How did long-term relationships change after wedding?

Pinguino, you mentioned "I feel like people respect you and your relationship more as a wife than girlfriend" and honestly I feel the same exact way. That's part of the reason I want to get married-- so that our relationship will be more legitimate and equal to what others is, in their eyes. Like I already know our relationship and know that it is very very similar to married couples but I feel like it isn't seen that way by others. I don't want to just be his girlfriend-- I'm sorry but we're not in 9th grade. I want to be his damn wife! And I want others to know and respect our relationship at the level it is at- and I don't think that girlfriend covers it. I'm ready for that title.

@Future Mrs H - I feel the same way. I have been telling FH since we have been together that I didn't want to date to pass time, I want a husband and family someday. So if marrying me someday was not his intention, then to not waste my time. Some people may think that is harsh, but that is how felt and I still feel and I was upfront with him about it from the beginning. Around year 6/7 I started telling him that I refuse to be a girlfriend for a decade. We got engaged soon after our 8 year anniversary. My attitude was that if he loved me and respected me and our committed relationship, then he should show that to the rest of the world by honoring me with the title of wife the way that I feel I am honoring him and our relationship when he will no longer be my boyfriend, but my husband. I am glad that other long term relationship ladies feel the same.

Me and DH have been together 8yrs before our wedding, although we were civilly married in the 4th year. But after our church vows, our relationship got better, our fighting got healthier, our affection grew immensely. We now flirt with each other like lovers do. In general, we're more A unit now than ever before.

It's good to get the validation that this isn't just me and I'm just being paranoid about the status of our relationship. Yeah.. and I've never in all my life wanted to be married-- but now I do. I don't want to be "just" his girlfriend. I want to be his wife- his partner. Yeah, we are already very good at working together and are a team but I don't know.. I want the whole package. Not just half.

We've been married 3 months and and together for 10 before we married. I relationship really hasn't changed much at all. We already acted like a married couple anyway. We already had combined finances and lived together.

You'll have it. You totally feel Fairly treated. I guess

For me, there was a scary moment when I realized "Holy shit. This is permanent. I couldn't just up and leave if I wanted to." It causes a little panic. There is a difference in feeling for a little while. Almost a year later, it's pretty much back to normal

Snarky, what is the difference in feeling? Just panic/letting the permanence settle in?

I've been with my man ....it will be 8 years on August 6th. I think, silly as it sounds, to be called a wife....his wife. Just makes it feel so special, I woild have married him two weeks after our first date, just knew he was the one.

Finally, after a baby and living together we are taking the plunge in 28 days!

Not married yet but we have been together for 13 years, share finances, have 2 kids, share a mortgage. We are basically married with out to legal documents . We don't expect anything to change. We will have a huge expensive party and come back to our same life.

We have been together almost 7 years now and everyone said "You'll feel different after you're married!" But I didn't believe them. I definitely did. Mostly it has been the feelings of permanence. It was scary at first for me. Learning to accept that this is how life will be from now on.

DH has always been loving and committed, but it seems deeper now. We never fought much before, but I can't even think of a fight we've had since getting married. We are older and have both been in previous relationships with destructive people. We communicate from a loving place. We are expecting twins in the next month and he has gone above and beyond. I've been on modified bed rest, so he has taken on so many extra responsibilities. He never complains or gets bothered by all of the extra rest I need. 100% loving and supportive.