It seems like just yesterday I was walking down the aisle to marry the man of my dreams – as an Invision bride – and about begin the adventure of marriage. The memories from that day are still so vivid to me – probably because it’s only been seven months! 🙂 I wouldn’t, by any means, call ourselves seasoned, and I can’t pretend to know all of the answers at this point either. But anyone who has been married for any length of time will undoubtedly have learned a few lessons along the way, and I can absolutely vouch for that. So, today I’m sharing seven things I’ve learned in seven short months of marriage!

1. Communication breathes life into any relationship. Take time each day, even if it’s just 15 minutes, to talk to one another without the distraction of Instagram, the news or the latest on your group chat. I always feel re-connected when, after a long day at work, I can let the stress fall away by catching up with my husband and talking about something totally unrelated.
2. Say thank you. Speaking of communication, if there’s anything my husband appreciates, it’s when I say “thank you!” For cooking dinner when I don’t have time, picking up our dry cleaning, putting up new curtains in our bedroom or filling up my gas tank before the week starts, a thank-you goes a long, long way.
3. Appreciate the mundane. Buying a new house, starting a new job and other achievements make for exciting times, but I have to remind myself that life happens in the in-between, even on days that aren’t so exciting. I’m learning to appreciate each day, no matter what it throws at us.
4. Forgiveness is key. As the old saying goes, marriage is the union of two great forgivers, and it’s 100 percent true. Disputes will happen, but as long as you’re quick to forgive one another and compromise, you can move forward even stronger than you were before.
5. We’re on the same team. In every way, my husband is my teammate, helper and best friend. Even when arguments arise, it’s refreshing and important to remember that, at the end of the day, we’re for each other.
6. The little things matter. I know a home-cooked meal, an opportunity to play golf or hunt and pulling back the sheets of a well-made bed each night are very much appreciated – even if nothing is said to me. The little things do count!
7. Keep being you. Just because you got married doesn’t mean you should leave behind who you were as a single woman! Keep running those half marathons, knitting scarves for friends, volunteering at the animal shelter or painting in your spare time. Your husband will appreciate the opportunity to do something he loves, too! And don’t forget – that quirky hobby of yours was probably something that made you interesting to him in the first place.

Thanks to Jamison Skinner Photography for the photos in this post.