Six tips for long-lasting marriage we learned from Steph and Ayesha Curry
Over ten years of marriage, Steph and Ayesha Curry have shown us how to keep a relationship vibrant and healthy.
Stephen and Ayesha Curry are coming up on twelve years of marriage, and they’re still going strong. In over a decade of marriage, they have dished about different tips and tricks for keeping their marriage healthy, so we’ve compiled some of their best advice for anyone who wants to make their romance stick.
Make time for date nights
Both Steph and Ayesha Curry have been vocal about the fact that couples need to find time to prioritize one another, especially when it comes to date nights.
For example, in speaking to Access Hollywood, Ayesha Curry said of keeping marriage “spicy”: “For us, it’s just not forgetting to date each other, make the time to get dressed up and go out and do all the things.”
And Steph Curry told BET.com that “nothing else works unless you’re in lockstep,” which is why the two of them have publicly stated that they’re willing to put each other first, even above their kids. Building a solid foundation for their marriage provides the bedrock for the rest of their family dynamic.
What if you and your significant other are too busy to fit in a date night? Well, the Curry family has advice for that, too.
Between Steph’s basketball career and Ayesha’s culinary work, these two are always busy. But they make dates out of even the mundane things. For example, after spending a basketball game catching glimpses of each other but not actually spending time together, Ayesha says that, sometimes, “the drive home is the date.”
If you find yourself feeling like you keep missing your romantic partner because of a busy schedule, you can make a date out of running errands or driving to visit family. You can catch time together late at night with some popcorn and a show. But when you get a spare minute to breathe, get out there and set that tone with a romantic dinner or even an anniversary trip away from all the responsibilities that have you so busy in the first place.
Have open communication
Healthy relationships involve communication, and lots of it. Ayesha Curry has said that her rule is bringing honesty to the table.
“Just make sure the lines of communication are open. If you have something mean to say, say it. If you have something nice to say, say it. Whatever it is, say it. And don’t hold anything in,” she told The Knot.
If Ayesha and Steph Curry aren’t always on the same page, it’s safe to say you and your significant other aren’t going to agree on everything all the time either. Whether you’re deciding where to go on your date night or making bigger life decisions like where to live or whether to have kids, the only way through anything is to talk. Who knows? You might be able to talk your partner into going to the restaurant you wanted to pick, or you might decide that moving could open up new horizons.
It’s good to communicate even when you’re not disagreeing, too. Little compliments here and there can go a long way toward keeping romance alive. After all, we all like to be reminded that someone is on our side.
Don’t stew on your anger
Ever heard the advice not to go to bed angry? That’s how Steph and Ayesha Curry live their lives. Building on the communication they’ve established in their relationship, these two don’t let fights simmer for too long.
As you’re talking things out, Ayesha Curry’s best advice is to let some things go. Not everything has to become a big fight, and if you can compromise or back off, sometimes, that’s what needs to happen.
“I’m a dweller. And over the years, I’ve learned not to focus on the small things, and to look at the bigger picture,” she told the Knot, expanding on her advice about communication skills.
Sure, everyone has their pet peeves and their disagreements. Ultimately, though, if you want to make a marriage last, you both have to give and take.
Support each other’s dreams
No one watching Steph Curry play basketball and Ayesha Curry dazzle the culinary world can look at these two and not know that they’ve got each other’s backs. If you want to make your relationship last, one of the best things you can do is become your partner’s favorite cheerleader.
Before a basketball game, you can catch Steph and Ayesha tapping their matching tattoos. They’ve also gotten other matching tattoos to represent their children and their shared family goals. Their matching ink is a physical manifestation of their commitment to tackle their lives together.
That support isn’t one-sided, either. Steph makes sure that Ayesha feels his love and support in her culinary endeavors. He even tries to do grocery runs for her, though he admitted to ABC that he will “always mess somethin’ up” or “forget one of the main ingredient.” Still, he loves to hype up her accomplishments and get her whatever she needs to pursue her passion.
You and your significant other might not be into basketball like Steph Curry or become a famous culinary personality like Ayesha Curry, but you can still check in with each other to make sure you are both finding the time and the space to pursue what you want for yourself. Cheer each other on, and in no time at all, you’ll be seamless teammates like these two are.
Get caught admiring each other
It’s good to communicate with your love and let them know you think they’re beautiful or handsome, but sometimes, actions speak louder than words. And no one knows that better than Steph and Ayesha Curry, who made waves in 2021 when Steph couldn’t keep his eyes off of Ayesha at the Met Gala.
When asked about the moment by Essence, Steph Curry openly admitted to what he was doing, saying, “I’m just hanging out and admiring the merchandise, and seeing how beautiful she looks.”
Because Ayesha and Steph are constantly in the habit of seeing each other in the best light, it was easy for them to get caught on camera. And you can keep the romance alive by looking for ways to get caught up in that same glow. Those butterflies in your stomach don’t ever go away as long as you keep looking for reasons to fall in love all over again. You and your partner are getting older together, and your bodies might be changing. But if you’re looking for reasons to compliment each other, you won’t lose those sparks.
Work on yourself as well as your relationship
Relationships are give-and-takes between two individual people, which means that you can only give as much as you’ve built yourself up to give. That’s why Ayesha Curry says her mother gave her the advice to work on herself and to “make sure that you have the passion that you’re fulfilling.”
“I want my husband to always see the same woman, if not better, that he first laid his eyes on when he married,” Ayesha told “The View.”
It’s not healthy to lose yourself and your passions and dreams, even if you’re losing yourself to your relationship or family. Make sure that you are able to put yourself first sometimes, and make sure that your dreams are just as important as your significant other’s. Be equal partners, and you’ll both be able to become better people together.
Relationships require purposeful attention, but we’ve got some good examples and excellent advice to learn from. If you put in the work, maybe you’ll end up with an epic romance like what Steph and Ayesha Curry have.
