What to Expect After the Wedding: A Bride’s Guide to the First year of Marriage
Although we’ve all heard the saying “First comes love then comes marriage, then comes a baby in the baby carriage” couples rarely know what to expect after the wedding. They also don’t know how much their lives are going to change once they say the words “I do” and the guests leave with their cute little boxes of wedding favors.
The Wedding Hangover
Even if you didn’t have anything to drink on your wedding day, you are still going to experience the wedding hangover. You will be extremely exhausted and after all the attention you received before and on the wedding day, you will need to decompress. There is a very high possibility that the wedding hangover will ruin your wedding night as the two of you will be too exhausted the first three days of your marriage to have any fun.
Buyer’s Remorse
You know how items seem so wonderful at the store but when you get home you regret buying them? In the first two weeks to one year of your marriage, you will notice that your new partner has some really annoying habits that you never really noticed before. Sadly, there is nothing much you can do about this kind of remorse. Concentrate on the happy moments within your marriage and within no time you’ll get used to your partner’s habits. After all, you did say “Till Death Do Us Part,” didn’t you?
Status and Identity Change
When you get married, it’s not just your name that changes; it’s your whole identity. Most couples focus so much on their wedding that when it has come and gone, they have no idea what to do with themselves. When your status changes from “Single” to “Married”, you are expected to adjust all other aspects of your life accordingly. However, even if it takes some time for you to begin feeling married; don’t rush it . Your new status will slowly sink in over the course of the first year.
Roles Change
Marriage brings with it drastic changes in the roles of the two parties involved. You are no longer just a daughter or a son but also a wife or husband. As you continue to discover married life, you might find yourself pulling back from some of your friends and relatives. Your friends and relatives will no longer have the luxury of assuming that you are automatically going to spend the holidays with them since you have another family now that requires just as much attention. Some of your friends and family may not be prepared for these changes so be prepared for their reactions.
Unmet Expectations
When you decided to get married, you probably had a number of expectations regarding marriage. Unfortunately, not all your expectations will be met. If you find yourself saying to your partner “I just expected that once we were married …” stop yourself right there. Remember that marriage is about compromise and proper communication. Learn how to communicate your expectations with your partner so that he or she can meet them and also learn how to compromise.
About the Author:
Ashley Nelson writes about relationships and marriage and enjoys helping couples transition from all the pomp and glamour of weddings, wedding favors and wedding gifts to the reality of married life.
