In January we asked our Facebook page followers to share their best advice for newly engaged couples. We wanted to get real-life love stories about how couples can care well for each other. Over 200 people responded! Here are the highlights:

Communication and Relationship Dynamics

1. Keep God in the center of your life.

2. Respect the silly things about each other.

3. True love means staying together through the bad times. You are there for each other.

4. [It’s] good to be each other’s best friend. This way there is no jealousy. One always wants the best for their best friend. Help each other to reach their goals. Be each other’s cheerleader.

5. Just laugh with each other and enjoy the moments together.

6. Start by focusing on the marriage more than the wedding! Wedding goes but marriage and living together stays! [You] Have to have give-and-take and one person is not always right! Learn to say I’m sorry if you’re wrong and you know it! Don’t cheat and two wrongs don’t make a right! Don’t rush into parenthood! And put religion in your lives!

7. Communicate, have each other’s backs, and remember it’s your wedding, your special day, you’re celebrating. Make it how you want it, not how others think it should be.

8. For life together… Learn your communication styles and work together to find one that works best for both of you. You’re going to have arguments, disagreements, and fights. But if you figure out your communication style, you can resolve them reasonably quickly and harmlessly. Communication will get you through many hard times and improve many wonderful times.

9. Pick your battles. Win or lose, never lose respect for each other.

10. Take it slow, be sure of your partner, be patient, and enjoy life together!!!!

Trust and Integrity

1. Be each other’s peace and home.

2. Always trust each other and be kind.

3. Never do anything you think you need to hide from your spouse.

4. Always have each other’s backs. Never lie to each other.

5. Trust each other and don’t let pride get in the way of life.

Financial and Household Management

1. Better get on the same page about income, housework, managing parenthood if you’re planning children. Do the math on your expenses and contribute equally to the household, keep your disposable income separate to direct for saving or spending, investing.

2. Marriage is not an escape clause to stop managing money or the home. More people fight and end marriages over money and feeling taken for granted.

Quality Time and Lifestyle

1. Make sure… you’re best friends… first!!!

2. If you play together, you will stay together. Ours is 55 years going strong.

3. Don’t sweat the small stuff.

4. Do outdoor activities together. Cook and eat together. Talk about little stuff of each day goes by, it matters. What hurts you, hurts me. Give each other a hand with chores around the house if one is busy at work at home or at the office. Focus on EACH OTHER. I’m YOU and you are ME. LOL at stupid things that occur out of nowhere.

General Advice

1. Every day be glad that you and your spouse are together. Make sure you do something each day that you both enjoy, for example, sharing a nice cup of coffee and breakfast to get your day off to a good start.

2. Know your values as a couple and have a clear understanding of them.

3. Listen to each other.

4. Stay away from people (friends AND family) with dramas.

What would YOU add to this list? Write in the comments below.