6 Questions to Ask Your Significant Other Before Getting Married

Getting engaged can be one of the most exciting times in any relationship. But before you decide to tie the knot, it's important to have a few important discussions. Here are six questions to ask before getting married. 

1. "Will We Buy a Home or Rent - and Where?" 

You might find yourself looking for homes for sale in Oceanside CA or Seattle WA, but it's important to have a serious discussion with your significant other before you get married. Not only will you want to make sure you're on the same page about where you'll live after getting married, but it's also important to decide if you want to buy a home - and when. 

2. "Do We Want Children? How Many and When?"

This is a critical conversation to have before even proposing to your significant other. If you want children and your partner doesn't - or vice versa - it's safe to say this person isn't a good long-term fit for you. 

Even if you both do want children, it's important to make sure you're open to the same number of kids. If you want five children, but she's always wanted only one child, this could be an issue.  

The timeframe also matters. If you want to get your master's degree before becoming a parent or your significant other wants to travel the world before you settle down with kids, it's important to make sure you're willing to compromise. 

It's also important to discuss what you would do if you have infertility issues. Would you be willing to undergo fertility treatments like IVF? Is adoption an option?

It's important to make sure you're on the same page about kids before getting engaged.

3. "How Will We Spend Our Holidays?" 

One of the most important questions to ask before marriage is how your partner envisions spending holidays in the future. Will you divide them between your families? Will you host and invite your families to spend it at your home? Do you plan to spend your holidays at home, or will you take the kids to Disney World or Europe for Christmas? It's important to make sure you agree on an arrangement before tying the knot. 

4. "Will We Share a Bank Account?" 

When you get married, you'll need to make a number of financial decisions together. One of those is whether or not you'll share a bank account. Some couples choose to have a joint account for living expenses, along with their own individual accounts. Others choose to only have a joint account, while others opt to keep everything separate.

There's no right or wrong answer, but it's important to make sure you're able to decide on an arrangement that works for both of you. 

5. "What Type of Vacations Will We Take?" 

You'll want to discuss what vacations will look like in your future as a married couple. Do you both have the same travel interests? If you want to travel to Europe but your partner only wants to travel locally, will you be willing to make compromises for one another?

Finances also factor into travel decisions. How are you going to save for vacations? How often will you take them? 

6. "Will Religion Play a Role In Our Lives?" 

Our religious views sometimes define how we see our futures. Are you and your partner aligned when it comes to your religion? If one of you sees church as an important part of your future and the other doesn't, is there any way you can compromise? Does one of you expect the other to convert religions?

Children are also important to consider. How will you raise your children? Do you plan to have them baptized? Will they go to church every Sunday? Will you allow your children to make their own religious choices later in life? Knowing the answers to these and other questions is important. 

These are just six questions to ask before getting married. Although you've probably considered some of these issues while dating, coming to an agreement before you make things official can save you a lot of hassle and heartache later on.