THE BEST MARRIAGE ADVICE FROM 100 REAL COUPLES

Marriage advice is everywhere. But not all advice helps you build an extraordinary marriage. That’s why we turned to the experts: couples just like you in the ONE Family.

The best marriage advice often comes from those who’ve lived it—everyday couples who’ve navigated the highs, lows, and in-betweens of long-lasting relationships.

Nearly 100 couples from the ONE Family shared their most impactful marriage advice, representing roughly 1,000 years of collective wisdom. That’s a millennium of marriage experience!

It’s no surprise that many of the responses echoed the same themes. Timeless truths and practical insights like the ones below have stood the test of time because they work.

These nuggets of wisdom might be just the encouragement you need to stay intentional and take action to create the extraordinary marriage you’ve always dreamed of.

Communication Advice for Married Couples

• Communicate more than you think you should.
• Hold nothing in; discuss everything in love.
• Give your spouse the benefit of the doubt.
• Learn how to talk and, more importantly, listen. (That’s why we have one mouth and two ears.)
• Never say things about your spouse you wouldn’t say to them.

Build a Strong Foundation

• Remember that marriage is not 50/50; it’s 100/100.
• Put God first and each other second. A cord of three is not easily broken.
• Never let divorce be an option.
• Always have both feet in and work through challenges together.
• Get closer to God to get closer to your spouse.

Tips to Prioritize Each Other

• Never stop pursuing your spouse.
• Be best friends!
• Set aside time for just the two of you, even in the chaos of parenting.
• Choose each other daily.
• Meeting each other’s emotional needs makes marriage great. (If you don’t know your spouse’s emotional needs, ask.)
• Laugh more than you cry.

Best Marriage Advice: Choose to Love

• Respect and be kind to each other.
• Love is an action, not a feeling.
• Try to out-serve each other.
• Remember, you’re on the same team.

Growing Together as Spouses

• Personal growth is essential for relationship growth.
• Study, memorize, and revisit principles that strengthen your marriage.
• Prepare for the hard times and cherish the great times.
• Understand and honor each other’s emotional reset methods.
• Intentionality matters.
• Invest in your marriage regularly.

Marriage Advice About Forgiveness and Grace

• Give grace as you have received grace.
• Apologize, even if you think you’re right.
• Forgive quickly and continually.
• The past is a place of reference, not residence.
• Believe the best about one another.

There you have it! A millennium of marriage wisdom summed up into a few key points. These insights are a powerful reminder of the importance of love, commitment, and intentionality in your marriage. And no matter what your marriage is experiencing, there is still hope.

Do you have something else to add? Have you seen these principles at work in your own marriage? Let us know on the Hug Hotline at 858-876-5663 or email [email protected].