Hitchswitch-Blog

Tag: celebrities marriage

  • Why You Should Consider Taking Your Partner’s Last Name?

    Why You Should Consider Taking Your Partner’s Last Name?

    Marriage is one hell of a ride.

    There are numerous things to consider before getting married. Since medieval times, a woman taking her husband’s last name was understandable, no question about it. Luckily for us, those days of patriarchy are over (kinda) and changing your last name is now an independent choice!

    And let’s face it, the world has changed. Same-sex marriage is legal now, more women are in the work field making their name their brand/identity, some couples prefer hyphenation, some prefer keeping their surname as their middle name, and some like to change the last name entirely.

    All in all, there’s no shame in keeping your last name, and there’s certainly nothing wrong with taking your significant other’s last name.

    So the million dollar question: should I take my partner’s last name?

    While only YOU know the answer to that question, we’re here to tell you why you should contemplate changing your last name.

    1. Us Against The World

    Like my four-year-old niece always reminds me, “There’s no “I” in “TEAM.”  She doesn’t even know what it means but her mom persists on making her a “team player,” whatever the heck that means.

    Some marriages work, some don’t. But if you are married, and you are confident that this person is your soulmate, then taking their last name will make you feel like nothing can get you down. It’s just very different after marriage because this person becomes your go-to for everything! You cry to them, complain to them, cook for them, clean for them, and live for them. Plus, you want the whole world to associate you with them. Marriage is love and love is joining as one against the whole damn world.

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    2. Out With The Old, In With The New

    Think of marriage as a door opening to another world, because really, it is. Your whole world gets turned upside down and everything changes.

    You start to pave a path with your partner, and you have to adjust to the new world around you. In a way, you have to leave your “old” life behind and embrace this new adventure with your loved one. Part of that “old” life is your maiden name.

    Yes, it could be scary and overwhelming, but it could also be exciting and fun! With a new identity, it feels like you’ve got a second chance to do the things you love with the person you love.

    3. Think Of The Children

    There’s no doubt that every mother or father wants the same surname as their future children. Having different names than your children causes confusions at schools, hospitals, and airports. If you have teenage children, then you’ll know that even your breathing embarrasses them.

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    To make things easier for yourself, in the long run, it’s best to take your partner’s last name and save yourself some trouble. When you think family, you don’t think of each parent having a different last name.

    4. Judge Judy Eyes

    Ok, you’re not going to like this one, but I feel obliged to mention it because I know what it’s like to come from a judgy family. Hey, people are assholes, and that includes family.

    When I told my family I wouldn’t be changing my last name after marriage, they were appalled. It’s become so accustomed in our family for a woman to change her maiden name that when someone questioned it, it seemed corrupt. I had an uncle tell me that if I wasn’t going to change my last name to my husband’s, then I shouldn’t get married at all.

    Yeah, asshole family but I still love them like crazy.

    After a year of marriage, I changed my last name because it felt like the right thing to do and it’s what I wanted to do. There was no pressure from anyone, and my husband never rushed me into it.

    My point is, no matter what you decide to do, there will always be people there to judge you. People’s opinion should never have an impact on your decisions. Honestly, what are middle fingers for if not these moments?

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    5. Stronger Bond

    Do you know who makes me the happiest person on the planet? My partner.

    While changing your last name may not seem like a big deal to you, for some, it means a lot. Once I got the hang of marriage and realized I married the man of my dreams, I decided to strengthen the bond between us. For people from our cultural background, that meant taking his last name. When I finally did it, I felt like the happiest person on the planet. I swear I am not over exaggerating, you guys.

    It just seemed official at last! I was ecstatic, and it felt like one of the best decisions I’ve ever made.

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    If you are considering changing your last name, then HitchSwitch is here to help you through the process. Always speak to your partner before making any final decisions, and in the end, always remember that the choice is up to you.

  • Color Me Green! St. Patrick’s Day Activities

    Color Me Green! St. Patrick’s Day Activities

    Saint Patrick’s Day. A day where everyone is seen wearing a green shirt with the quote “Kiss Me I’m Irish.” Unless you’re a six-year-old, then you’ve just been coloring in leprechauns and making pots of gold out of construction paper.

