I'm doing 21 things
It can be very difficult—the first year totally sucks sometimes, because you’re still feeling each other out, and learning about how the other person lives and all that. How they treat finances, how they treat going out with friends, etc… And you’re just working out all the major kinks. We even lived together before getting married and things still changed after we were married. It became more real, more definite, more concrete.
Now that we’re well past the first year… it’s AWESOME. We communicate so much better, and we make big decisions as a unit now, without struggling with it like we used to. It’s so great to have my best friend right here next to me… it gets better every day. Be aware that there will be tough moments, but if you’re truly right for each other, those tough times will only make you a stronger married unit as you progress through the journey.
I would definitely advise against buying a house immediately after or before getting married. OMG! That’s just torture! Buying your first house is the most stressful thing you can EVER do as a couple, besides having kids… come ON… give yourselves a break after the wedding and get used to being married before tackling house-buying. (or do it the way we did—we bought the house a year before getting married!)
But yes. Getting married is one of the best decisions I’ve ever made. ;-)
