The "Marriage is Stupid" Pal
Then: You'd make fun of your I-need-to-get-engaged-pronto friends together and couldn't wait to call each other after trying on horrendous bridesmaid dresses to rate their tackiness on a scale you created over two pints of Ben & Jerry's one night. You even laughed before your former sorority sister's wedding as you bet on how long the marriage would last before going on a rant about how the practice of "I do" is outdated and dumb.
Now: You stopped laughing the second the guy of your dreams got down on one knee and opened that magical velvet box. Suddenly, you were wondering exactly what "rating" she gave your dresses. Now that you're hitched, spare her the "You'll change your mind too when you meet Mr. Right" speech and steer the convos away from how you're decorating your guest room. Instead, keep the focus on your similar interests, and don't forget to ask for updates about her life.
The Friendly Ex
Then: You dated in college -- but things didn't work out, and you both moved on with your lives to the point where you could look at her photo and feel nothing. But hey, she likes college hoops as much as you do, so you'd get together at a sports bar once a week to watch your alma mater hit the court. You'd fill each other in on the details of your lives -- work, dating, friends -- during commercial breaks, but most of the time you were talking three-pointers and bad calls.
Now: Sure, it's still kosher to catch a game every now and then, but -- and this is a big but -- your current honey (plus your ex-girlfriend's significant other, if she has one) should always be invited. No exceptions. Even if she'd rather have a root canal than watch two hours of basketball, be sure she knows she's now just welcome but wanted. And if, at any point, your ex starts getting nostalgic about your dating days, this game is over -- and it's time to cut ties.
The Sister-in-Law
Then: You've tried to make nice with you husband's sister, but all you got in return were eye rolls, sighs and references to his ex (who, as she mentioned at your shower, she considered his "soul mate"). To add insult to bitchery (yup, we're making that a word), she barely smiled in your wedding photos. So you always dealt with her by not dealing with her. (Read: You ignored her.)
Now: You know that saying, "When you marry the man, you marry his family?" Well, it's true. Like it or not, your sister-in-law is in your life...for good. Show her that having a sister can be fun (or at least not torture) by inviting her out for a girls' afternoon of lunch, pedicures and juicy gossip. Just, you know, don't dish much on your sex life, since the "he" in your bed is her brother...and that's just plain gross.
The Former Wingman
Then: When it came to picking up women, you were the Shaq to his LeBron, the Archie to his Jughead, the Harold to his Kumar. In other words, you were a great team, and the chicks, well, they'd eat up everything you said -- from you stories of hiking the Inca trail to your tales of getting lost in Amsterdam (wonder how that happened).
Now: Turns out, one of those "chicks" ended up being the woman you can't live without. Now, when your buddy calls you to hit the bars on Saturday night, you turn him down to stay home and watch The Proposal with your girlfriend. Even though you've hung up your wings, you don't have to stop helping out your buddy. In fact, we bet your girl has some single friends who'd love to meet him. So throw a dinner party and introduce him to the most eligible bachelorettes.
Read more related articles from The Nest:
5 Friends Who Sabotage Your Relationship
How to Make Sense of Your Friend of The Opposite Sex
Learn How to Make Couple Friends Now
-- Caitlin Moscatello
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