Who's Your Fave Celebrity Couple Plus 5 Love Lessons to Learn From the Headlines

Everyone's got one . . . a celebrity couple crush, I mean! Whether you pine over the presidential pair of Mr. and Mrs. Obama or get fluttery over the flaming hot Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie, following the ups and downs of your celeb couple crush is always fun. Personally, my favorite celebrity couple is by far Jennifer Westfeldt and Jon Hamm-even though they're anything but tabloid fodder. Super talented, super cute together, and they've been together for 10 years. . But, whether the stars you love have less-than-ideal romance records, they're still great sources to learn from.

Protect Your Relationship from the Outside World
Thanks to reality TV, there are countless examples of couples that have opted to share a little TMI (too much information) with the public, from basic bodily functions (hello, Nick Lachey and Jessica Simpson) to the pouty he-said-she-said of every little fight.

Read more about how to stop TMI getting in the way of true love


Don't Get Blinded by Romance
In interviews, Denise Richards used to rave about how then-husband Charlie Sheen showered her with flowers, jewelry, and even Manolo Blahniks, and how she knew on her second date that he was "the one."

Meanwhile, she dismissed his troubled past - a drug overdose, a well-publicized association with a certain Hollywood madam - explaining that she didn't like to have preconceived notions about people because she didn't like it when people had them about her.

Read more about how to fall in love with your eyes wide open

Steer Clear of Other Couples That Behave Badly
In retrospect, perhaps Denise and Charlie weren't the best double-date partners for Heather Locklear and Richie Sambora.

While dinner and a movie with a couple experiencing marital difficulties doesn't necessarily mean you'll end up in a real-life version of Wife Swap, remember that conduct - both good and bad - can be contagious.

Bad news friends? Make sure they don't destroy your relationship!

Don't Jump into Marriage Too Fast
Whether we're talking about Vegas mistakes or ephemeral unions we're still trying to make sense of celebrities seem more eager than the rest of us to rush down the aisle.

On the other hand, drive-through wedding chapels wouldn't exist if plenty of regular folks weren't also running to the altar on the double.

And while some insta-marriages do work out, they can also fall apart as quickly - and dramatically - as they came together.

Why Waiting Can Work

Don't Be Afraid to Work at Keeping Your Relationship Strong
While it's tempting to think that true love means never having to wonder, Why the heck did he do that? anyone who's ever been a part of a couple surely understands that even the best partnerships require a certain amount of work.

That's why we cheer whenever a seemingly perfect pair, like Faith Hill and Tim McGraw, talk openly about how they "need to feed" their relationship to keep it going strong, day after day and year after year.

Keep the Love Burning

What about you? Any other rules to add?

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Reprinted with permission of Hearst Communications, Inc.