Tag: newly married

The set of problems a newly married couple faces are much different than those of a couple celebrating a 10-year anniversary. Newlyweds are creating the rules, boundaries and roles that will define their life together—styles of communication are beginning to form. When a young couple enters my office, it is because something is happening that worries them. There are sources of conflict that they cannot resolve. Arguments occur that go nowhere and leave the couple with feelings of confusion and helplessness.

Here's a piece of folk wisdom nearly every newlywed has heard: "If you can survive the wedding, surviving the marriage will be a piece of cake!" Weddings are indeed stressful because they involve a massive amount of planning, cooperating/compromising with your spouse-to-be, the convergence of diverse family and friends, decisions about religion and family traditions, and of course, lots of money.

After the wedding, many newly married couples experience what social scientists call "the honeymoon phase"—a period of several months in the beginning of marriage, characterized by passionate love and intense happiness.