Lifestyle

How to Maintain Friendships After Marriage

Once upon a time, you and your best friend were like two peas in a pod. Now, she might be wondering why it’s so hard for you to forget, even for a day, that you have a wedding ring on your finger. Balancing friendship and family life is indeed possible. Follow these tips, and no one will worry about that new stamp in your passport.

Reflect on Why Your Friendship Has Changed

Even if you’re the best friend in the world, it’s perfectly normal to devote more energy to the relationships that are closest to you, especially the one with the person you wake up to and go to bed with every day.

Your relationship with your spouse often becomes the foundation for emotional and financial support, as well as security. In this context, friendships may take a backseat. It’s crucial not to let your spouse replace your best friend. Your husband is your lover, life partner, co-owner of your home, and possibly the father of your children. Your best friend, on the other hand, knows your weirdest and darkest secrets, has listened to you cry over a glass of wine, and knew you before you got married.

At the same time, maintaining close relationships with two people can be incredibly challenging, even if one is romantic and the other platonic. Someone will inevitably take priority.

Put in the Effort

Make your friend feel important and loved. Maybe you no longer go shopping every Saturday, but that doesn’t mean she’s any less significant in your life. Share more moments from your life with her, exchange private stories, and make plans for the future. Use as many gestures as possible to show that she’s still dear to you.

Communicate Your Feelings

Things have changed: perhaps you no longer go to cafes on Fridays, send each other GIFs, or talk every day. But what truly matters is how your friendship feels. If you sense something is off, your friend likely feels it too. A conversation over a cup of coffee can help both of you express your concerns. Tell her what you expect from your meetings and what you specifically need to figure out what’s missing.

Most likely, your friend just wants to know that you still love her, no matter what.

Plan Meetings Without Your Husband

Even if your friend likes the man you married, she values your friendship more, so limit their interactions. If possible, ask your husband to spend the night at a friend’s place and invite your best friend over for a cozy pajama party. Snuggle up with blankets and pillows on the floor, drink some wine, order sushi, and pretend everything is just like it used to be. Be mindful of the conversation topics: avoid gushing about how happy you are to finally be married and your new status.

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