The wedding is beautiful and the honeymoon is romantic but the fun really begins once the honeymoon is over. The trouble of finding a mate is done and the struggle to stay married begins. We have all heard a married friend or relative comment on their "old ball and chain" How do you make a marriage work once you are in one? There are 3 C's that can help keep the love and happiness alive.

If you have siblings then you have experienced a fight or two in your lifetime. Making it through a marriage takes the same thing as making it through your youth alive; Compromise. When it comes to marriage we usually take a side. There is a defense and an Offense. What happened to compromise? Neither side needs to wave a white flag once war is declared but instead try meeting in the middle. However, there may be aspects of the marriage where compromising is just not possible.

If you have a wondering eye, you may not be ready for marriage. Marriage is all about commitment. At the same time, getting married doesn't mean you are dead. Physical attraction is a part of human nature. While it might be fine to, look but not touch, let's not gawk at the opposite sex like a piece of meat. Let your spouse know that while their are other attractive people in the world, they are the only person in the world you want to spend your life with. This brings us to a an important part of making marriage work.

Communication is key to making a marriage work. If you can't talk about an issue it cannot be resolved. With good communication a marriage really can make it into the golden years. This is not to say communication will come easily to every couple. Some people need help expressing their thoughts and feelings. Don't be afraid to ask for help and seek marriage counseling. Counseling isn't only for the failing marriage but can also be a wonderful tool in making an already happy marriage stronger.

When fighting take a moment to see if a meeting can be reached without shedding blood. While your spouse may not be Brad or Angelina, it is important to make your partner feel like the only person in the world for you. In any case it takes 2 to fight but also 2 to make it work so if you are having trouble talking reach out for help with your communication. If you love someone enough to marry them then hopefully you love them enough to work at marriage.