, many years together. My husband and I have been married 24 years. And there’s still a lot of compromise. 🙂
Analesha
November 22, 2016 at 1:00 amAwesome post. I totally agree the communication is key. sometimes we get so busy we forget to communicate and plans turn bad! x
Cait Weingartner
November 22, 2016 at 2:52 amThanks for sharing these honest, heartfelt tips and insights. As someone who is getting married in less than six months, I appreciate the advice!
Macarena Ferreira
November 22, 2016 at 5:52 amThis is so beautiful! Congrats on six months. Communication is definitely key.
xo // http://www.thematerialgirl.co
Mindy Thompson
November 22, 2016 at 8:27 amThis is such a great post! I’m getting married next year, but so many of these alreayd apply so it’s good to have the reminder. Communication is definitely key!
Mindy II AMIXOFMIN.COM
Yulissa
November 22, 2016 at 9:40 amLove your wedding pics! Communication is so important yet, sometimes is the hardest one. At least for me.
Erica @ Coming up Roses
November 22, 2016 at 9:54 amYes, yes, yes, yes, aaaaaand YES! We just got married in September and already I can completely agree with all of the above. Adulting is real, fights will still happen, but in the end, it’s the fact that you’re living life with your best friend that counts!
Coming Up Roses
Mary
November 22, 2016 at 10:12 amCongrats on 6 months of marriage! Wishing you and your husband a lifetime of happiness.
Xo // easilyinspired-blog.com
michelle mink
November 22, 2016 at 2:29 pmMy parents were in the same boat as you with #6 so my Mom made sure to point out in college how much things are so that I wasn’t in shock when I moved out. I can’t wait to find the man of my dreams to marry! Wishing you a happy marriage.
kenzie
November 22, 2016 at 7:40 pmaw this was such a cute read! Congratulations on you and Nick! I think the best part about being married would probably be together with your bestfriend 24/7! x, kenz http://sincerelykenz.com
Rose Sahetapy
November 23, 2016 at 3:42 amCongratulation to you both! What a beautiful journey you have! All the points you’ve share are true., and married your best friend is one of the wonderful things in a marriage.
nicole leigh
November 23, 2016 at 8:19 amI’m in a longterm relationship that’s looking like it’s “it” and even now I’m learning the importance of compromise & reminding myself that every day isn’t going to be sunshine and butterflies. I can’t imagine how much realer that gets w/ marriage but I guess one day, we all have to! (in love with your bouquet, btw!) x, nicole // http://www.nicoleeigh.com
Victoria Stacey
November 23, 2016 at 8:51 amGREAT tips! Congrats on your marriage and your photos, they are gorgeous!
amy
November 24, 2016 at 12:44 amSuch an interesting read! I read that you learn so much in the first year. Congratulations on your marriage!! (:
xoxo,
Amy | Pastel N Pink
Sami | The Classic Brunette
November 24, 2016 at 2:23 amYou two are so adorable! Congratulations on six months of marriage!
xo
Sami
http://www.theclassicbrunette.com
Kayla
November 24, 2016 at 11:16 pmSo happy that you’re so happy! Congratulations on 6 months of marriage 🙂
Kayla | kaylablogs.com
Jasmine Eclipse
November 26, 2016 at 10:41 amCongratulations on a very happy first 6 months! While my boyfriend and I aren’t married yet, we do live together. We moved in together 2 months ago, and it has been a huge learning curve. I can agree and relate to everything you’ve written here, because it’s like we’re married too! It’s lots and lots of compromise and communication, for sure!
Rachel Ritlop
December 2, 2016 at 2:43 pmHappy 6 months! This is so sweet!
Rachel | The Confused Millennial