Five Things To Consider Before Tieing The Knot

Are You Ready For Marriage?

Getting engaged is an exciting time in a couple’s life. There is much to consider for the wedding process and along with that comes the celebration and gifts and contentment of knowing that you’ve found ‘the one’.

Of course, marriage is more than just being in love. It’s also a legal contract and lifetime commitment. No matter what age you think about getting married, there are plenty of factors to consider before making the big leap.

If you’re in a relationship that’s headed for engagement but you’re unsure if it’s the right path for you, consider the following:

The single life - Upon its release as a hit single, Beyonce’s ‘Single Ladies’ quickly became the anthem of....well, single ladies...everywhere. If he liked it then he should have put a ring on it, right? Maybe. But if you’re in a serious relationship that may be closing in on the idea of marriage, or you’re a single lady crying ‘woe is me’ because you want marriage to be next on the to-do list, take a second and consider the single life. Bachelorette status isn’t all that bad, is it? More importantly, it doesn’t last forever. If you’re lucky in love, you’re only single for a short time before you have an entire life ahead of you that is shared with another person. The magnitude of that idea is often overlooked. Consider your age, your hobbies, your interests, and ambitions and ask yourself if you’ve got anything left to get out of your system. Marriage isn’t a life of doom and gloom but, let’s face it, there are a lot of things you can get away with as a single woman that you just can’t do as a married one. Be honest with yourself about what you want to do in life before that knot is tied.

Sex - Evaluate your current sex life in terms of frequency, style, level of enjoyment, who initiates what, etc. It’s important to have a vibrant, changeable sex life as you grow with another person, so if the present status is unsatisfactory you may want to discuss that with your partner. Anything that needs to change can’t be expected to change magically just because there’s a ring on your finger.

Children - Have you talked about the prospect of having kids? If you disagree on the issue now, assuming that one of you will budge later is dangerous territory. You may think that he has potential to be swayed, but chances are he’s thinking the exact same thing about you.

Location - Where will you live? Are the both of you okay with possibly uprooting in the future, maybe even unexpectedly? Jobs largely affect our relationships and can completely change a situation when we thought everything was running smoothly. If you have never faced the trials of having to move for your own job or his, trying to maintain a long distance relationship, or live in unfamiliar surroundings with each other, discuss these things. They are very likely to come up in a marriage and if you’re caught off guard by them, you’re in for trouble.

Money - Everything seems to center around money. It’s what we thrive on, so it can’t be helped. However, you might be surprised to know that it’s not always the big career and monthly income that affects a relationship, but sometimes the smaller issues like whether or not you tip at a restaurant (or how much) , or involvement in charitable organizations, or your views on prenuptial agreements. Also, are either of you in debt? How will you handle your finances? Do both of you plan to work full-time? These are things to consider both for the near future and long term.

Courtney Gilmour
		About the author:
		Courtney is a published writer, stand-up comic, and shameless Internet enthusiast. She holds a double bachelors degree in English Literature and Communication Media Studies, specializing in semiotic theory, however she doesn't get Shakespeare and has never won a game of Scrabble. Currently she lives in Toronto and works as a writer for WOMAN.CA.
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