Relationship experts caution, however, that much more than luck is needed to stay together and beat the odds of a divorce, now estimated to end half of today’s marriages. Here, relationship experts consulted by WebMD offer their best marriage tips for how to stay lucky in love. And they go way beyond the usual tips to buy her flowers, cook his favorite meal, and remember to schedule date night.

Marriage Tip No. 1: Purge the “D’” word.

With the taste of wedding cake barely off their lips, divorce is the last thought — or word — on newlyweds’ minds. But as the honeymoon period wanes, and day-to-day difficulties crop up, the word can come up frequently during arguments for some couples, say relationship counselors.

“Just don’t go there,” suggests Steve Brody, Ph.D., a psychologist in Cambria, Calif., who counsels couples. “Some people pull that out much too early, and much too often in a relationship. It raises a whole level of anxiety [in the person hearing it].”

Divorce is also considered a dirty word by the more than 200 “marriage masters” interviewed for the book, “Project Everlasting.” Co-authors Mat Boggs and Jason Miller, bachelors and childhood buddies from Portland, Ore., traveled the country to interview the couples, married 40 or more years, and ask for their best marriage tips.

“Don’t use the D word” was one oft-repeated suggestion for keeping a happy marriage, Boggs says. These marriage masters told him, “You need all your energy to find the solution to a problem and work it out. If you are even giving any consideration to a divorce, you lessen your ability to solve the problem.”

Of course, Boggs says, the marriage masters acknowledged that some situations are deal breakers, such as addiction, adultery, or abuse. But when the problem is less severe, many of the marriage masters told him they create a “ledger of life.” They get out a piece of paper and write down everything they love about their spouse. Eventually, they shift gears and begin to focus on what is right, not what’s wrong.

Marriage Tip No. 2: Replace the seven deadly habits in a marriage with the seven caring habits.

Learning the seven bad habits and the seven good ones is the easy part, admit William Glasser, M.D., a Los Angeles psychiatrist, and his wife, Carleen

Glasser, M.A., who co-authored “Eight Lessons for a Happier Marriage,” include this idea in their book and counseling sessions. Putting them into practice takes effort, of course.

The seven deadly habits are criticizing, blaming, complaining, nagging, threatening, punishing, and bribing.

The seven caring habits include supporting, encouraging, listening, accepting, trusting, respecting, and negotiating your differences.

Marriage Tip No. 3: Take care of yourself.

This marriage tip is short and sweet: “Take care of yourself physically and spiritually,” Brody tells couples. That way, your stress will be down and your tolerance will be up. You’ll be less likely to get on each other’s nerves — and to squabble. You’re more likely to have a happy marriage.

Marriage Tip No. 4: Discuss outside friendships.

While some married couples consider activities such as workplace friendships with members of the opposite sex acceptable, some relationship experts disagree.

“I’m not big on cross-gender friendships for married people,” Brody says. “It’s playing with fire.” One exception, in his book: If a wife has a friendship with a gay man or a husband has a friendship with a gay woman, he’s fine with that, since the romance potential is nonexistent.

Otherwise, he says, the line is too easy and tempting to cross.

Marriage Tip No. 5: Stop trying to control your partner.

It’s another one of those easier-said-than done marriage tips, of course. But trying to control each other — using a technique psychologists call “external control” — is the main source of marital unhappiness, according to the Glassers. In a happy marriage, partners know they cannot control each other.

You have practiced this “external control” if you have ever told your partner they need to behave the way you want them to or that you know what is right.

Learning not to control a partner can be a long process, but the Glassers offer some tips on educating yourself. “Think first,” Carleen Glasser says. Ask yourself: “If I can only control my own behavior, what can I do to help the marriage?” Then think of what you can change to make the problem better, she suggests.

Marriage Tip No. 6: Honor and respect your partner.

“Be honoring all the time,” says Thomas Merrill. That means no “my old lady” stories, he says. And it also means a wife shouldn’t be flirting with male co-workers or other men.

Respect was also a marriage tip that came up often from the marriage masters, Boggs says. “The No. 1 principle that almost everyone talked about is respect,” he says. “You can have respect without love, but you cannot have love without respect.”

Respect, say those with a happy marriage, means not undermining your partner in front of the children. “And don’t go outside the marriage when you are having a problem,” Boggs says they advised. “Discuss it with your partner.”

