Expert Roundup: Conversations Every Engaged Couple Should Have Before "I Do"

^{Laura Elizabeth Photography + Films}

Keep Communication at the Center

For Blaine Little of The Fountains Ballroom, open communication is one of the greatest gifts couples can give each other before the wedding day. "As a recently married woman who's worked nearly fifteen years in the wedding industry prior to planning her own wedding, I can say that every conversation is important. Communicating about all details, big and small, is everything. I've seen it with my couples, and I've just experienced it myself. Couples who have open communication are the ones that thrive," she says. "Marriage is about having the hard conversations, and also having fun with the small ones that seem so important at the time of planning your big day. It could be about finances and your future goals, or it could be as simple as a napkin color. Talk with each other, laugh with each other, and even cry with each other. It's an emotional time, but it's one you'll cherish forever."

^{Heather Kannas Photography}

Choose Joy Along the Way

After witnessing hundreds of love stories unfold, Abby Woolam, Communications Director for Lost Wax at Jukeboxx Media, believes couples should also talk about how they'll intentionally prioritize joy throughout their marriage. "Life will inevitably change tempo. There will be seasons of celebration and seasons of challenge. Couples who make space to celebrate the everyday, express gratitude, and find reasons to dance together, even when life gets offbeat, create a foundation that carries them through the harder moments," she says. "Every great band knows harmony doesn't happen by accident. It comes from listening, trusting one another, and staying in sync even when the music changes. Marriage is no different. Your wedding may be the biggest party you'll ever throw, but it's only the first song of a lifetime setlist."

^{Lost Wax at Jukeboxx Media}

Approach Marriage as a Team

After working with thousands of couples, Baylie Bass of First Look Attire in Sioux City, Iowa has seen firsthand that the strongest weddings begin with honest conversations long before the ceremony. "Talk openly about your expectations, not just for the wedding, but for marriage," she says. "Discuss finances, family dynamics, communication styles, future goals, and how you'll support each other when life isn't picture-perfect. At the end of the day, the wedding is one beautiful chapter, but the marriage is the story you're really building together. The couples who prioritize honesty, teamwork, and choosing each other every day always seem to enjoy the journey the most."

^{Elizabeth Rose Photography}

Prepare for Your Marriage as Intentionally as Your Wedding

After filming weddings for more than a decade, Jonathon Goodro of Jonathon Goodro Film has noticed a common thread among the couples who thrive. "The strongest marriages rarely begin because two people simply love each other. They begin because they've learned how to communicate with honesty, kindness, and intention," he says. "Before the wedding day, every couple should have real conversations about finances, family expectations, future goals, conflict, and what they need to feel loved and supported. Wedding days are beautiful, but they're only one chapter. The couples who seem to thrive are the ones who spend just as much time preparing for the marriage as they do preparing for the wedding."

^{Main photo by Jonathon Goodro Film}