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50 Signs That Scream That A Marriage Is Destined To Fail, According To Older People

50 Signs That Scream That A Marriage Is Destined To Fail, According To Older People

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Those who have been in a relationship know that love isn’t simple or easy. In the beginning, it might seem like you found your perfect match, but when the butterflies settle and reality kicks in, differences and disagreements arise that may make you wonder if you’re right for each other. Then, the couple's survival depends on whether they’re able to work through such challenges or become so consumed by them that the only thing left is to part ways. 
Sometimes the outcome becomes more obvious to others who can’t help but observe the relationship from the outside. Like to these older redditors, who recently shared the telltale signs that marriage isn’t going to last. Scroll down to find their most popular answers, and don’t shy away from sharing some of your own in the comments below!
While you're at it, don't forget to check out a conversation with the person who started this discussion in the first place, licensed therapist and founder of Moving Beyond You, Samantha Saunders, and celebrant, mental health advocate, and relationship expert Julie Muir, who kindly agreed to share their expert insights on the matter.

#1

50 Signs That Scream That A Marriage Is Destined To Fail, According To Older People
When the groom toasted the bride at the reception and said he initially didn't like her because she "never shut up," but she was "learning to put a sock in it now," then turned and "jokingly" pretended to backhand her. To the guests' credit, nobody laughed; instead there was awkward silence.

They divorced eight weeks later.
78points

#2

50 Signs That Scream That A Marriage Is Destined To Fail, According To Older People
My son and daughter in law started taking separate vacations. The divorce was about 2 years later.


For the record, I kept the daughter in law, she's a sweetheart.
73points

#3

50 Signs That Scream That A Marriage Is Destined To Fail, According To Older People
Several people from my social circle are in our forties and fifties. The bigger the wedding, the messier the divorce.
65points

The redditor who sparked this discussion online is a single Brazilian guy who turned 30 this year. His relationship status often allows him to observe misalignments or even straight-up disrespect in other couples.

But since he didn't want to prematurely judge other people's relationships, he chose to ask more about it and directed his question to older people. "They must have seen their share of marriages working and not working and would know better than myself," he said, explaining his motivation for starting such a discussion.

#4

50 Signs That Scream That A Marriage Is Destined To Fail, According To Older People
Smashing cake into each other's face at the wedding.
63points

#5

50 Signs That Scream That A Marriage Is Destined To Fail, According To Older People
Different views on money. If one is a saver and the other is a spender, the marriage is doomed.
58points

#6

50 Signs That Scream That A Marriage Is Destined To Fail, According To Older People
As soon as someone starts talking trash about someone behind their back, I figure that the expiration date on that relationship, no matter the nature of it, has expired. It's like an announcement.
55points

"It was interesting to see a lot of what they mentioned were things I've already caught glimpses of, such as treating each other with contempt and making bad comments about their spouses. Excessive professing of their love on social media also had already come to mind," he shared.

"And of course, with the advantage of their experience, they shared stuff that I don't yet have the time to have witnessed, like bigger weddings resulting in messier divorces and vow renewals as a sign things are ending near. But regardless, the bottom line is that a lot of what was said were things that are easy to spot when you're not from the perspective of someone inside the relationship," he additionally noted.

#7

50 Signs That Scream That A Marriage Is Destined To Fail, According To Older People
My wife and I would invite other couples to go canoeing with us. We had a 100% accuracy in predicting marital success based on the level of cooperation and recrimination during the outing.
55points

#8

50 Signs That Scream That A Marriage Is Destined To Fail, According To Older People
Sister and ex-brother in law. They fought all the time before they married, got in a fight AT their wedding reception and shut it down, then lasted a few years before he cheated and they divorced. If your dating years are tumultuous, it will NOT get any better.
51points

#9

50 Signs That Scream That A Marriage Is Destined To Fail, According To Older People
They make rude comments about each other in front of guests, which is very awkward to be around. They'll speak nastily (is that a work?) about the other partner all the time to friends/ family/ coworkers. They'll have emotional affairs on their partner & claim "Oh, he/she/they are just a friend."
46points

When asked if he believes that relationships should always be worth putting in more effort, he wasn't sure about it.

"I honestly wouldn't have an answer for that. What I can say is that it seems like being blind to red flags and trying to make it work even when feeling miserable seems not to be exclusive to any generation. Love being blind is, I guess, a universal and timeless chunk of the human experience," he concluded.

#10

50 Signs That Scream That A Marriage Is Destined To Fail, According To Older People
Yes, I went to their wedding, and I was sure he was gay.

