After marriage the honeymoon period dies soon

Published on Wed, Oct 29, 2008 at 16:20, Updated on Wed, Oct 29, 2008 at 16:29 in Lifestyle section

Post marriage the period of honeymoon ends within a few years, and marriage turns out to be a pale and uninteresting affair.

Researchers have found that the honeymoon period is officially over two years, six months and 25 days only after a couple ties the knot -- in fact, this is the point where both partners take each other, and their relationship, for granted.

And, by the third marriage anniversary, most couples don't even bother to continue celebrating the date they tied the knot, it found.

The researchers have based their findings on a poll of 5,000 couples who had been married for over a decade. It revealed that more than half of the couples felt undervalued two years into wedlock.

Seven in 10 men admitted they're so comfortable with their spouse they often scattered socks and pants around the house and left the toilet seat up, the British media reported.

On the other hand, two thirds of the women polled said they no longer made the effort to dress up and look nice for their husbands, while 54 per cent no longer bothered wearing make-up.
During the first few months of marriage, 83 per cent of couples often held hands while out, compared with just 38 per cent after a decade.

Partners would cuddle more than eight times a day before the first wedding anniversary -- compared with five or fewer after 10 years. And 60 per cent of those surveyed said they hadn't been surprised with a romantic night out since getting hitched.

The infamous battle for control of the TV was another sticking point, with 75 per cent of men and women saying they wouldn't relinquish the remote control to their other half, even if they asked nicely.

"It would appear that many are stuck in a rut, and whilst they still love their other half they're a little too comfortable in each other's company. Couples need to find a good balance between feeling comfortable and taking each other for granted.

"The odd romantic meal would probably be all many couples need to spice things up a bit -- and small gestures such as tidying up, and helping out with the housework would go a long way," John Sewell, a spokesman for research firm 'www.onepoll.com', was quoted as saying.