From the moment he pops the question, you believe that it will be a fairytale wedding and you’ll live happily ever after.  But the truth is, you must put in a bit of work to have the story play out the way you intend.  Even though you may have had the most beautiful wedding ceremony, the first year of marriage can throw you for a loop if you aren’t poised and ready to deal with it effectively.  It is natural to have some misunderstandings as you learn more about each other, but knowing what to expect can help you live a happy and successful life with your new spouse.    

• Commit to your partnership from the very beginning and make an effort to work on that partnership every single day.  Just having this mindset from the get-go will put you in a better frame of mind when issues do come up.

• Encourage, be proud of and show support for your spouse by building them up and helping their self-esteem.  Always make time for each other and don’t let other activities keep you away from home for long periods of time.  Quality time will build commitment, love and mutual support for each other.

• When planning for your wedding, it is important to plan for your marriage as well.  Discuss responsibilities with your fiancé, in addition to chore expectations, finances, children and other long term goals.  This is the opportunity to get excited about the great adventure with your new life partner.

All the planning and energy that goes into planning the first day should also be dedicated to the rest of your lives together.

• Always be honest with your spouse.  Discuss your needs and problems openly without complaining, but instead be truthful and discuss how you feel specifically. 

• Remember that your spouse can’t read your mind, and always try to keep your relationship on track.  Problems can only be fixed with communication and not by turning to other people for advice or to “vent.”  Keep your marriage issues just between the two of you.  

• If you find yourself struggling during the first year of your marriage, sit down together and look through your wedding photos.  It will take you back to that special day and remind you of all the great reasons you decided to marry your best friend.  Flipping through the images in your album will help you relive that happy day, and will help you to keep the big picture in mind, help you rediscover your spouse, and also bring back all of those fun newlywed butterflies.    

The first year is spent getting to know each other on a closer level, loving and encouraging each other.  While keeping these simple points in mind, you can spend the first year of marriage enjoying being with your husband or wife, and looking forward to a wonderful life together.