Whether you’re tying the knot with the one you love or helping a friend or family member plan their wedding, there are a lot of numbers to get straight in the process. Thankfully, there are tons of statistics to help inform your decision-making and spark creativity. You’ll be surprised by some of the marriage proposal stats!

Estimated reading time: 3 minutes

A happily-ever-after Hollywood storyline is often depicted as the ultimate relationship, but in real life, creating a long-lasting and thriving relationship takes work—and there are bumps along the way. With the many wonderful experiences, you’ll most likely also face a few tough situations.

One of these challenges is commonly centered around finances. When working with couples, finances and spending habits are at the top of the list of disagreements and conflicts. One partner is a spender, and the other is a saver. One is a generous giver, and the other is frugal. And sometimes, one partner [...]

Relationships, like everything, have specific keys and habits that either make them easier, more successful, and happier or harder, less successful, and unhappy. Do you know what relationship habits are needed for a happy marriage? Have you shifted into cruise control in your relationship and only think good intentions, but don’t act on them? Or do you make daily choices and actions to intentionally love your partner?

Estimated reading time: 4 minutes

Does your partner ever accuse you of flirting with others when there is no evidence to support it? Or go along with anything you say, only to resent you for it later? Or are you avoiding necessary but difficult conversations with each other? Relationship drama can be a huge emotional drain, stealing our loving feelings and what could be romantic moments.

Estimated reading time: 4 minutes

The last few years have been incredibly challenging for many relationships. Even though the pandemic is in the rearview, spending extended time together unexpectedly and involuntarily acted like a pressure cooker! Relationship vulnerabilities were squeezed out. Conflict and arguing increased. The annoying traits of their partners were magnified; the unpredictability of life was exaggerated. And on top of these relationship issues, some couples discovered they didn't actually "like" their partner under stress and confinement.

You’d think that the extra time together would strengthen their [...]

In today's busy world, it doesn't take long for two people in a relationship to become distant or fall out of love. If you really think about it, although you live with that person, sleep next to them, eat meals with them, and maybe even talk to them during the day, how much of that connection is mindful and nurturing?

Because of the day-in and day-out details of life we are constantly juggling, many times our once romantic relationship can begin to cruise on automatic. As we all know, relationships take time—and sometimes they feel like too much work. But it doesn't have to be that way; it [...]

Whether you’ve been with your partner for six months or married for ten years, poor boundaries create dependency and unhappy couples. If you want to develop a healthy and happy relationship, you must each have healthy personal boundaries.

Often, we consider boundaries to be something that pushes people away, or we’re afraid that the other person will react negatively or feel hurt. However, healthy boundaries in relationships are a prerequisite to happiness. They define us and what is essential in our lives. Without them, there is too much room for drama. Boundaries help to create a  [...]

In love and marriage, we often hold back from being fully honest with our partner, even when it’s important. Maybe we’re afraid that we’ll hurt their feelings, or we’re fearful of their reaction. Or perhaps we think they’ll feel like we’re criticizing them. However, we may also hold on to resentment or anger toward them until it spills over to spoil our fun or warps our everyday interactions. Our unwillingness to speak up begins to padlock our hearts and closes off the current of our love.

Estimated reading time: 4 minutes

Recently, I ran into my dear friend, Merissa. She is alocal photographer in Bozeman, Montana, who photographed some family photos for my family, and my husband and I’s wedding. As we caught up on how our lives were going, Merissa shared some shifts in the wedding industry and how her business changed with this year's trends. An increasing trend she is seeing is twofold: 1) a new way to define elopements and 2) increased popularity of elopements.

Estimated reading time: 5 minutes