Respect also means not criticizing your mate in front of others, Miller and Boggs were often told by the marriage masters. To make this marriage tip easier to practice, consider the input of one marriage master on the topic, Boggs says. “One man told me, ‘Let’s say someone is walking by when you are criticizing your mate. That is the only opinion they have of you.’”

Marriage Tip No. 7: If you’re the wife, lower your expectations. If you’re the husband, step up to the plate.

When Steve Brody and his wife, Cathy Brody, MFT, a marriage and family counselor, toured the country to promote their book, “Renew Your Marriage at Midlife,” they asked audiences what they wanted from marriage.

“Women expected to be loved, cherished, listened to, cared for, and courted,” Steve Brody says. They had a long list of wants and expectations, he recalls. The men joked that their expectations were more basic: Their typical answers, Brody says: “Bring food and show up naked.”

While the men were half joking, the gaps in expectations are a good lesson. To close the gap, Brody says, women need to lower their expectations — to not expect 24/7 romance, for instance, especially if their mate has just worked an unbelievably long week.

Men need to do some of the things the woman wants, such as prioritize their relationship and listen more, he says. In a nutshell, Brody says, “Men need to do the same things at home that they do at work.” He tells the husbands he counsels to think of it this way: “Your wife is the million-dollar client. If she walks out the door, the business is closed.”

[via WebMD]

It seems that ever since graduating from college, everyone and their sister, cousin, niece…you get the point…is getting married. The year after I graduated, I attended 6 weddings. They were all of close friends…and I was even the maid of honor in one of them! But after a short review … and a couple of calls to some girlfriends, I am starting to see how this is not only breaking into our time, but also into our wallets. Now don’t get me wrong, I am nowhere near jealous, nor am I upset that I haven’t walked down that aisle yet, but I am starting to worry about my salary and being able to AFFORD even attending a wedding…

Let’s see about how much I spent on these 6 weddings. The one in which I was the maid of honor, I spent at least $500 - which included the dress, shoes, make-up and hair. Now that I think of it, I left off the parties and the presents. For the other 5, I spent at least $300. That’s accounting for presents, outfits, flights, hotel accommodations, bachelorette parties, etc.

I did a little research on the web and found that the typical wedding guest spend between $60 and $90 on a wedding gift. This price can vary depending on the length of time one has known the bride and groom.

So far, we’ve touched to surface on expense…but gifts aren’t the only thing.

For women, we usually like to look nice. You know why…don’t act like you don’t…this is the first time in a long time that we have seen ex-boyfriends, old friends, old roommates, and the list goes on. So it is extremely important to look your best.

My BFF’s estimate on her cost is as follows: “By the time I count outfit, hair, present, hotel, transportation and spending money, I would easily spend $300 and that’s a modest estimate. But I definitely don’t resent spending it. I love going to and being in weddings. It’s a really special day for my friend.”

Spoken like a true friend.

As soon as the couple realizes that the euphoria is over, they should be alert to that. Because if they don’t handle this phase positively, the phase that may follow will be of mutual blames and disagreements.

As soon as you realize that the initial euphoric love is over, take notice and try to bring the romance back. The simplest way is to go into the past and remember the old days again. Think about the good times as much as possible. Slowly your memories will take over the present and you will get ideas about how to get the romance back.

The Internet is a valuable resource for this. In the past, most women’s choices in formal wear were confined to what was hanging in the dress department in their local ladies’ wear store. It was often a struggle when looking for plus size mother of the bride dresses as the majority of the available dresses were designed for petite women.

Many women took to having a dress custom made at a local tailor. This is a wonderful idea however it does prove costly. Most mothers are already shouldering a financial burden in terms of the wedding, so investing too much in plus size mother of the bride dresses just wasn’t doable.

It’s very different today as you can now order a dress from anywhere and have it delivered right to you. Dress manufacturers from all corners of the globe have developed websites that allow women to order formal dresses in whatever size they desire along with a multitude of custom color choices. After all, the mother of the bride should wear a color that is complimentary to the attendant’s dresses and finding something locally can prove challenging.

Suits can also be appropriate for some types of weddings. Some women just don’t feel completely comfortable wearing a typical dress. They may also want to find plus size mother of the bride dresses that can be used again. Suits that include a blazer and a skirt are actually perfect. They can be ordered in several colors and then used separately or together for different occasions after the wedding.

