Don't Get Married Before You And Your Partner Do These 9 Things

Marriage is one of the most magical things in the world. And when you and your partner are ready for it, you'll certainly know. But with such a big step, you don't want to move too fast; you don't want to jump into a union till death do you part before experiencing these 9 relationship milestones:

1. Fight and make up

Nobody likes fighting, especially with a loved one. But disagreements and spats are inevitable. I can't think of any happy couple who's never had a major fight. You want to have such a dispute before you say "I do," so you are confident that you can both get angry with each other, and still feel the love afterwards.

2. Take a vacation

Don't let your honeymoon be the first time you travel together. Every person's traveling style is different, and it's important to know what both of you look for in a vacation. That way, if you are on different pages, you can work on compromising without sacrificing the joy that a vacation should bring.

3. Talk politics

They say to never talk about politics, but that's just not possible if you're planning on spending the rest of your life with someone. You don't have to agree, but you do have to learn to respect each other's political beliefs. You should be comfortable challenging each other. Who knows? You may both learn something new.

4. Live together

Not everyone wants to live together before marriage, which is perfectly respectable. But, at the very least, you need to have lived with someone that isn't family before getting married. Living together allows you to really get to know someone: all their weird daily habits, rituals, etc. And you learn how to deal with all the habits that annoy you.

5. Get sick

Don't go out and try to catch a cold, but if you do get sick, make sure you observe how your significant other cares for you. Y'all will get sick at some point, and the hope is that you'll be there for each other. 

6. Meet and spend time with each other's families

In-laws can be such a drag, but they're part of the family after marriage. Watch how your lover interacts with his or her family. Observe how they treat you. If anything, a family life can be a predictor of how your potential spouse will interact with the family you build. This isn't always the case though, so make sure y'all have a conversation about family.

7. Discuss money

Finances are never fun to talk about, but in today's society, you can't avoid them. Do you plan on signing a prenup? What will your collective income be? These are issues you want to discuss and come to an agreement on before walking down the aisle.

8. Air dirty laundry

It's not like you have to tell your partner every single thing that's happened in your life. But it is important to get the big things off your chest. Doing so builds trust. Without such trust, a happy and healthy marriage is very unlikely. 

9. Have a discussion about children

Don't ever say "I do" before discussing what you want your future family to look like. Love can conquer a lot, but if you want kids, and the person you love doesn't, then you both have to do a lot of thinking before deciding to get married.