What Makes Love Last?
What does it take to remain in love and maintain a long, happy relationship? The BBC invited couples to share their stories, and over 100 responded with valuable insights into their romantic journeys.
From sustaining passion across 4,000 miles to essential "non-negotiables" such as always sharing a bed, the responses revealed common themes. Key words like honesty, communication, respect, forgiveness, friendship, and laughter appeared frequently.
The most common advice emphasized resolving arguments together and practicing kindness.
In celebration of St Valentine's Day, here are some of those love stories and lessons learned along the way.
'Hard work and commitment'
The night Mik and John first met in a German nightclub in September 1978, John was actually on a blind date with someone else.
"I clocked John at the bar, and I thought, yes, I'm going to go out with this guy,"Mik recalled.
Despite their initial attraction, their relationship nearly did not develop due to John's Army posting to Ireland while Mik remained an RAF nurse in Germany.
"Probably a year or so into that posting I began to realise the mistake I'd made, so I wrote a letter,"said John, now 70.
Unbeknownst to him, Mik had also been relocated, but her colleagues forwarded the letter, allowing their connection to continue.
"It was to be. It was very much set in the stars,"Mik, 69, said as the couple celebrate 45 years of marriage.
"What makes success? You need a lot of love. You need a lot of hard work and commitment. But you also need a bit of luck,"John added.
'Sort arguments out straight away'
Mair and Alan Hicks from Swansea are marking 65 years of marriage after meeting at the same badminton club in the 1950s.
"If you have an argument, sort it out straight away,"said Alan, 88.
"We've had differences, naturally and, if any couple says they haven't, I'd never believe them."
The couple described sharing a wonderful life despite challenging times, including dancing to rock and roll, travelling, and raising two daughters.
"As long as you're together, you get by, don't you?"Mair added.
'A hug never goes amiss'
Cris and Dave met online 25 years ago, before civil partnerships and same-sex marriages were legal in the UK.
"We had a period of time where our property was getting vandalised,"Dave, 54, recalled.
"We were in a small valleys town where attitudes were what attitudes were."
Dave explained that during difficult times, Cris provides space for him to express frustrations.
"There's empathy there for a start, and there's also then bringing people back to reality,"Cris, 59, said.
"A hug never goes amiss either. A decent cwtch once in a while helps a treat."
This year, the couple from south Wales will celebrate 20 years since entering their civil partnership.
Cris recalled Dave's proposal:
"He looked up and said: 'I don't want anyone else to have you' and I thought 'ah, sold'."
'A good sense of humour'
Gary and Joy Walters from Caerphilly have been married for 54 years and credit humour for helping them through difficult times.
"Don't get me wrong, we haven't been laughing every day,"Joy, 72, said.
The couple met at a toy factory in Cwmbran in the 1970s, married, and had two daughters.
"I believe you must not let arguments brew,"Joy said, adding that they always end the day with a kiss.
"And a good sense of humour can work wonders."
'Prioritise each other always'
Sahir and Dennis met over 20 years ago at a faith event in Cardiff, both having experienced loss and divorce.
"It's been a journey and it hasn't always been an easy journey,"Sahir, 49, who recently faced health challenges, said.
"We've always stuck it out and now I would say we're the strongest we've ever been."
Despite Dennis converting to Islam before meeting Sahir, they were initially shunned by some who doubted their marriage's viability.
Sahir explained that over time they gained acceptance and will celebrate 20 years of marriage this year.
"I think you have to prioritise each other,"he said.
The couple emphasized working through problems and supporting each other during difficult times.
"You're always going to love them, but you're not always going to like them,"Sahir noted.
'Love is a decision'
Carolyn was walking to meet Carl over 30 years ago when a construction worker dropped a hammer on her head from a five-story building, causing significant injury and a trip to A&E.
"Most people would normally have a romantic start to their relationship,"Carl, 59, said.
"You having a hammer dropped on your head consolidated the idea to me, actually, I do really love this person. So, yeah, it took a hammer."
The couple, who live in Blackwood and have three children, will celebrate 30 years of marriage this year.
"Love isn't just a nice feeling, it's a decision a lot of the time,"Carl added.
They humorously described holding an annual "professional development review" to discuss their relationship.
"When we first got married, we decided that we were gonna have some non-negotiables in our marriage,"Carolyn, 50, said.
"We never walk out of the house on an argument. We never sleep in separate beds. We never say the D word... divorce."
'Love is choosing each other every day'
Zafar Khallyev and his wife Dilya have been together for over 16 years but currently live on different continents.
"Life has tested us with distance,"Zafar, 38, said.
While he pursues a PhD at Swansea University, Dilya remains in Uzbekistan with their two children.
He emphasized that trust and patience have sustained their relationship.
"And the quiet certainty that love is not about perfect beginnings,"he added,
"but about choosing each other every day - no matter the distance, no matter the time."