It can also be something of a struggle to find accessories. Jewelry, a handbag and shoes all need to match the style, tone and color of your outfit. Plus size hosiery that is comfortable should also be included in things you need to purchase. Finding all of these things at least a few weeks before the wedding will put your mind at ease and take off any pressure right before the big day.

Remember to enjoy every aspect of your daughter’s wedding day. Wear a dress that you find appealing because you’re going to be displayed in many photos for years. You want your beauty and happiness to shine through and to do that you need to choose one of the plus size mother of the bride dresses that makes you feel like a Queen!

Many guests who attend a wedding want to take something more than a small piece of the wedding cake home with them. They want a small keepsake that they can remember the wedding by. With cookie cutter wedding favors they are not only receiving something memorable but they are useful as well.

These types of items are really inexpensive and can easily be personalized without much added cost. A nice idea is to purchase cookie cutter wedding favors in the shape of a heart. Then you can use your home computer to print out small, attachable cards that contain a greeting from the happy couple, the wedding date and a sugar cookie recipe. With some pink or red ribbon, these cards can be tied to the cookie cutters and placed on each of the tables before dinner.

Another fun and affordable idea is to include a photo of the wedding couple. This can also be done easily with a home computer and a good quality printer. A small image of the couple from their engagement can be placed in the corner of the recipe card. Whenever someone looks at the cookie cutter wedding favors, they’ll be reminded of the special celebration they attended.

If you have children in your family who have been asking for a way to participate in the wedding, this is a perfect way. Ask them to help assemble the cookie cutter wedding favors and if there isn’t a dinner following the ceremony have them hold baskets filled with them for the guests to take upon leaving. This will help make the youngsters feel responsible and helpful and again your guests will welcome the small item they get to take with them.

Many local wedding supply shops will carry many different designs in these. If you don’t find the heart shaped cookie cutter wedding favors appealing, you can certainly choose another. Butterflies, daisies and leaves are a few of the other options. You can also purchase small gift bags to place these in if you want to add to the look of the favor.

Overall it’s a fun and economical way to add a special and personalized tough to your wedding guest’s experience. Be certain to buy an extra one so you can keep it for yourself.

One of the most interesting looks in this wedding must-have is the tall centerpieces for weddings. These designs are created with your guests in mind. You can make a grand statement by choosing a lot of flowers and detail while still giving your guests space as well as an excellent view.

These taller options are usually created out of a sturdy vase that stands about two feet in height. These centerpieces for weddings are actually arranged higher than the seated guests. This allows more room for reception favors, beverages and plates. Your guests can also have great conversation without having to peer around a bulky table centerpiece.

The high standing centerpieces for weddings are a bit more costly than your regular arrangement. They also should be made by a professional who has a great sense of balance. The last thing you want is one toppling over during the reception. Making your own centerpieces for weddings is fine as long as you keep them at a reasonable height.

These arrangements have a very formal feel and they are lacking in one area: reflective light. I chose to forgo the larger centerpieces for weddings and I also skipped the high standing options as well. My arrangements included simple mirrors with candles sitting in votive containers. These containers were surrounded by a few daisies and some pink roses.

The simplicity of the arrangement allowed for plenty of room while the glow from the candles reflecting in the mirrors added delightful romantic character to the room. These inexpensive centerpieces for weddings were a breeze to make and they provided a romantically casual atmosphere for my guests.

Not everyone is keen on the idea of having candles lit at every table. They can snuff out or the threat of someone getting burned may turn some brides off. Why not create centerpieces for weddings out of battery operated candles? They can be decorated without fear of catching fire.

Many brides like to stay true to a specific theme. You can create centerpieces for weddings that hold to the theme. For example, my sister had a Western wedding motif for her occasion. Her bridesmaids and groomsmen wore denim and cowboy hats. She continued the theme by using horseshoe centerpieces that were arranged with different flowers. Each guest was given a horseshoe from these arrangements for a reception favor.

Whether you want to choose classic elegance, simple sophistication or whether you want to be inventive with themes, there are plenty of things you can do with centerpieces for weddings. It just takes some thought and creativity.

As a little girl, I loved the beach. I loved sitting on the beach just staring out at the ocean. I found it to be incredibly serene and powerful. I always imagined myself getting married on the beach. From the time I was 10 years old, I was determined that someday I would be having a beach wedding. I carried that idea with me all the way through my college years. When my boyfriend slipped a ring on my finger, my mind was already thinking ahead to how I was finally going to have my dream beach wedding.

