5 Must Do Things Before Getting Married

To ensure a smooth ride post marriage, these are 5 things you must do before you get hitched.

1. Get back in shape
Every woman wants to look stunning on her wedding day; after all, she is going to be the centre of attention. Take time to invest in looking good for the big day by focusing on fitness and diet. However, together with physical fitness, make sure you include exercises or activities that keep you mentally refreshed as well. Try some fun workouts like Zumba or belly dancing so that you don’t lose interest easily. Just make sure you stay regular.

2. Become financially independent
Women often underestimate the value of being financially independent. Sure, you will marry a man who will take care of you no matter what. But being financially sound isn’t just about having financial security; it is also about the confidence it brings to your personality. The fact that you don’t need to depend on your spouse for your spending needs is a great feeling. What’s more, he will probably respect you for it too.

3. Master a few dinner recipes
Clichéd it may be, but the phrase ‘win a man’s heart through his stomach’ definitely holds true. For those who aren’t food savants, you can join a course where you can learn basic cooking methods together with a wide variety of recipes of different cuisines. They will surely come handy to keep your family happy. Unless of course, you grabbed a chef for a husband!

4. Get premarital counseling
With the steady rise in the number of divorce cases in India, premarital counseling is now more of a preventive measure. It lets the couple understand each other better and have detailed discussions about sensitive topics like sex, children, religion and finances with a trained practitioner facilitating it. Even though it may not seem like you need to, it is crucial to be aware of each other’s needs right at the start, so that marriage doesn’t come with any false illusions. Often people shy away from counseling because of the general perception that something has to be wrong for one to try it. But you need to act with maturity and understand that this open communication will go a long way in maintaining peace in a marriage.

5. Visit your gynecologist
Sex and family planning come with a whole gamut of queries, on the right method of birth control, understanding ovulating patterns and many more. It is best to visit your gynecologist and get all those questions answered. In addition, be sure to have a complete health check-up to ensure no unknown problems crop up later, like maybe when you’re off on your honeymoon.