Top 10 Things that Everyone Must Know Before Getting Married
Marriage Advice – 10 Things You Should Know Before Tying the Knot
Spending the rest of your life with someone else is no easy decision to make! That’s why it’s important to take the time to really get to know your spouse and make sure you are on the same page about what kind of couple you want to be.
You should never rush an engagement or a marriage. It’s the time you spend dating that helps you develop a marital friendship, learn how you get along under pressure, and where you stand on the tricky issues in life.
Getting married is one of the most important decisions you can ever make. Before tying the knot, you should know your partner inside and out. That’s why we’re telling you the top 10 things that everyone should know before getting married.
- How Finances Will Be Handled
Studies show that out of 748 instances of conflict between 100 married couples, money was the most repetitive and salient to partners than other topics.
Therefore, it’s important to learn how to communicate about money matters before you get married. This will save you both a lot of grief in the future.
Discuss your savings and debts, as well as how finances will be shared during the marriage.
- Annoying Habits
Does your spouse forget to lock the front door? Are they messy while you’re a complete neat-freak? Does your spouse hum songs constantly or are they glued to their cellphone? Studies show that 1 in 10 couples admit to checking their phones during sex. Not exactly a picture of romance!
Here’s some marriage advice 101: If these annoying habits bug you while you’re dating, they will irritate you tenfold once you’re married. Learning about any eye-roll-worthy habits can help you make a better decision about who you want to spend the rest of your life with.
- If You Can Trust Each Other
Trust is essential for a healthy, thriving relationship. Partners must be able to know that their spouse is trustworthy and loyal before getting married.
- Does your spouse tell your secrets or guard them with their life?
- Is your relationship based on loyalty and monogamy or does your partner sneak around or hide things from you?
- Is your spouse responsible or do you feel wary trusting them to handle financial matters?
These are important questions to ask yourself before getting married.
- How You Deal Under Pressure
Dating is all about getting to know your spouse and see how well you get along together. It’s also about giving the relationship time to mature and discover how you both react when unforeseen circumstances befall you.
A study about what qualities contribute to a lasting marriage revealed that adaptability is essential in a healthy relationship. Couples must be able to roll with the punches and adapt to new situations and circumstances.
- Career Goals
How much do you really know about your spouse’s work? For example, where do they see themselves in five years, career-wise? Do they currently have a stable job? Are they planning on changing career moves or relocating for work at any point?
Does their work involve travel that would keep you apart for extended periods of time?
Here’s a solid piece of marriage advice: If you are planning on getting married, the answers to these questions will have a direct effect on how you live your life as a married couple.
- Sexual Chemistry
Research indicates that marital satisfaction was significantly associated with sexual satisfaction. This is large because of the emotional connection a couple develops during intimate moments. One piece of marriage advice you should follow is to learn about your partner sexually before walking down the aisle.
If you and your spouse have not yet had sex or are waiting for marriage, you can still practice healthy sexual communication by discussing what you’re interested in and what your expectations are.
- What Role Family Will Play
Being close to each other’s family is great for couples who are planning on getting married, but there are definitely questions you should ask before you pop the question.
Should your family be informed of important decisions? What happens if you don’t get along with one of your partner’s relatives? Will family members be given a key to your home or be able to walk in freedom?
Discuss these things with your partner when things start to get serious between the two of you.
- Communication is Important
Your ability to communicate plays a key role in how successful your marriage is going to be. In a study of 886 divorcing couples, 53% cited not being able to communicate with one another as a major cause of them growing apart. This statistic shows just how important it is for couples to learn the art of healthy communication.
- Their Past
It isn’t always pleasant to talk about past relationships with someone you’re in love with. It can stir up jealousy and feelings of insecurity, but it’s important to get to know your partner’s history before you settle down with them.
For example, has your partner ever cheated on a spouse? What if they have cheated in all of their past relationships – would this make you feel confident going into marriage? Likely not.
Filling in the blanks to your partner’s past relationships can help you make a more informed decision about whether you want to marry them.
- Where You Stand on Kids
You may not be planning on having kids anytime soon, but it’s still a good idea to get to know how your partner feels about becoming parents one day. Just because you don’t want them now doesn’t mean you’ll never want them.
One important piece of marriage advice is that if you want children and your spouse does not, do not go into the marriage hoping they will change their mind. This will only lead to resentment and heartbreak.
Love is bliss, especially when you know you’ve found the right person to spend the rest of your life with. Start your marriage off right by getting to know your partner, learning how to communicate together, setting goals, and getting on the same page about your future. Doing these things before tying the knot will set you off for a happy, healthy marriage.
Author Bio: The author is a relationship expert with years of experience in training and helping couples. Her mission is to provide inspiration, support, and empowerment to everyone on their journey to a great marriage. She is a featured writer for Marriage.com that supports healthy happy marriages.