My fiancé wasn’t exactly thrilled with the idea of a beach wedding. The closest beach to our hometown was three hours away. While I realized that having a beach wedding would mean it was limiting the number of guests that would actually attend, I was still determined. After debating for several months on setting a date, he was still not thrilled. However, since he knew that it would make me happy, he caved in. I was celebrating - my beach wedding would finally take place!

I found a lovely inn that was located directly on the beach. In order to have my wedding there, it was required that I reserve all of the guests rooms for the weekend. That wasn’t very cheap but we were in love with the little inn, so we agreed. I was assigned a wedding coordinator who was more than happy to take control of my beach wedding plans. She began to go over lots of details with me that I had never thought about when it came to exchanging my vows on the sand. She said that I really should get married in the morning because of the position of the sun. No one wanted photos taken with everyone squinting and the sun being in our eyes the entire time. Or, she said that it would have to be late evening since I had chosen the summer to get married. In the late evening, the sun wouldn’t be much of an issue either. While I knew that there is usually always a breeze at the beach, I had not thought about that in regards to how it would affect a beach wedding. I hadn’t thought about my hair blowing or my dress not staying in one place. I hadn’t thought about the sand blowing around either. Because of all of the factors that had been brought to my attention, I had to adjust my thoughts on buying a dress and how I’d wear my hair. I bought a dress that was a bit more form fitting and didn’t have a long train. I opted to not wear a veil and wore my hair in an elegant bun. I chose to not decorate the chairs with flowers and ribbons, but decorated the inside reception instead. I made everything taking place on the beach very simply and hassle-free.

Our wedding turned out to be absolutely perfect. If you’re planning a beach wedding, make sure to plan accordingly. You may have to adjust some of your plans in order to make things as simple and perfect as possible. Trust me though, it is worth it.

What do you think are the absolute best places to get married? Does the Caribbean pop into your head, or are you more of a mountain person. I know when I planned my wedding with my bride-to-be, we went back and fourth on this topic. It can be a tad difficult agreeing with someone else on the best places to get married. However, we all have to find that middle ground. For example, when we were ready to tie the knot, we both had ideas of what would be ideal. This is why we each sat down separately and planed out a getaway wedding and honeymoon. Then it was time to share preferences. While she told me all about a destination wedding in Thailand, I sat completely in awe. I simply could not believe she wanted to go clear over there and be married by Buddhist monks. Not that the destination didn’t look amazing, or I had to be married in some particular church, but I wasn’t expecting that. On the other hand, my idea was a little more local. I thought it would be choice to head down to Savannah, Georgia for a destination wedding package. We could be married by an official in the historic district and stay at the finest Bed and breakfast. This would be an incredible wedding and honeymoon. I’m talking carriage rides through the town, outstanding restaurants, and fun tours of Savannah’s history at night. Apparently my pitch was much better, because she changed her mind and went with my idea. I was completely shocked, but I sure wasn’t going to argue. Well, in the end it turned out beautifully. So, have you figured out your favorite places to get married yet? Why not hop online and check out what the world has to offer?

When thinking of marriage proposal ideas, just think about what you have in common. What are your favorite activities? Where do you like to go? What are some of the inside jokes you share? Thinking of these things will help you come up with unique marriage proposal ideas. Don’t stress too hard if something does not pop into your mind right away. Sometimes, you just have to put it into your mind, and a great idea will pop out at you when you least expect it. I know a lot of ideas for just about anything pop into my mind just before I fall asleep. Keep a pen and notepad by you bed just incase this happens to you.

Still stumped? If nothing is coming to you out of the blue, you may have to put a little more thought into marriage proposal ideas. Ask friends for ideas, as long as you trust them to keep your impending proposal a secret from your intended. They may come up with something perfect and save you a lot of trouble. If you have thought to ask her dad’s permission, he may have some ideas for you. Her parents know her better than anyone, and they may be able to share a special memory from when she grew up. There may be a place that is special to her that you are not aware of, and this might be the perfect place to pop the question.

Brainstorming always works great for me when I need ideas. I sit and just write down everything that pops into my mind. This might work very well with marriage proposal ideas as well. Just start writing. You may find that something pops out at you as you go, or you can combine two things you never thought would go together. The most important thing in dreaming up marriage proposal ideas is to keep your personalities in mind. Proposing to her at a football game won’t work well if neither of you go to games. You’ll find something perfect, just don’t stress too much.