Engaged / Pre-Marriage
The real ones — what you must know before saying yes.
5 questionsWhat are your financial expectations of a spouse?
Why this matters: Unspoken financial expectations are a marriage killer.
Extreme entitlement, complete avoidance, or wildly mismatched assumptions.
How do we make major decisions together?
Why this matters: Who has final say, and in what areas?
One person expects full control, or neither can describe a process.
What is your exit condition — under what circumstances would you leave?
Why this matters: Sounds harsh. Essential. People who can't answer this often haven't decided.
How do you want to raise children — discipline, religion, schooling?
Why this matters: Parenting incompatibility shows up before the first birthday.
What does each of us bring to this marriage beyond love?
Why this matters: Grounds the relationship in mutual contribution and value.