Preparing for Marriage

    Think back to when you were dating your significant other or maybe you're dating someone now, or would like to. What was dating someone like? Was it casual or more traditional? I would like to talk about the importance of dating before marriage. And you might be thinking, duh of course you have to date before you get married. However, dating in today's world is different than what I am going to talk about today. Dating has become extremely casual. Often two people who are dating end up just relaxing and hanging out often instead of actually going or dates. But dates are actually extremely important to go on! They can let you know how much effort is going to put into a relationship. If you never go on dates and end up just hanging out all the time, this can let you know that your partner isn't putting in the effort into the relationship like they should be doing. The effort one puts in when you are dating is a great indicator of how they are going to act in a marriage and the effort they will put in when you're married. If you date casually and exclusively with someone then your marriage won't be built on a strong foundation because of the lack of effort. Now of course occasionally your date night can be a movie at home with snacks but this should happen only on occasion. 

    Planning and preparing is a big part of dating especially exclusively. If you are dating someone who isn't planning and preparing your dates or other things, this will most likely stay the same when you're married. And planning and preparing is an important part of marriage! Going on dates also allows you to get to know someone in many different scenarios. If you only relax at one's apartment then you only get to know someone in a chill situation and only get to know that side of one's personality. On dates, you can be in a lot of different situations and get to know your partner on a deeper level. A variety of activities lead to getting to know a variety of things about your partner. Things that can be crucial to know when going into a marriage. When married you're going to be in lots of different situations so why not practice being in lots of different situations while you are dating. Multiple different experiences with each other will also deepen your level of trust, commitment, and open your eyes to different aspects of one's personality.

    When dating and possibly thinking about marriage you should really take time by yourself to think about how you feel. Are the qualities my partner has something I want in a husband or wife? Are they putting effort into our relationship? Have I seen this person in many different situations so I am more prepared for marriage? If you have doubts or concerns about your partner, talk to them when you are dating. Not only can this help solve a problem but it can also let you know how much they are willing to work for the relationship and how much they value it. Dating provides so many opportunities for discussion. These discussions won't come up if you are hanging out and doing the same thing every day. Going out on dates is much more beneficial to couples especially seriously considering marriage.

    I hope that after reading this you and your partner begin going on dates, because as important they are for the relationship but they are also fun! It is a win-win situation. Make sure that you are both putting effort, time, and planning into the relationship and it is not just one way. Dates don't have to be expensive either. The saying "it's the thought that counts'", can actually go a long way. This shows you the effort someone wants to put into a relationship and that's most likely how much effort one will put into a marriage.