15 Things to Do With Your Partner Before Getting Married
15 Things to Do With Your Partner Before Getting Married
Build a stronger relationship before walking down the aisle
Getting married isn’t just about the dress, the flowers, or the perfect venue. It’s about the two of you—and the life you’re building together.
Before you tie the knot, make time to strengthen your bond, ask the big questions, and create meaningful memories.
Whether you’re newly engaged or deep into wedding planning, or just in a long term relationship and thinking about your future together, these are 15 important things to do with your partner before getting married.
“To love and be loved is to feel the sun from both sides.” –
– Victor Hugo
1. Travel Together
Travel is one of the best ways to test your relationship.
It takes you out of your routine and throws in challenges like delayed trains, lost luggage, or trying to find food when you’re both hangry.
Ask yourself:
- How do we solve problems together?
- Can we share space 24/7 and still enjoy each other’s company?
Whether it’s a city break, a camping trip, or a beach holiday—travel teaches you a lot about how you both cope under pressure and how much fun you can have without distractions.
2. Have a Serious Talk About Money
Money is one of the top causes of stress in relationships.
Before you get married, sit down and talk openly about:
- Spending habits
- Savings goals
- Debt
- Credit scores
- Joint vs separate accounts
- Financial boundaries
It doesn’t need to be romantic—but it does need to be honest.
Start as you mean to go on: financially informed and working as a team.
3. Cook a Meal Together From Scratch
Sounds simple. But this is about more than just food.
Cooking together tests how well you communicate, how you share responsibility, and how you deal with unexpected hiccups (like burning the garlic).
Choose a recipe neither of you have made before.
Shop together. Cook together. Clean up together.
You’ll learn who’s a control freak in the kitchen—and who thinks “a pinch” means half the spice jar.
4. Spend Time With Each Other’s Families
You’re not just marrying your partner—you’re joining families.
It’s worth investing time in building those relationships early.
- Visit their family without a specific occasion
- Ask about their family traditions or values
- Talk about how involved family will be in your lives
The goal isn’t to agree with everyone.
It’s about understanding the people who helped shape the person you’re marrying.
5. Have a Boring Weekend Together
No big plans. No dressing up. No socialising.
Just the two of you in your PJs with nothing to do.
Why?
Because this is what most of life looks like after the wedding.
Can you enjoy the mundane? Can you be content doing nothing together?
Love that lasts is built in the quiet moments—not just the highlights.
6. Talk About the Big Stuff
Don’t avoid the important questions just because they’re awkward.
Ask each other:
- Do we both want children? When?
- How do we feel about religion or spirituality?
- Where do we want to live long-term?
- How do we handle conflict?
You don’t need to agree on everything.
But you do need to understand where each other stands.
7. Plan and Host Something Together
Organising a BBQ, birthday, or holiday gathering will show how you work as a team.
It’s basically a low-stakes rehearsal for planning your wedding.
- Who takes the lead?
- Who handles logistics?
- How do you split tasks?
This one’s about learning how to share responsibility and support each other when things don’t go to plan.
8. Do Something Difficult Together
Challenge yourselves. Do something that pushes you both out of your comfort zone.
Try:
- Running a 10K
- Doing a tough hike
- Completing a big DIY project
- Moving house
Difficult experiences bring out real emotions.
You’ll learn how you support each other when you’re tired, frustrated, or overwhelmed.
9. Discuss Boundaries and Expectations
Healthy relationships are built on respect.
Before you get married, talk about your emotional, physical, and digital boundaries.
Ask each other:
- What makes you feel uncomfortable or disrespected?
- How much alone time do you need?
- Are there social media boundaries?
- What does loyalty mean to you?
Clear boundaries mean fewer misunderstandings later.
10. Learn Each Other’s Love Languages
Everyone gives and receives love differently.
Some people feel loved through:
- Words of affirmation
- Physical touch
- Quality time
- Acts of service
- Gifts
Knowing your partner’s love language helps you show up in ways that matter most to them.
It’s a small shift that can change everything.
11. Spend Time Apart
EIndependence is healthy.
Maintain your own interests, hobbies, and friendships.
Take solo trips. Spend weekends doing separate things.
Time apart gives you space to miss each other—and grow individually.
It also makes you better at appreciating the time you do spend together.
12. Share Your Worst Days
Marriage means facing life’s ups and downs together.
Don’t just share your good days—let your partner see you at your most vulnerable.
How do you support each other through:
- Grief
- Failure
- Illness
- Anxiety
Being there for each other when life gets messy is the real love story.w up in ways that matter most to them.
It’s a small shift that can change everything.
13. Set Goals Together
What does your future look like?
Sit down and map out your short and long-term goals:
- Where do we want to live?
- What kind of lifestyle do we want?
- How do we balance work and family?
Dream together. Plan together.
Be a team, not just romantically—but practically too.
14. Build a Shared Routine
Marriage isn’t one big adventure.
It’s made up of small daily habits.
Build some of those now:
- Sunday morning coffees
- Evening walks
- Taco Tuesdays
- Monthly date nights
These are the rhythms that hold you together when life gets busy.
15. Be Completely, Utterly, Ridiculously Silly
This one matters more than you think.
Make up inside jokes. Dance in the kitchen. Sing badly in the car.
Life will get serious sometimes—don’t lose the fun.
Your partner should feel like home and your favourite person to be weird with.
AND IT ALL LEADS TO THIS.
When your relationship is built on solid foundations, you move through life in sync—connected, but still fully yourselves. That’s where the strongest marriages begin.
And that’s when wedding days look like this: overflowing with love, joy, laughter, and happy tears.
“Sam did a brilliant job of capturing our wedding in August. He blended into the day perfectly and documented all of the special moments throughout the day in a really authentic way. We felt really relaxed and calm around Sam”
– Sarah & tim
WANT TO CHAT
ABOUT YOUR WEDDING?
If you’re already engaged and looking for a photographer who’ll capture your day with real emotion—not forced poses—I’d love to hear from you.
Let’s chat about your plans, your story, and how we can make photos that actually feel like you.
Click the link below to see more about my aproach to wedding days.
SAM CHIPMAN PHOTOGRAPHY
YORKSHIRE WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHER & FILMMAKER BASED IN YORK, COVERING YORKSHIRE, AND TRAVELLING NATIONWIDE & WORLDWIDE.
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“The best thing about a picture is that it never changes, even when the people in it do.”
– ANDY WARHOL