Planning a wedding might have its tribulations, but married life is when the real work kicks in.

It can be daunting, but it's also massively exciting, and totally worth it!

While we're always open to tips for a happy marriage, some sources of wedding advice are more reliable than others.

Your parents, friends, and relatives. Magazines, websites, and TV. Or maybe you've read it in books or sought it out from a therapist.

But do you know who knows most about making a marriage work? People who've been there, done that, and clocked up the anniversaries to prove it!

Photo by Phil Chester via Bridal Musings

We hit up our happily hitched readers, reached out to our married friends on Facebook, and contacted some of the best wedded wedding bloggers in the biz.

We asked them for their number one tip for a happy marriage, and the responses we got back? Well they're pretty wonderful!

Prepare to be schooled, with awesome advice for a great married life...

My Best Piece of Marriage Advice for Newlyweds

Photo by Anna Delores Photography via Bridal Musings

The venue, the flowers and décor are all a wonderfully pretty and romantic backdrop to your day and I wholeheartedly believe that you should go all-out to prettify your day as much as you desire.

But on your wedding day, standing next to your new husband, surrounded by family and friends and an awful lot of love, it really is just all a backdrop. Never forget that. - Louise Beukes, B.loved (Taken from her awesome three year anniversary post)

Try to remember those small things that are special. Spontaneous surprises throughout the year. Handmade, homemade, or personalised gestures show you really get your partner. - Niall, BM reader. Don't expect it to be amazing all the time. The first year of marriage is a bit strange. Something shifts when you get married, neither of us could put our finger on it. Appreciate the other person for all the little things they do, don't take them for granted. You become a unit when you get married and that can take a while to work itself out. It's really not just about you anymore and you have to consider the other person. Remember to not take it too seriously, you married for a reason, and make time to laugh. - Ciara, BM reader. This May, my husband and I will be celebrating 10 years of marriage. We were super young and went through a lot to get to this season of our lives, but one thing has been a consistent source of encouragement in our marriage... HELPING OTHERS!

Photo by Beca Companioni Photography, via Bridal Musings

Show grace to each other. No matter if he is having a bad day or she is distraught in pain, condition yourself to give unmerited love especially when he/she causes frustration or annoyance to you. My husband is really good at this; he always goes beyond to care for me even when my grumpies are in full force and I really don't deserve it.

Photo by Studio 1208 via Bridal Musings

Have a life outside of the relationship-and enjoy it. Too much focus on your relationship can actually harm it, so step away every now and then, you'll be surprised at how satisfying it can be. While it's easy to fall into a regular routine with your partner of work, home, sleep, repeat, it's important to make time for your solo self, whether it's a date night with your best gal pal or volunteering at a local shelter. Don't sweat the small stuff. Both of you have annoying pet peeves that can drive the other one crazy. Instead, help each other diminish that annoyance. Are they bad at doing the dishes? Ask them to help you out and do it together. But don't keep it inside and not discuss it, you want a healthy relationship, not an explosive one. Laugh and Hug! Life, and marriage, is full of hard stuff, and if you can't laugh together, smile together, and hug together, it will be a rough life. Even in your most difficult moments, laugh with your partner.

Photo by Die Hochzeitsfotografen via Bridal Musings

Photo by Nabil Shash Photography via Bridal Musings

And my biggest tip: 4. Always, always share laughter with each other, it diffuses an argument in moments. - A cup of coffee in bed in the morning... cook together in the evening. It's not about being over the top, it's about your togetherness! - It's a little cliche but i guess it would have to be the old, 'make time for yourselves/each other'. Have a proper date night/day out as regularly as you can (especially if you have kids!) - Miranda, BM reader Remember that no matter how beautiful your wedding day is, you should to aim to have the same beauty and love in your everyday lives as a married couple. It can be trying, it can be testing, but as long as you embrace each other's flaws and allow your partner to make you the best version of yourself, you will find new ways to fall in love everyday. Believe in your love for each other... Always remember you chose to choose each other, and remembering that choice on a daily basis makes you an amazing team, able to face anything life throws your way! - Charlie, BM reader. Trish, BM reader. Nova, Nu Bride

Photo by Kaysha Weiner Photographer via Bridal Musings

Visit our step-by-step planning guide for more great advice.

Photo by Claire Eliza Photography via Bridal Musings

Can I give more than one tip? I know, so greedy! 1. Communicate with each other. 2. Dedicate quality time with each-other without the distraction of work/emails or social media. 3. Keep enjoying finding out new things about each other!

Photo by Jack & Hannah Film & Photography via Bridal Musings

Photo by Craig Bruce of Brilliant Studios via Bridal Musings

Photo by Lauren Fair Photography via Bridal Musings

So much sound advice there, I love how communication, understanding, and making time for eachother are common threads that run through everyone's advice. Thanks so much to everybody who shared their wisdom!

(Aren't the pics pretty too, just some of our amazing real wedding couples from the last year or so!)

Are you married? We'd love to hear your tips for a great marriage, please do share them in the comments below!