Conversations to Have with Your Significant Other Before Tying the Knot

As you approach the days leading up to your wedding, there are many decisions to be made and plans to be confirmed before you can relax and feel settled. The pressure and attention might make you want to hit the pause button to allow you to focus on your wedding plans without the distraction of daily work and life. In order to help you feel a bit more at ease as you imagine your dream wedding, it’s helpful to have open and meaningful conversations with your significant other prior to and during the planning process. Consider some of these important discussion topics that can have large impacts on your future together and focus on making decisions that support a happy, successful future together.

1. Building a Family

If you have not already discussed your interest in building your family and having children, this is a necessary conversation that should be had prior to saying “I do”. This will help you both feel connected and secure in the fact that you have similar goals for your future. It might also be worthwhile to discuss what you would plan to do should there be complications while trying to build a family. It’s never a bad idea to have a backup plan and if you’re both honest are about your hopes and dreams for the future, you’re likely to experience more smooth sailing during the years to follow.

2. Progressing Your Career

Throughout the course of your relationship, it’s likely that you and your partner have experienced changes in career, pay, or job responsibilities. It can be helpful to have a clear understanding of your partner’s career goals and desires when it comes to how it could influence your marriage and future together. For example, if a job requires you to travel, you should take some time to discuss how you will make this work in your own relationship and what options you have. Touch on the ways that you might handle communication when you’re apart for work related purposes and what compromises you each might make if you’re considering having children at some point down the road.

3. Making Your House into a Home

Deciding where to live after your wedding shouldn’t be a total surprise. It’s still however beneficial to chat about what you want your home to look like, feel like, and if you have a hope to move someday or stay right where you are. Be upfront about your needs and wants and what will help make your life together feel like you’re always coming home to the right place. Have fun with it—imagine what you want this home of yours to look like once you’re married. Bond over exciting home decoration ideas and envision planning a party with friends and family or a romantic night together. Most importantly, make sure at the end of the day this is a decision you make together. You want your home to embody your relationship and love for one another.

4. Protecting Future Wealth and Health

It’s easy to get wrapped up in the hustle and excitement of decorations, planning, and beginning this life together. Amidst all this, be sure to sit down with your partner and make plans to secure yourself and your future together as a married couple. As you know, life is unpredictable and there is no way to know what each will bring. Rather than feel stress about what would happen if one of you were to face an illness or suffer an injury, plan ahead with a life insurance policy that can protect you and your family during a challenging circumstance. Preparing earlier on in your life together will not only provide you with peace of mind knowing you can cover emergency medical costs, but also allows you to get the best coverage at an affordable rate due to your low-risk good standing health.

5. Handling Marriage and Future Finances

Money is a large part of any relationship and especially important to consider when you’re getting married. Not only do you have to think about how you will pay for the wedding, but how you both plan to navigate spending and saving together as you make larger purchase decisions. If you or your partner has trouble saving or allocating money, you might want to track your finances using a banking app or online tool to conveniently help you stay on budget while purchasing items for the wedding. You should continue this practice in some capacity throughout your life in order to avoid debt. Proactively managing money to avoid financial disagreements is a great way to maintain trust between each other and encourage a healthy relationship.

6. Discussing Deal Breakers and Non-Negotiables

Throughout the course of your life, you have likely run into problems and dealt with the cards that have been thrown at you—good or bad. At this time, you are choosing to spend the rest of your life with one person, a relationship you must foster during the tough times and the times of joy. That is why, together you must be open about what deal breakers you have when it comes to marriage and family and highlight what is not acceptable in a loving marriage. Have a conversation about what makes you upset and what you expect out of your relationship. This can help you promote a healthy balance of working through problems and supporting one another without making tough times even worse.

7. Deciding What Marriage Means to You

At the end of the day, it’s necessary to ask yourself the important question, what does taking this step of marriage mean to you? Consider your values and beliefs and discuss them with your partner to gain a better picture of what the future holds for you both. When you make this commitment to one another, do so knowing that you have proactively planned, had honest conversations, and are ready to take on this exciting adventure together.

You should approach your big day feeling calm about where you’re at and content with who you’re choosing to spend the rest of your life with. When it comes down to it, you can feel at peace knowing that from this moment on you have the right person by your side to take on this journey with you.