Of course, there’s no “secret ingredient” when it comes to making a lifelong relationship work. If there was, this type of love wouldn’t be so uniquely precious. But there are ways to help your love flourish and strengthen through the good times and bad. “Learn to listen well and wait until the other has finished talking,” Mary insists, adding that “good communication is vital.” She also notes that having “some different interests from each other and giving each other space” has its benefits. “Enjoy each other’s company. We have similar likes and dislikes which helps. Respect each other’s differences and always want the best for each other.” Most importantly though, these two agree that it will always be essential to simply “have fun.”
Journalist Mignon McLaughlin said that “a successful marriage requires falling in love many times, always with the same person.” As the years go on, a relationship transforms into something deeper than magical moments and romantic gestures. It’s learning to depend on someone, it’s building trust and offering help. Here at Taylor & Hart we’re experts when it comes to everything that leads up to a marriage, but recently we’ve been thinking about where a lifelong love goes in the years following the Big Day.
To get to the heart of what love becomes over time, we’re starting our new series: Love Through the Ages. We’ll be speaking to couples at every stage of a relationship—from newlyweds to those celebrating a Diamond Anniversary—to get a sense of what true love looks like in all its forms.
We’re beginning this project with Mary and Martin. They met 58 years ago at Mary’s 16th birthday party. Martin had been invited by a friend and as fate would have it, this would be the day their lives changed forever. Six years on, the pair got married and haven’t looked back since.