Yep...
42points

#11

50 Signs That Scream That A Marriage Is Destined To Fail, According To Older People
Yes. My brother married an only child that is very close to her parents. Her parents were at their house all the time. He didn’t just marry the girl, he married the girl and her parents. As a couple, and later with kids, they never had the chance to form and grow as their own family unit because the controlling grandparents were always involved. The marriage lasted 25 years and failed as soon as the kids were grown. I knew it would fail about two years after they got married. The marriage was too crowded.
41points

#12

50 Signs That Scream That A Marriage Is Destined To Fail, According To Older People
I know this guy who always talked down to his wife. It was really uncomfortable to be around them because he treated her like she was a child. She only stayed with him about a year.
38points

Whereas, licensed therapist and founder of Moving Beyond You, Samantha Saunders, and celebrant, mental health advocate, and relationship expert, Julie Muir, believe that not all relationships are worth saving.

"While effort is essential in healthy relationships, there are situations where it’s better to walk away—especially when the relationship becomes toxic, abusive, or consistently drains your mental health," Saunders says.

#13

50 Signs That Scream That A Marriage Is Destined To Fail, According To Older People
My daughter and her ex. He's part of the Mormon cult, and she converted. She's uber liberal, I mean Harris was too conservative for her. Plus she a strong LGBTQ ally. I was surprised they lasted 7 years.
37points

#14

50 Signs That Scream That A Marriage Is Destined To Fail, According To Older People
The ones who constantly post on social media about how wonderful each other are, ‘love you to the moon and back’’ No, I love you more,’ etc. is always a red flag to me. Every single couple we know who posted like this suddenly split up. It was like 'everything's perfect' one day, and one of them has moved out the next day.
34points

#15

50 Signs That Scream That A Marriage Is Destined To Fail, According To Older People
A lack of respect between the parties. I usually see this in the way they treat each other in conversation. Especially corrosive are digs at each other, sarcastic or straightforward, in front of others. A lack of affection and smiles.

Of course if one person expresses either fear of a spouse or of an affair, that means rocky shores straight ahead.
33points

"If there’s any kind of abuse—physical, emotional, or psychological—that’s a clear “time to go.” No question," agrees Muir.

"Repeated betrayal is another dealbreaker. If trust has been shattered and there’s no genuine effort to rebuild it, you’re trying to build a house on quicksand."

Contempt and disrespect are also some of the biggest signs that a relationship isn't going to last, she says. "Eye-rolling, sarcasm, belittling, or outright dismissive behavior—those are all signs the relationship’s foundation is crumbling. It’s like poison for any partnership and can be incredibly tough to recover from."

Lack of emotional intimacy is another huge one. "If a couple stops sharing their feelings, skips the “How was your day?” conversations, or loses interest in each other’s lives, it’s a red flag. Emotional disconnection is like a slow leak in a tire—it might not seem urgent at first, but it’ll leave you stranded if ignored."

#16

50 Signs That Scream That A Marriage Is Destined To Fail, According To Older People
When the couple start treating each other with contempt, sooner or later, the marriage is done.
33points

#17

50 Signs That Scream That A Marriage Is Destined To Fail, According To Older People
Right after the wedding she moved in and he would not give her the password for the thermostat.
33points

#18

50 Signs That Scream That A Marriage Is Destined To Fail, According To Older People
The guy is in the military, the wife raises their son mostly alone! The man continues to re-enlist, even though he promises her he won’t. Poor woman left her hometown, friends, family, to live down South so they could be a family. Guy is still not home much, woman is now unhappy, lonelier than ever! Then finds out man is looking at Only fans, dating apps, and cheating on her. Thankfully she has moved back here, and filed for divorce , she and her son are back with family and friends! This is a friend of one of my kids.
31points

#19

50 Signs That Scream That A Marriage Is Destined To Fail, According To Older People
Lack of trust is the biggest red flag of all. Next runner up is bitterness.
30points

Additional relationship warning signs that Saunders mentions include a lack of communication, repeated contempt or criticism, and a breakdown of trust. "When both partners feel disconnected or like they’re no longer a team, it’s often a red flag. A persistent lack of effort to resolve conflicts or an unwillingness to meet each other’s emotional needs can also signal deeper problems," she says.

#20

50 Signs That Scream That A Marriage Is Destined To Fail, According To Older People
When one person takes up some sort of endurance athletic sport I start to get worried. I know multiple couples where one partner took up long distance running or biking or triathlons and divorce followed not terribly long after. I'm guessing that the endurance athletics is a way of escaping things at home rather than the cause of marital strife (although meeting fun new people who are excited about the same cool new thing you're excited about probably doesn't help any). But if I see this in a couple I know and am relatively close to I'll come right out and ask them how their marriage is doing. It can be an awkward question. But I'd rather ask and let them know I'm happy to help out with the kids, encourage them to seek counseling, etc. than not help them try to save their relationship.
30points
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