5 Important Topics to Discuss prior to Marriage

Marriage is one of the most exciting and challenging adventures you will ever experience. And amidst all the excitement of wedding planning and being with the person you love, it’s easy to overlook some important conversations that need to happen before saying “I do.” 

 From financial matters to thoughts on paternity leave for men to strategies for resolving inevitable disputes and everything in between, here are some of the top things you and your partner should discuss before marriage:

Finances

One of the biggest topics you and your significant other will want to discuss before marriage is money. With financial issues being one of the leading causes of divorce, it is super important that the two of you deep dive into what your financials are really like, your individual spending habits, and how you wish to proceed in joining your financial accounts. It’s also a good idea to align on the specifics, like long-term financial goals and creating budgets. 

Your personal goals

 If you’re thinking about sharing your life with someone, that comes with sharing in their joy, happiness, and dreams. And as such, it’s important to make sure that both of your goals are compatible, even if they may not be the same.  

For example, if one of your partner’s goals is to work in a foreign country for some time, you’d want to see if that’s compatible with the lifestyle you imagine for yourself. Maybe one of your goals is to buy a house in the countryside and your significant other is dead set on living in a big city. Whatever they may be, discuss what’s important to the two of you as individuals and see if these goals are something you can accomplish together. 

Raising children

The topic of children is a big one for couples wanting to wed. First thing’s first: Do you both want children or not? If you decide that the two of you do want children, how many do you want? How would you like to parent your future children? Would you look into paternity leave for men and would either of you want to become a stay-at-home parent? 

While the details of how you want to parent don’t need to be hashed out right this very second, it’s important to ensure that you at least agree on the basics. 

Future residential plans

Another important conversation you may wish to have with your partner is where you see yourselves living down the road. This may be especially important if you and your person are from two different places. Maybe they see themselves eventually moving back to their hometown. Or maybe you want to spend three months out of the year in a warmer weather location. 

You don’t have to make plans for the far future now, but if there is something important to either one of you regarding your living situation, it’s always best to get it out in the open beforehand. 

Conflict resolution

 And finally, if there’s anything we know for sure about marriage, it’s that arguments will come up, as with any healthy relationship. The trick is to know how to communicate with each other and to understand how each of you deals with conflict. By having these discussions early on, you’ll be better equipped to establish a foundation for healthy conflict resolution. 

There you have it!

Once you’ve addressed important topics like these, you can enjoy your big day knowing that you’ve had honest conversations to establish the foundation for a happy, healthy marriage. And speaking of your big day, when the moment comes, remember to check out these tips so that you can feel calm and radiant on your special day. 

Blog by: Elena Martynova