    Do you think those people actually know the history behind St. Paddy’s Day or is it just an excuse to get totally sh*t faced? I mean, it was the rage in my early twenties, but once you’ve tied the knot and pushed a couple of humans heads out of you, you’re lucky to squeeze in a glass of wine.

    Getting off topic, I know.

    So I doubt many people know the story of Saint Patrick so to honor the Saint, here’s a quick summary of the infamous holiday.

    First, he was born in Scotland, and his actual name was Maewyn Succat, and he took the name Patrick after becoming a priest. When he was a young boy, the Roman empire was weak and under attack. By the time he was a young man, he was captured by raiders and sold as a slave. He was taken to Ireland where in his confessions, he mentions spending time with the sheep and finding solace in prayers and God. He mentions seeing God in his dreams and believing he had a mission for him.

    Long story short, he brought Christianity to Ireland and drove out paganism which was the dominant religion at the time.

    The Irish celebrate this conversion on the 17th of March every year. Here are a few activities that are adult and kid friendly to get you in the spirits of this Irish holiday.

    1. Teach Your Kids About The Holiday

    March marks Irish American Heritage Month. The Irish know why they’re celebrating this day, but many American households celebrate it because of the fun and sake of the kids. While it’s always great to take part in a foreign holiday, both children and adults should know the history behind it.

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    Printing out coloring pages with leprechauns, pots of gold, rainbows, and even the flag of Ireland is a great way to hype kids up and get them learning about the holiday. You can also hit them up with some trivia! There are many myths that surround the story of St. Patrick and kids love those! Who knows? You might learn something yourself.

    2. Green Desserts

    I’m talking rainbow cupcakes, shamrock gummies, lucky charms rice krispies, Bailey’s Irish Coffee Caramel Brownies, shamrock pretzels, St. Patrick’s Day cake, and a little something called drunken grasshopper fudge. Good Housekeeping has a ton more recipes but I only picked the ones I’ve personally tried and have fallen drunk in love with, haha.

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    So a majority of these desserts can be done with the help of a pair (or two) of little helping hands. It’s a great way to bond with children because well, it’s a lot of sugar and kids love helping out in the kitchen. There will be a lot of green frosting, and rainbow sprinkles so have them administrate the final touch.\

    3. Gold Hunt

    You create two teams, and each team gets a “leprechaun” bucket (just a tin bucket I got from The Dollar Store). I painted a four-leafed clover on one and a rainbow on the other to make it more fun, but you can paint anything else that’s related to the holiday.

    Both teams have to scour the area and find as many gold chocolate coins as they can before a certain amount of time. Of course, those gold coins would have been hidden by you the night before. If you want the competition to heat up, you can conceal dollar bills and whichever team wins, gets a payday. The other side gets chocolate gold coins! It’s a win-win!

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    4. Leprechaun Relay

    For this activity, you do need a leprechaun costume. You can choose to make it at home or take the easy road and purchase it from your nearest Party City. I love the idea of this activity because it encourages kids to get moving!

    You split your players into two teams and have them form two lines. You offer the costume to the first player in front. Then, they must run an obstacle course conducted by an adult, return to the line, take off the outfit, and pass it on to the next player. The process continues until one team uses up all its players and win.

    5. Celebrate With Irish Music

    Finally, some dancing.

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    I love watching kids dance because they get so creative with those dance moves! You can play Irish music and even hire a dancer to teach the children (and yourself) some new moves. If you want to make it a game, you can play Freeze Jig. It’s the Irish version of Red Light, Green Light. You play music, and when the music stops, the children stop dancing and freeze. The last person to freeze is the winner.

    There are so many activities to choose from! I promised myself I would never get sucked into the Pinterest Vortex, but Pinterest has a ton of great ideas for activities, food, and fun! It’s a day full of luck so you should be just fine! Good luck!

  • Wedding Budget Saving Tips

    Wedding Budget Saving Tips

    Wedding Budget Saving Tips

    If you could describe a wedding in three words, what would they be? 

    If you’ve never had a wedding of your own, then let me take the words right out of your mouth. Beautiful. Elegant. Fun.

