The secret to being married for 25 years is marrying your best friend.
I don’t normally get very personal on my blog,I try to keep it about decorating and vintage style.
But if you are lucky celebrating a 25th wedding anniversary only happens once.
(1984 prom)
Since I am sharing I thought I would share why we have been married for so many years,how we keep our love strong.
Let’s start at the beginning.
We were very young when we met,I was 16 going on 17, my husband was 18 going on 19.
We met through a friend,my friend.
Yes I was the third wheel on a date,not sure why my friend wanted me along all the time.
Eventually they broke up and my now husband asked me out.
I was hesitant since he dated my friend,so I asked her if she was okay with it.
She gave me the thumbs up so we began to date.
We always had a connection,you know like you have known each other all of your lives.
We were always comfortable together,we had the same dreams,and thoughts.
(photo wedding day June 3rd 1989)
We dated for 6 years and were married on June 3, 1989.
It rained on our wedding day,they say it is good luck.
Not sure if it is good luck or not but we are now celebrating our 25th wedding Anniversary.
(photo Florida vacation 1997)
What keeps our love strong,I guess it is because we are best friends,
He really is my best friend,someone I can always count on to be there for me.
We don’t have fights,never ever have we had a fight.
Yes we have had disagreements,but we talk about things we don’t fight about them.
We spend quality time together,sometimes never saying a word but just being together holding hands.
(photo 1991 Vacation-yes me as a blonde with too much makeup)
Have we been through tough times?, Yes we have.
About 18 years ago we went through a life altering experience.
Not going to get into details,but I almost lost my best friend.
A day I will never forget,one day everything is going great,Your both happy in love the next your husband almost loses his life.
I never have been a person to take things for granted,and after that event I am more of a person that lives in the moment.
So thankful ,so very thankful that he survived,and three years after that life changing event we had our daughter.
They say that when you go through a traumatic experience it will either destroy a marriage or make it stronger.
Since we already had a strong marriage the experience made our marriage stronger.
I do believe in soul mates,when it is meant to be you just know.
I was just a kid when we met,but I knew I was going to marry him and spend our lives together.
Without a doubt I knew it.
I never ever had a doubt when I was getting married if I was doing the right thing,I knew I was.
And now 25 years later we are still very much in love and very happy and yes it was the best decision I ever made……being married to my best friend!
My secret for a happy marriage?
Marry your best friend,you can’t go wrong with that,the rest will just fall into place.
Beautiful!
Thank you Carmen!
Anne what a beautiful story. Happy Anniversary!! I really believe John and I are meant for each other and he is my best friend without a doubt and my confidant. We have had many challenges and we always have over come them.
Cynthia
Thank you Cynthia,yes that is the key to over come challenges.
I am happy for you and your husband. How wonderful that you met and recognized your connection to each other so early in life. I didn’t meet my husband and best friend until we were middle-aged, and had both experienced other bad relationships. We’ve been married for eight years, and we both are so secure in each other’s love and friendship. The funny thing is, we both attended the same university, and took our main classes in buildings directly across a sidewalk from each other. But, neither one of us used the front doors of our buildings. We could have met 20 years earlier if we had used those front doors! But, we agree we probably wouldn’t have hit it off, based on what we know about our personalities then. One of the main reasons we are such good friends now is because we can empathize with each other regarding our previous mistakes and challenges. Everything happens for a reason. Congratulations on your anniversary.
Sounds like you are the perfect match JKaye.And thank you so much <3
Congratulations, Anne! 25 years is something to be very proud of and to be able to say that you are still in love is even better. My hubby and I celebrated our 20th anniversary last fall and I agree that the struggles in life have made us even closer. My parents divorced when I was 5 years old and I am so happy that we have been able to show our kids that we love each other and that we are a cohesive family. It means everything!
Thank you JoAnne!Congratulations to you and your husband on celebrating 20 years!
My husband and I have been married for 44 years.
Congratulations Pamela that is awesome!
I’m celebrating my 25th wedding anniversary today too! And I agree, marrying my best friend was the best decision I’ve ever made. We also dated for 6 years, but were a little older than you and your husband when we married.
Unfortunately, I’m in SC and my husband is serving our country in Baghdad, Iraq. 🙁 But it doesn’t make the day any less significant because we know we’re both thinking of the other, wishing we could be together. It’ll just make our reunion that much sweeter when he returns next Feb.
Congratulations to you on a significant milestone, and here’s to many many more!
Happy Anniversary Janice!
Happy Anniversary! 25 yrs is a wonderful milestone together. It’s fun to see old pictures of you. I agree with your advice. The friendship part of the relationship is really the most important to sustain you through the years.
Thank you Kelly!
Beautiful Anne. Your love story is so sweet. Congrats on 25 years. You two make the perfect team.
Kris
Thanks so much Kris!
Lovely Anne…thanks MUCH for sharing! Here’s to another 25 of wedded bliss! xo
Thank you Janet!
Congratulations – it was a very good year for marriages. My husband and I will celebrate 25 years in September.
Blessing to you and your best friend!
Thanks so much Julia,congratulations to you and your husband on your soon to be 25th Anniversary!
And that indeed is the truth! Happy Anniversary!
Thank you Debbie <3
Happy Anniversary, Anne. 25 years is a wonderfully long time, I think you have to start out as friends to make it work.Going on 54 years, I guess I made the right choice too. Happy Weekend to you both..Judy
Thanks so much Judy…..congratulations on 54 years that is wonderful!
Congratulations on 25 years! We’ve been married 26 years and couldn’t agree with your more.
Thanks so much Stacey!