Now that same-sex marriage has been legalized nationwide, many gay couples are finally getting the chance to marry the love of their lives. This is a day many have been dreaming of for years, having been previously refused because they loved someone of the same sex. Now that this dream has become a reality, many gay couples are starting to get used to life as a married couple. This may not be a big adjustment for some couples; many may have been living together for years so things may not seem much different. But for those who did not share a home before marriage, things are going to change a lot. While these changes are usually for the better, there are some adjustments that need to be made. Here are some things you may encounter after exchanging your wedding vows.

Life After Your Wedding

Things will change a lot when the two of you are suddenly sharing a space. Again, if you lived together before marriage, then this likely won’t be an adjustment period. However, if you are combining two homes into one, there are some things that can present a challenge. For one thing, you will have two sets of many items. Both of you likely had your own furniture, your own kitchen supplies, and your own décor. You will probably need to purge some items. Having a garage sale would be a great way to get rid of some of your duplicate items while making some money to start your lives together. Some couples may struggle with knowing whose items to keep and whose to get rid of. Here are a few tips:

• Talk about what items are most important to both of you. Perhaps one of you is very attached to your bedroom set while the other really wants to keep his or her couch.
• For items that don’t particularly matter to either of you, choose the item of higher quality or the item that seems like it will last longer.
• Remember, you will likely have to compromise. You may both want to keep your couches, but your living room might only have room for one. Talk it out and see how you can resolve the situation.

Getting Used to Habits

There may be some habits about your new spouse you did not notice before you were married. This can be difficult to get used to. Maybe your spouse snores and you had no idea before. Perhaps he or she forgets to take the trash out every week. These are just a couple examples of the nearly endless list of habits your spouse may have. It will take time to adjust to them, but remember you will probably get used to them. You may have some habits that are driving your spouse crazy that you may not even be aware of!

Routines

If you have lived on your own for a while, you likely have a pretty specific routine you are used to. Maybe you don’t go to bed before you watch an hour of television and your spouse prefers to read instead. It’s hard for us to give up our routines. Most of the time, you can both have your own routines without interfering with one another. However, you may want to change things up so you can spend more time together. Talk with your spouse to figure out how you can spend time together when you both have different routines.

Married life is wonderful when you are with the right person. Still, it can be an adjustment for even the most compatible couple. Being ready for these changes can make them easier to handle when they come.