    Yeah, yeah, I get it, being a guest is the frickin’ best because unless you’re the bride or groom, you didn’t pay for anything. You went all dolled up, ate a filet mignon steak with a side of couscous, got drunk, and went home. That’s what guests do, and I know this because I attend over three weddings a month. 

    My three words? Too. Damn. Expensive.

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    According to Business Insider, “The average wedding cost in the US is $33,391”. I’ve been married since 2017, and I am still in debt for the extravagant wedding my in-laws persisted we have. They only have one son so you can imagine how that conversation went.  

    Anyways, there are several things you can do that will help you save hundreds of dollars on your special day.

    Here are our top four.

    1. Scratch Off Anyone You Haven’t Seen In 2+ Years

    Let’s be real. Does your great uncle Paul from your mom’s side that you haven’t seen in over five years really need to be invited? I know when it comes to creating a guest list for your special day, you want the whole world to know, but think of it this way: the more people come, the more money out of your pocket.

    Honestly, I get it. At some point, you feel an obligation to invite some people even though you barely know them. While my husband and I were creating the guest list at the time, we were incredibly stressed out because more than half the people on the list were closer to our parents, not to us. It rounded up to over 200 people. 

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    A word of advice? Cut out anybody you haven’t spoken or heard from in the past two years. Explain to your parents and future in-laws that you would rather save that extra cash for something that will benefit you and your partner in the near future.

    2. You Don’t Need Filet Mignon With Couscous

    You can’t have starving guests. Even though prices vary per guest in every state, you’re looking at an average of $85 per plate. And that’s the not so fancy weddings. If you want a New York wedding, you’re looking at an $80,000 fee.

    Here I thought California was too expensive.

    So what do you do? If you’re looking to save money, then I’ll tell you what you don’t do, and that is hiring a caterer. As soon as you mention the M word (married), anything that will cost ten bucks will jump to a hundred. We know it’s the same product, but we’re under so much stress at the time that we couldn’t give a shit, am I right?

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    If you have any close friends that run family-owned restaurants or if your family is in the food industry, you can always ask them to cater! It doesn’t need to be anything fancy because I promise you, people just want to eat. I had a friend who served chicken thighs on top of basmati rice at her wedding, and you better believe it was the best darn thing I’ve ever tasted.

    So no need to over think the food because you’re not going to look back on this day and think, “I should have gone with the $8000 caterers”.

    3. Mother Nature is Your New Wedding Venue

    Haven’t you heard? That’s, like, totally a thing now.

    Renting out a plaza for your wedding reception is crazy expensive. I know this because mine cost me a thousand for the night.

    Lately, I have been noticing a ton of people planning their wedding in their backyard. There are a few who also use public parks because it’s already fixed up beautifully without costing a dime.

    Bridal Musings does a wonderful job on how to set up a backyard wedding.

    4. Skip The Bouquet and Settle For A Single Rose

    For a few of my brides, this might strike a nerve. If you’re one of those brides who want to preserve your bouquet in a glass frame, then by all means, skip this step. Before I continue, I would just like to state that I have been to weddings without a single flower in sight and I have been to weddings where over $2000 was spent only on flowers.

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    Other than your bouquet, you need to keep in mind the bridesmaids, the flower girls, the corsages, table centerpieces, and much more that I can’t remember at the moment.

    Also, flowers die. Imagine spending $2000 on flowers just for them to die that same night. Holy crap, you can buy a used car with that amount of money. Now, there are alternatives to flowers such as candles, crystal vases, goldfish bowls with petals, and even fake flowers. If flowers are a must, then keep them to a minimal.

    If you’re the DIY’er in the family, then all you need is to pick a few roses from your nearest public park and get to working.

    The list goes on and on…and on. Shop for your dress or tux off the clearance rack, ask family and friends to help with the setup instead of buying professional work, buy affordable wedding rings, stay in state for the honeymoon, set up karaoke instead of hiring a DJ. 

    Ok, maybe that last one isn’t necessary, but you get my point. 

