Marriage is beautiful, joyful, messy, solemn and challenging all at once. When you meet the person you want to spend your life with — the one you can’t picture living without — keeping that bond strong takes real effort.
Most marriage advice is earnest and stern, and for good reason: choosing one person for life is serious. Yet marriage also has a lighter side. Advice delivered with humour often lands better and sticks in the memory far more than something said in a lecturing tone.
Essential tips for a happy married life
Saying “I do” is a huge step for anyone, and a groom who wants his marriage to thrive should be willing to go the extra mile. A little levity is appreciated by everyone — and in marriage, the lighter you can be (without losing respect), the better.
Below are some lighthearted, practical tips for grooms to keep marriage in perspective:
- Add two short phrases to your regular vocabulary: “I understand” and “You’re right.”
- Learn to say “yes” more often. Letting your wife feel heard and agreed with goes a long way.
- If you’re planning to head out for dinner or a party, tell her an earlier time than you actually plan to leave — give yourself a 30–45 minute buffer. That way she’ll have time to get ready and you’ll (probably) arrive on time.
- Pay attention to tone and nuance. When she talks about your friends or family, listen to how she says it — not just the words. Promises like “you can go out with your friends every week” often aren’t literal.
- Avoid talking about the gifts you nearly bought. Instead, surprise her with something thoughtful when the time comes — it prevents many small disagreements before they start.
Man presenting an anniversary gift hamper to his wife.
- Don’t assume there’ll be dinner waiting for you. We live in the 21st century; cooking isn’t solely a woman’s duty.
- If you want her full attention, try telling the story to another woman first — mysteriously, she’ll suddenly listen.
- If she needs to cry, let her cry sometimes. It’s okay — she may need that release.
- When children arrive, be ready to change diapers and sing lullabies in the middle of the night. Parenting is a team job; don’t expect your wife to shoulder it all.
- Find non-sexual ways to show your love — small gestures matter just as much as intimacy.
- Never forget this: admit when you’re wrong, and when you’re right, keep it humble. Don’t rub it in when you’ve proved a point.
- Don’t joke about touchy subjects like her weight, her work, her friends, or her family. What seems funny to you might hurt her.
- Compliment her frequently. Notice when she looks nice, praise a meal she’s prepared, show appreciation for the little things.
- If you argue, don’t stay up all night fighting. Go to bed and sleep on it — you can revisit the issue in the morning when you’re both calmer and fresher.
Marriage is not something to be afraid of
Don’t be scared of marriage. If you marry well, you can enjoy a truly happy life; if not, at least you’ll gain some wisdom (and perhaps a few philosophical insights). Jokes aside, marriage is a precious institution. There’s no textbook that tells you exactly how to be happy together — you learn as you go by paying attention to your partner’s needs, likes and dislikes.
