Welcome to Gaia! ::

Trust loyalty, not telling lies, spending quality time. Dont hide things-- but dont be abrupt about them either, theres a difference between being honest and being an a** hole [ this goes for the ladies too ] do not be abusive, in marriage its good to become firends after awhile, its not always about loving you up-- but enjoying your company.

Try new things together and always express your love and affection to each other (I have been with my boyfriend since two years and I just began to understand what real love is about xd . )

I think, for a good relationship and marriage, sex before marriage is a no-no, and not because that's what the Church teaches. I think that because it kindof makes you less special for that special someone, and it's more special if you wait than if you spoil it with touches or actually doing it beforehand. And, I think that helps keep things going longer and better.

Also, if you have sex before marriage it's possible that you won't actually marry that someone and then someone else who might be a possibility may not go out with you at all or not want to get married due to so. ((worst case senerio people could just go out with you thinking you'll have sex with them too))

Another thing that helps is honesty and talking about stuff, what annoies you and what you can't stand and what you like. But you also have to listen to what your partner has to say about it and reach compromises between the two of you on what you disagree on.

And time together but not too much time for a relationship in the works. I've seen too many relationships die because someone ((usually the guy but not always)) was waaay too overprotective off the deep end ((talking over things *might* help this)) and I've seen relationships die because one person wants to spend all free time with other ((one of my closest friends broke up with her bf because he wanted her to spend all her free time with him and not give her any alone time or time to do other things)).

The most important thing is that you work as a team...no one is in controll you help eachother through life and you dont let eachother down...relationships and marriage are a strong covenant that cant be broken unless both parties decide this...things cant be one sided or it does fall apart...it takes courage, commitment, love, respect, and teamwork