  • How to Throw a Valentine’s Day Party

    How to Throw a Valentine’s Day Party

    Holy moly, can you guys believe we’re already in February? I swear just yesterday was New Year’s, and I was toasting to a more productive year, and here I am wondering what the hell happened to January. Well, in the words of Anthony G. Oettinger, “Time flies like an arrow; fruit flies like a banana.”

    Get it? One of the perks of growing old is finding anything and everything amusing.

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    Moving on! Another month means another holiday and with all the heart-shaped cookies, balloons, and candies at every corner, I’m sure you can guess what holiday we’re talking about here. If I’m honest, I have never been a fan of Valentine’s Day because, um, hello, it’s dead set on shaming all my single people. A shame, I know, considering the history behind Valentine’s Day is a beautiful one.

    But it’s become a commercialized holiday just like Christmas.

    Damn it, America, you insatiable beast.

    Alright, I’m done ranting, let’s move on to why I still think it’s a good idea to throw a party on this particular day. Personally, I don’t need a holiday to tell me to buy sweets and teddy bears for my loved ones because I already know I’m #blessed. The reason I love throwing a party is that I have tons of single friends who don’t know how to express themselves due to society’s ridiculous notion that being single is abnormal.

    So I host a party and invite all my friends, regardless of their relationship status because even though this just another day of the year, everyone needs to feel like they’re loved.

    So here it is people, this is how you throw a righteous Valentine’s Day party.

    Invite (Almost) EVERYONE

    Ok, I know what you’re thinking. Is it really a good idea to mix my single friends with my dating/married friends? And the answer to your question is yes, it a fantastic idea. This isn’t your “making out in a corner” or “get a room” kind of party, and it’s always best to make that clear when inviting people over. This is not your frat house college party, this is a gathering of your loved ones, and people need to be on their best behavior.

    Is kissing off limits? No, I’m not a monster, but if couples wish to be passionate, then they can stay home.

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    Now here’s who you don’t invite:

    –  That one friend whose sworn off men/women

    – Jim, from accounting, whose mood kills party vibes

    – Anyone who was dumped February 13

    While you do want to be considerate towards everyone, you need to know where to draw the line.

    Heart Shaped Invitations

    Or cupcake shaped. Or bear shaped. Hey, be creative. If you’re feeling up to it, you can even send out personalized invitations to all your guests! Just make sure you send them out a week before, so you have an estimate of how many people RSVP.

    Now, invitations are amazing because this is where you’re going to state the event, place, time, food,  and my personal favorite, the rules.

    What, a party with rules? Yes, those are the best ones, duh.

    There will be singles at your party, so you need to make it clear that there is NO KISSING ALLOWED. At least nothing heavy and makes people wonder why they showed up in the first place.

    But alas, an invitation is not a rulebook, so if anyone has any questions about the party, they should be able to contact you via phone or email! I once had a couple bring their kids and leave. Do you know where I am with those people now? I’m not. Because I cut people out the same way I cut paper hearts, smoothly and without complication.

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    The point is, always know what’s allowed and what’s prohibited at YOUR party. For some, it’s a very sensitive day, and the last thing you want to do is hit a nerve.

    Ariana Grande Your Place

    I’m talking pink walls, pink hearts, pink plates, pink balloons, pink punch, pink lightning, etc. I guess you can pop a red in there somewhere. This one day a year is when you can go HAM on decor. Have heart-shaped balloons fill the ceiling, pick an array of red and pink foods such as chocolate cupcake with pink frosting, heart candy with messages (obviously), chocolate dipped strawberries, raspberry and strawberry punch, etc. Purchase red and pink curtains and cover up the walls.

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    Of course, can’t forget the DIYs. Your choices are endless, and they’ll make great additions to your home even after the party is over.

    Be Extra

    Well, more than your usual extra. You want to go all out? Here are some bonus tips:

    – Hire a professional photographer to snap pictures of everyone.

    – Set up a Photo Booth with a hedgewall that says “I’m a Lover!”

    – Set up a projector and play a few classic romance movies in the background.

    – Piñata, Piñata, Piñata! With heart eyes blindfold!

    – Goodie bags (be that badass host!)

    – Palm reading!!

