I got married last summer to my boyfriend of nearly two years and let me tell you something, our first year of Mr and Mrs has been rough.
There have been tears, threats of calling it quits and lots of exasperation but we're still together and we still love each other, so here's what I've learned.
1. Opposing views on the big stuff will come back out post-wedding. You know when he said he didn't want to have children until he's 40 and you thought, "I'm just going to ignore that - I've got a table plan to finish"? You'll remember after the wedding. And you'll want to chat about it.
2. Post-wedding blues is a thing. Honestly. One newlywed girl I met on honeymoon got the PWBs the last night of her stay and her stern-faced husband had to pull her mid-pool party - sobbing and tequila blotto - to go pack. Not being a bride anymore just sucks a bit.
3. You're not mental. You've just been on a crazy pre-wedding diet and organising the biggest party of your life. And you know how you thought your fiancé was potentially the most irritating person ever during the planning stage? After the wedding you discover he's not! And you really like him!
4. You can't spend your life storming off. Because he's not going anywhere and tantrums get boring. Marriage brings a certain permanency that negates the drama of an apocalyptic strop.
5. You made the right choice. All the wedding stuff can get in the way of seeing how great your husband is. The marriage bit lets that shine.