17 Weird Topics Every Couple Should Discuss Before Marriage

Does one of you feel anxious if you arrive less than five hours early? That might be something that causes tension during your travels unless you discuss it beforehand.

When you're married, your family unit becomes you, your spouse, and your children. But that doesn't mean your parents, siblings, cousins, nieces, and nephews disappear, so you have to figure out how often you want to get together with your extended family.

If you've lived together prior to getting engaged, you've likely already come up with a system for dividing the chores. But if not (or if you're unhappy with your current chore division), it's imperative to have a frank discussion about this before getting hitched.

You might have talked vaguely about your career aspirations, but have you discussed what you'd do in the event that one of you needs to relocate for work? Even if it's hypothetical, it's worthwhile to have a game plan.

No one likes to talk about something as stressful as debt, but it's a conversation you absolutely have to have before being legally bound together.

Speaking of money, it's the number one cause of stress in relationships, so instead of sweeping it under the rug, have a detailed discussion about the specifics of your budget.

It might sound silly, but if the two of you have very different ideas of "room temperature," one of you is likely to end up miserable. Best to come to a compromise long before one of you dies of hypothermia in your own apartment.

In a healthy, trusting relationship, there should be no issue with having friends of the opposite sex, but that doesn't mean you two can't discuss boundaries if something is making you uncomfortable.

This is another one of those worst case scenario topics that might not be all that fun to talk about, but you never know what the future has in store. Being able to talk openly about how you'd handle potential fertility issues will make things much easier if that issue ever arises.

As much fun as your family traditions are around the holidays, you have to consider that your partner also has traditions they hold dear. The two of you should talk about what traditions you can't give up, as well as what new traditions you want to start together.

Speaking of holiday traditions, the two of you should be on the same page about what you expect in terms of gift-giving. Even if one of you is less gift-centric than the other, knowing what your partner expects will prevent either of you from being hurt or disappointed on special days like birthdays and anniversaries.

Oh, in-laws: often one of the most contentious topics in any relationship. Ultimately, you and your partner are a team, and you should present a united front when any inter-family arguments arise.

Even if you've already had your fair share of arguments, it doesn't hurt to have one "big talk" about your specific views on conflict resolution before marriage.

Maybe your partner loves being babied when they're sick, whereas you'd prefer to be left the f*ck alone. Either way, it's helpful to have an idea of what kind of help your partner wants whenever an illness or injury occurs.

Sure, it's trivial, but if you're as-yet-unprepared to see your spouse chilling on the toilet taking a poop, it doesn't hurt to ask whether they plan to leave the bathroom door open.

Talking about your individual porn habits is super important. Maybe you're totally cool with it, or maybe you have certain things that make you uncomfortable — you won't know unless you lay it all out.

Spoiler: not me.

So if you're looking to get to know your partner even better, it's worthwhile to sit down and discuss all this stuff, especially if you're planning to get engaged or married soon. It might not be the easiest or most fun-filled conversation of your lives, but trust me — your future selves will thank you for it.

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