What do you need to make a Marriage last?
-Don't marry too young.
-Marry someone like-minded and/or of the same faith tradition.
-Have well trained, pleasant children with few or no difficulties growing up.

By now you have detected a tongue-in-cheek element here, BECAUSE:
Today we spent the whole day with my husband's brother, two sisters and their spouses.
My husband was the oldest when married at age 21. The rest of us had married between 16 and 18 years of age.

One of the marriages was between widely divergent religious faiths, and I think you could safely assert that all are strong personalities and not exactly similar in taste, expression, style and other qualities.

We have a variety of bright, attractive and talented children, but "trouble free growing up"?? Not exactly.
Yet these four marriages have all lasted a good, long time, 3 over 50 years each. And this because tenacity, faithfulness, taking the vows seriously and large portions of the grace of God have seen us through financial ups and downs, health problems, serious disagreements and dirty socks on the floor.

These siblings were raised in a rural faith community, in a home where bad words and gossip were simply not heard, not spoken. Where hay was left in the rain rather than bring it in on a Sunday; where "The New Testament is our creed and the beatitudes our rule of life." In this home there was always music; everyone sang, except the Mom and she Appreciated and Encouraged. We, the spouses, come from a wide variety of backgrounds, and I think it's safe to say that the deep faith and serenity of these folks we married has been an anchor for each of us. And when those serene, lovely people threatened to be just a tad TOO serene, we in-laws added some spice to the sopa.
All in all, good combinations, but "What makes a Marriage Last"? I don't know. But it was a joy to spend the day together.