Our 1st Wedding Anniversary | What I Have Learned

Our 1st Wedding Anniversary | Things I’ve Learned About Being Married | May 21, 2017

365 days ago I said “I do” to my best friend and the love of my life! Michael & I tied the knot at the Wyndham in Virginia Beach. Our ceremony was held on the beach with my childhood pastor presiding. I couldn’t have asked for a more beautiful wedding day! Everything was perfect (well maybe not the rain but at least it stopped for the ceremony). The food was delicious, the cake was yummy, everything looked amazing and we were surrounded by our friends & family. Today we are celebrating our anniversary on Chincoteague Island & then heading back home to eat our cake topper. Today is also the day that Lily Mae was born into this world, so as soon as we get home we will celebrate with her too. (Talk about meant to be right!?)

People have said that the first year of marriage is the hardest. I don’t know if that is always true, But I hope that it is for us. Michael and I got dealt a pretty shitty hand starting around October. I was being mistreated and under paid at my job so I quit my job. But I struggled for several months to find a replacement. We were extremely tight on money. We left our dream location to live, Virginia Beach and moved back to NOVA. Michael’s old job here in NOVA took him back but they were not nice to him and purposely excluded him from conversations. We tried to buy a house but we pulled out at the last minute because more and more things were coming up with the house.

Things are looking up now! Michael got his foot in the door in his career path in HVAC & is going back to school. I work with a federal government contracted company along side running my photography business & going to school. We have decided to save our money, take a nice vacation this fall, build a house & start a family. Maybe not in that order but it’s all in God’s hands. So in light of all the highs & lows this year, here are the things I learned about being married.

Always kiss each other goodnight – even if you are mad at each other
Forgiveness heals wounds faster
Always say “I love you”
Admit when you are wrong and say “Im sorry”
Never go to bed mad at each other
Dress up and go out on dates
Never take each other for granted
Know when its time to just “Shut Up & Listen”
Get on them knees and pray
Leave the yelling and strong language out – take a step back- breath- and try to discuss like adults
COMPROMISE! Theres not I in Team – Because you are a team
Its ok to ask for advice from family – but don’t listen to the judgement — Its your life & marriage
Don’t stop trying to impress each other
Ask Each other questions about your day
Leave the TV/Cell Phone/Computer away from the dinner table — TALK!
Laugh at each others jokes even if they aren’t all that funny
There is a time and a place for sarcasm
Go on adventures and travel – even if its 10 min down the road
Continually compliment each other especially on date night
Its not a competition between each other don’t keep score – unless its an actual game
Life isn’t a race- good things take time.
The only opinions / decisions that matter are your own – not your friends and not your families
Sometimes you will be a shitty spouse because we all have selfish tendencies
Communicate your feelings good, bad, or sexy
Its OUR money, OUR budget, OUR possessions
Never stop supporting each other and cheering each other on
Talk thru big decisions, review all options, and listen to each others opinions/ideas
Always take care of each other
And MANY MORE – I could go on forever but these are just the major ones

Because of all the rain on our wedding day we had very little time for portraits so we made up for it by taking plenty of anniversary photos courtesy of Vanessa Smith Photography

Centerville, Virginia | April 2 , 2017

HAPPY 1ST WEDDING ANNIVERSARY, MICHAEL!!