Well hasn’t this year flown by?! An entire year of being Mrs Albon and married to the love of my life. A year ago today that I experienced the best, most magical day of my life that whizzed by, is in part a blur (apologies if I forgot you were there and I don’t remember lol) but a day full of love.
Now, when people ask me how married life has been I always give the same honest answer “Ahh, it’s no different to living in sin!” which guarantees me a chuckle or a further question of “so it’s just a piece of paper then?”
But a simple piece of paper it is not. When I say life is no different to living in sin (an obvious jibe at the whole religious beliefs at couples needing to be married before living together or god forbid having SEX! But of course I was a virgin bride on my wedding night 😉) I mean that my life with Aaron hasn’t changed. I continue to love that man more and more each day as I did before we were wed, but I’m happy and content in knowing that we’ve made a solid vow that ties us together for life.
I took his name because marriage for me meant a new beginning and a new beginning meant a new name for me. I loved being a Banner and don’t dislike the name (I do think Gabrielle Banner does sound pretty good) but I had a pretty shit time as Gabrielle Banner, so Gabrielle Albon was a new start, not just for me, but both and my husband and I. And no that doesn’t mean we had a shit storm of a relationship – there’s no way on this planet we could have lasted 12 years if that was the case.
But I’ll get back to the original premise of the post. Marriage is a commitment to the person you love, for us it was a long time coming (we were together for 9 years before Aaron popped the question while we were on holiday in Thailand) and something I’d always wanted in life. Solidarity, a united front and a showing of love for one another – I mean, he probably doesn’t think of it that way cos he’s a bloke and this isn’t a bloody romance novel, I think that’s definitely something we all need to remember.
More often than not, we’re led to believe that love is a great conquest and it may take a long time to find, that you should be completely and utterly enamoured with one another at all times, that days without each other feel like a lifetime and making sure you have sex at every chance (that’s deffo not on Disney) is a way of validating your relationship (thanks Sex and the City).
But the reality is far from these things and I wish that people would remember that – I’m besotted with Aaron, but I don’t need to jump his bones every day (we’re both knackered from work most of the time), I don’t go out of my mind when he trots off to the lake for some fishing and don’t feel abandoned – we have a marriage full of love and jokes, because having a laugh will never fail to keep you close.
In summary, don’t believe that love is all the mushy shit you see on telly and in the films, just make sure you find someone that will always make you laugh and feel happy – that’s priceless.
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Wow a year already! Happy Anniversary! You are so right about laughter, it’s very important! Yesterday was my 14th anniversary and while life isn’t always easy and you truly have to work at your marriage, laughter is the best medicine!!💜😂
Ahh thank you lovely and happy anniversary to you too! â¤ï¸
This is one of my favourite posts of yours, I love how realistic this is. I think people expect so much from relationships based on movies they’ve watched or comparing their own relationship to other peoples’. I’ve definitely been like that in the past but I just felt unfulfilled, I’m so glad that I’m now with someone who I’m completely comfortable with and who makes me laugh everyday. You and Aaron have such a beautiful relationship, I think it’s so important to be able to do your own thing and not feeling like you have to constantly be physically together. Happy Anniversary – although a little belated!
Alice xx
Ahh thank you lovely, it’s so true though! When I was a lot younger at the beginning I would be pretty nuts over stupid things because I thought I had to have a fairy tale, when in reality I’ve got my own version! â¤ï¸â¤ï¸
Relationships are THE biggest learning curve, especially when you’re young. It’s so often that so much changes in such a short space of time and I think you really do have to understand that you both need to allow the other to grow, make mistakes and hopefully flourish as an individual to really thrive as a couple in the long run. I adore Jake from his head to his toes but sometimes I REALLY just need some time to myself as that’s just the way I am! I can’t imagine being in a relationship where I can’t be an absolute idiot around them or be laughing all the time. It’s so lovely to see you so happy Gaby, I hope it continues for both of you and there are many more anniversaries to come!!
Alice Xx