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    There are just a few things you can incorporate into your party! No matter what you decide to do, the most important thing to add to any party is lots of love and laughter. I know that sounds like something out of a fairytale, but hey, it’s true.

    XOXO,

    Your Friends at HitchSwitch

  • Celeb Couples Who Are Totally Nailing this Marriage Thing

    Celeb Couples Who Are Totally Nailing this Marriage Thing

    From fashion and beauty tips, to the latest dreaded diet that you’ll never actually follow, celebrities give us a ton of reasons to swoon over their rich and famous lifestyles. Unfortunately when it comes to luck in love, Hollywood’s divorce rate is higher than Sofia Vergara’s wedding cake.

    Celebrities aren’t often known for things like commitment, loyalty, and growing old together (or growing old at all). Some unions expire sooner than a gallon of organic milk (we’re looking at you KKW and Britney). While celeb breakups are always big news, we never want to see these names in the headlines about splitting:

    John Krasinski and Emily Blunt

    When they’re not collaborating on this month’s highly anticipated post-apocalyptic thriller, these two are busy basking in each others awesomeness and showering one other in mildly sickening, majorly adorable admiration. Not only does John Krasinski go all Fanboy, over The Devil Wears Prada (let’s be real, who doesn’t), the actor admits that the first time he heard his wife sing, he “immediately started weeping.” And now we’re crying too. JUST. STOP. ALREADY.

    The parents of two daughters, Hazel and Violet have basically defied gravity by placing their marriage before Hollywood and fame. How, you ask? The couple literally doesn’t talk about their celebrity status. We thought we loved Jim and Pam, but honestly, John and Emily seem to be the perfect pair.

    Dax Shepard and Kristen Bell

    Dax Shepard and Kristen Bell have been serving up #MarriageGoals since their 2013 wedding which cost the mega-famous couple a whopping $142. While many Hollywood couples present their marriages as easy, perfect and without complaints, Dax and Kristen are not about that life.

    When they’re not blessing the rains down in Africa, they are dropping truth bombs about their marriage, conflict resolution and what keeps their sweet chemistry alive. And if you haven’t already, you should listen to Dax’s interview with her on his podcast Armchair Expert.

    Victoria and David Beckham

    Before William + Kate or Harry + Meghan, Britain gave us Posh + Becks! Fortunately for the stylish Spice Girl, her shoe selection did not stop him from falling hard when they first met more than 20 year ago. Though they’d both already found fame, it turns out that they grew up just 15 minutes away from one another (destiny). She has become a pop star turned fashion icon and he has become a household name in football (erm, soccer), but these two have managed to stay strong–and both have totally mastered that steely model look.

    Neil Patrick Harris and David Burtka

    If you have never seen their elaborate family Halloween costumes, we’ll give you a second to google. Great. Now that you’re back, you’ve seen for yourself how much fun this couple likes to have!  

    These two have been together since 2004 and once gay marriage was legalized, they revealed that they had, in fact, been engaged for five years and were waiting for the announcement to make it publicly official. BRB; gotta go die of cuteness overload.

    Now, the fun-loving parents of 7-year-old-twins, Harper Grace and Gideon Scott, are committed to being the cool dads, but something tells us they won’t have to try too hard.

    Blake Lively and Ryan Reynolds

    You didn’t think we’d miss the King and Queen of Trolling, did you?! These two have developed quite the reputation for poking fun at each other on social media and, honestly, we can’t get enough. When a publication recently said the two were headed for a split, Ryan tweeted, “I wish. I could really use some ‘me time.’” We already knew Van Wilder was funny, but Blake’s got jokes too. She replied to a recent quip with, “Ever since Ashley Madison closed I’ve been so lonely.” Savage.

     

     

     

     

     

     

    Will and Jada Pinkett Smith

    Will and Jada Pinkett Smith have been serving up wit for nearly a year until Jada finally agreed to date. Pause while we all swoon over the days when dudes actually had patience.

