Now that your big day is over, happy ever after can begin...that is, after you write your thank-you notes, merge your money, and maybe even change your name. Exhausted already? Well there's still registry returns, changing your (income tax) filing status to married, and choosing wedding photos to do.

Valentine's Day is fast-approaching and love is in the air. Here, real women dish on what happens when the honeymoon stage is over -- and why they’re even more head over heels now.

Most relationships that turn into marriage start something like this: You meet, you date, butterflies ensue, and the next thing you know, you’re gazing at a velvet box looking at a shiny diamond. Of course, there’s a lot in between all that (at least we hope so!), but after the ring, it’s hard not to wonder, What comes next?. Turns out, love after “I do� is even better than all those dating firsts (you know, first kiss, first “I love you,� first...well, you get it). Here’s what TheNest.com readers had to say about why they love their spouses even more now that they’re hitched.

“There are two things I love my spouse more for now that we’re married. The first is his sense of humor. He was a little shy when we first met, but now he can have me laughing all the time! The second: Turns out, he’s an amazing cook! I totally lucked out.� --*Mrs.Pal*

“I love that he loves his mom. At first, I thought this was a classic 'mama’s boy' situation, but he just simply and truly adores her. This devotion is now a direct reflection of the way he treats me as his wife, and I treasure that!� --sozay23

“I absolutely trust my husband more than when we were first dating, but I've also seen, through my response when he had a serious health crisis, what my character is made of. His crisis brought out the best in me, and that has definitely made me appreciate our bond more.� --MarriedWriter

“I’m more in love with him now because he has stuck by me through our rough times, and I know I can count on him when I need him.� --ygmojica87

“He cleans on his days off!� --scwheal1

“The kind of love that came with marriage is far more intimate, far more intense, and far deeper than the love before I got married.� --SweetSoul089

“I love that he’s an amazing dad. He’s just so patient with our baby, a characteristic I never noticed he had while we were dating!� --amiris

Keep your relationship on the right track by avoiding these common pitfalls. We cover everything from grappling with debt to getting stuck in a sex rut!

Mistake #1: Not Dealing With Debt

Newsflash: Money is the #1 thing couples fight about. Fess up about your personal debt -- because for better or worse -- and then set up a financial game plan with our budgeter.

Mistake #2: Alienating Your Friends

Friends are key for a successful marriage, so tag along on those girls' nights out. Just because you're not guy-hunting doesn't mean you can't be a supportive wingwoman.

Mistake #3: Not Having Enough Sex

Over 60 percent of newlyweds we surveyed were already in a sex rut! Yeah, you're busy, but that's not a good enough excuse not to get busy. Initiate sex, even if you don't feel like it or have to schedule it. If you get in the habit of having it, you'll start wanting it (and liking it) more.

Mistake #4: Letting Yourself Go

So you put on the "newlywed nine." Big whoop...you've already found your mate, right? Wrong! Make a plan to get fit together or at least respect each other's goals.

Mistake #5: Outlawing the In-Laws

Fifty percent of couples we surveyed have a problematic relationship with their in-laws (ya think?). Manage expectations, like saying you'll call on Sundays so his mom doesn't guilt-trip you for ignoring her weekday messages. Even if your spouse is bitching about his family, resist the urge to chime in. It'll bite you in the butt later.

Mistake #6: Crazy Fighting

Getting hitched isn't a free pass to hit below the belt (sorry!). When you're getting really heated, walk away to cool down for a few minutes.

Mistake #7: Becoming Baby-Obsessed

It's easy to fixate on that next big step, but chill out -- the average couple has a kid within three years of marriage. So really, why rush? Savor the moments (and vacations you can take!) now...when you won't have to be waking up for a brutal 4 a.m. feeding.

Contrary to previous research, a recent study claims that having children actually boosts happiness in a marriage. To boot, the study found that life satisfaction (especially for women) goes up with each new child a couple has together. Unmarried couples need not apply: Having children was found to have little or no effect on their relationships.

