2020 has been a wild year, and has impacted so many newly-engaged, and newlywed couples. With cancelled weddings, zoom celebrations, and backyard nuptials, you may feel that you missed out on sharing special moments with your loved ones and older relatives. We wanted to bridge the gap and give you some of the best marriage/love advice and inspiration from married couples around the globe. It won’t replace Great Aunt Greta’s 30 minute monologue on being a good wife, but it may give you some great ideas as you move forward as a couple in this crazy world.

“Remember that your marriage is a commitment that you need to work on every day. Say something nice before you leave the house each day. You never know when your partner will be gone.”

“Don’t try to change your spouse – just offer them plenty of praise and encouragement.”

 “Communication and trust are just as important as commitment. Work every day to build all of these. We’ve been happily married for 39 years… and counting!”

“Don’t let relatives ruin your marriage.”

“Laugh together every day. Don’t sweat the small stuff. Maintain your own individuality and personal space.”

“Start saving for retirement as soon as you get back from your honeymoon.”

“Choose to love each other, even in those moments when you struggle to like each other. Love is a commitment, not a feeling.”

“Time is the "currency of relationships," so consistently invest time into your marriage.”

“In every argument, remember that there won't be a "winner" and a "loser." You're partners in everything so you'll either win together or lose together. Work together to find a solution.”

“Realize that a strong marriage rarely has two strong people at the same time. It's usually a husband and wife taking turns being strong for each other in the moments when the other feels weak.”

“Remember that marriage isn't 50/50— divorce is 50/50.Marriage has to be 100/100. It's not splitting everything in half, but both partners giving everything they've got.”

“Don't put your marriage on hold while you're raising your kids or else you'll end up with an empty nest and an empty marriage.”

“Never talk badly about your spouse to other people or vent about them online. Protect your spouse at all times and in all places.”

"From the very beginning, we agreed to never argue. It was ok to disagree and for one to walk away if we did. Agree to disagree. Respect one another, always kiss each other goodnight, and never go to bed upset.“

“Keep a good sense of humor—laugh a lot. Lift up and support each other. And never use your partner’s vulnerabilities against them.”

"It's not about getting married, it's about staying married."

“Love isn't perfect. It isn't a fairytale or a storybook and it doesn't always come easy. Love is overcoming obstacles, facing challenges, fighting to be together, holding on and never letting go. It is a short word, easy to spell, difficult to define and impossible to live without. Love is work, but most of all love is realizing that every hour, every minute and every second of it was worth it because you did it together.”

Our older loved ones are the wisest people in our lives. They’ve seen good and bad, and give us the hope to carry on in the most trying times. It’s important that we cherish the moments we have with them, and learn from their positive influence. You’ll find through the ways they speak, and the opinions they have that older generations are just as progressive as you. They bring us love that will carry us through these trying times, and give us the strength to work towards better relationships, and a better world. Until we can be with our older relatives in person, call them. Their advice and experience will shine so much light on your bright, and joyful future.

Cover Photo credits: Cushla Beasley