    Twenty years in, the couple is still known for their hustle, but seem to have that work/life balance grind all figured out. Who else thinks there should be an Academy Award for that? The pair have also produced two of young hollywood’s elite, Willow (who whips her hair back and forth) and Jaden (aka Karate Kid). And while Will may have learned that sometimes parents just do understand, when it comes to marriage Will and Jada have a reputation of being… progressive. In a 2005 interview, Will alluded to their open marriage, sharing that married couples have to find “what works for you.” This is a judgement-free zone. We say you do you, boo.

    Goldie Hawn and Kurt Russell

    OK, OK. We know they’re not married, but this OG couple exemplifies what strong unions are about. They’ve been together 35+ years and in Hollywood, that’s no small feat. We love that Goldie’s kids know Kurt as “Dad” even though he’s not their biological father. Also, if you follow Kate Hudson on Instagram, you’ve seen some of their seriously cute family moments, including a choreographed Dance Wars challenge.

    Did we leave your favorite celeb couple out? Tell us about it in the comments below!

     

  • What our Favorite TV Couples Have Taught Us about Marriage

    What our Favorite TV Couples Have Taught Us about Marriage

    You know that feeling when you’re Netflix & chilling and suddenly you realize that one of your favorite small screen couples is totally you and your spouse? You’re definitely not alone. It’s basically a sitcom’s job to give us relatable martial role models living out real-life scenarios mixed with a perfect portion of comedy, drama, and sometimes all-too-real sorrow (we’re looking at you, This is Us).

    So move over, Gary Chapman; while we’ll we respect your love languages, these TV couples have taught us basically everything we need to know about how to navigate marriage.

    Red and Kitty Forman: Snark can be a love language.

    There’s no question that Red and Kitty are a decidedly devoted duo, but we’re not here to talk about the warm and fuzzies. The best thing about this couple’s marriage is their shared love for sarcasm and snark. While the wit and banter is often aimed at their grown children, they also use it to keep each other in check. We all aim to be in relationships where finishing each other’s sentences and Red and Kitty can surely do that:

    Chandler and Monica Bing: Know when to grow up & when to stay silly.

    Just because you’re married doesn’t mean you have to forget all your silly shenanigans. We love Monica and Chandler because they’re both quirky individuals who love to have fun (even self-proclaimed control freak Monica has “The Routine”). There’s a time to grow up (like when Chandler is afraid of commitment) and there’s a time to be silly (like when it comes to cheering up your spouse by putting a turkey on your head). The best marriages find themselves with the perfect balance of silly and steadfast. We think Monica and Chandler nail it.

    Derek Shepherd & Meredith Grey: Sometimes, you don’t need all the wedding hoopla.

    Some people (not this writer) were upset when Derek and Meredith wrote their vows on a post-it note in the elevator of the hospital for their wedding. However, we love how non-traditional it was. It’s primetime television on a medical drama where the two main characters are finally getting together. They could’ve scripted the big wedding, but this moment was sweet and stayed true to the characters’ values. Sometimes, all the wedding hoopla just isn’t right for the couple and that’s okay!

    Cam and Mitchell Pritchett: Embrace your partner’s weirdness.

    Let’s get this out of the way first: if Cam and Mitchell aren’t your favorite couple on Modern Family, you’re wrong. They are an “opposites attract” match in the funniest way. Take, for example, Cam’s beloved clown act, Fizbo. Even though Mitchell gets a little embarrassed when Fizbo appears, he always ends up embracing his partner’s weirdness and accepts their personality differences, knowing that it makes them stronger as a couple. Each episode, these two teach us that if you can accept and celebrate your partner at their weirdest, you’re definitely in it for the long haul.

    Peggy Olson and Stan Rizzo: Challenge each other. Be friends first.

    Mad Men was rife with terrible relationships (especially if the man in that relationship was named Don), but there was one glimmer of hope in the series: Peggy and Stan. Everyone knew that they belonged together long before they realized it. Why? Because they were enemy colleagues, then supportive friends, then best friends who fought with–and for–each other. They’re not afraid to call each other out and not afraid to hurt each other’s feelings if it makes the other better. While we’re not suggesting your relationship won’t work unless you endured years of verbal sparring at a shared office, we love when marriages grow from friendships. Like Peggy and Stan, some couples realize they’ve grown up to be exactly who the other needs. Cue the awwwws.