What are your thoughts on this study -- do you believe that children add happiness to a marriage or that the added stress of kids can create more strain on married couples? What about that having babies has little-to-no effect on the happiness of unmarried pairs? Weigh in below.

If you caught the October 6 episode of The Hills, you were introduced to Kansas City band Vedera and got to hear them perform “A World Apart� and “Satisfy� from their newly released album, Stages. Like any other close-knit band, the bandmates of Vedera regard one another as family...sometimes literally. Lead singer Kristen May and lead guitarist Brian Little are actually married! We spoke with Kristen, who told us all about the band, plus the guidelines she and Brian live by to keep their marriage intact while living life on the road (and as bandmates!).

The Couple: Kristen May and Brian Little

Met: In high school -- Brian was friends with her old brother, but they ran in different crowds. Only upon her return from Nashville, when Kristen wanted to start a band, did her brother reintroduce them. Once Kristen and Brian started making music together, they never looked back.

Married: 3 years, dated for 6 months

Digs: A quaint, two-level home in Kansas City

Kids: Not yet

Pets: Looking for a band dog to take on the bus!

The Nest: Vedera recently performed “A World Apart� and “Satisfy� from your newly released album, Stages, on The Hills – what was that experience like?

Kristen May: Surreal! We just did our show normally and got to invite all of our friends and family along to watch. Audrina and gang were super-nice and MTV even bought us 30 pizzas after the show! We are so thankful for that exposure.

TN: What was the inspiration for Stages?

KM: It took two years to write the album and it’s really about the stages of both a band and a relationship. After the initial attraction phase of a relationship, real love comes into play and that involves compromise and understanding of who that person really is (even accepting their faults!). I also pull from experiences close to my loved ones -- for example, a time when you’re betrayed by love and how to say, “I forgive you.�

TN: Which band would you compare yourselves to most in terms of lyrics and tone?

KM: We compare ourselves to The Cranberries and The Sundays. We also love the way that Coldplay and U2 have open lyrics where “love� can apply to any relationship -- your lover, mother, or even dog! We aim for open-ended lyrics in our music so that the listener can personalize the song and the words can take on a healing power.

TN: What’s it like to be married to Brian, your band’s lead guitarist?

KM: Well, we’ve been together since the beginning of the band, so it’s natural in one way, but can also get intense since you’re working with your spouse. At first we would walk on eggshells so we wouldn’t take things too personally, like, “Hey, I’m not sure about that chorus,� or “Wanna change this?� but it’s really all about communication. Our whole band is a family in that way -- we all need to communicate!

TN: What’s the most frustrating thing about being on the road so much?

KM: Well, as the only female in the band, I like to keep things equal and drive as much as the others, but driving gets old -- sometimes you just want to chill on the bus. Also, you’re in such close quarters all the time, which can get hard, and I find that I’m always losing my jewelry bopping around from place to place. That’s probably my fault though -- I should be more careful. I’ve never been too attached to my things.

TN: How often do you get to go home?

KM: We try to stay out a month at a time, but can be on the road for a stretch of four to five months too. Our ideal scenario would be three weeks on the road and one week a home, but we do make it home for all the fun reasons to be there, like the holidays.

TN: Describe your nest -- does it reflect your artistic style?

KM: Definitely. We decorate our place to relax and be together as a couple, but also to create music. The decor is a mixture of ’70s and ’80s, and Brian and I like to buy tapestries to hang on the walls. We love to thrift hunt and also shop at Anthropologie a lot.

TN: What’s the best piece of advice you’d give newlyweds of TheNest.com?

KM: Be patient with each other, communicate, and always remember why you got married: for love. It always comes back to love.

To receive a free download of “Satisfy,� sign up here!

Who wouldn’t love it when your better half does something nice out of the blue? Maybe it’s as simple as brewing your morning coffee or maybe it’s turning off the Sunday-night football game to help you decorate the house for Halloween (I know…a stretch!). Nesties are sharing the last nice thing their DH did for them on our boards, ranging from pitching in with the grocery shopping to treating their sweetheart to a back massage. Weigh in on the conversation and brag about your man’s most recent act of devotion.