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With the high cost of weddings today, and the even higher cost of divorce, sometimes not thinking marriage through all the way is the worst thing you can do. It can be heart breaking if the bride or groom gets cold feet and calls off the wedding.
Below is a list to make sure you are truly ready for the life of holy matrimony. Questions to ask yourself:
1. Am I in love with the idea of marriage, or am I in love with the (wo)man? Am I just looking at the excitement of everything that it takes to put a wedding together, and not focusing on anything beyond the wedding day?
2. Am I having second thoughts before I even set the date, or even a month before the wedding?
3. Am I ready to be faithful and true to only one person for the rest of my life?
4. How honest am I with myself? What are my true feelings for my significant other?
5. If wedding plans are already in motion, am I just going along with them not for fear of hurting someone's feelings, or making them feel like they were used for their money, or as if their money was wasted, even though I want to call the whole thing off?
6. Am I emotionally, physically, and mentally prepared for all aspects of marriage?
7. Am I ready to say I do' without any doubts that I am doing the right thing?
8. If need be, am I willing to pack up my whole life and move away from friends and family if asked?
9. Am I willing to leave my friends behind for my husband/wife or will my friends always come first?
10. Is my significant other accepted by my family? If not, why? Does it bother me if they don't? Am I marrying him/her just to anger my family?
11. Am I willing to wait longer than I already have to make sure that I am really ready to be married to this person, or do I just want to get it over with?
12. Have we had the important talks about children, and families? Do either of us have any debts, and who's responsibility do they become once we are married?
13. Do we have the same expectations of marriage?
14. Do I like the way my significant other is around children, will they make the kind of parent I want for our children?
15. Do you see yourself married to this person for 5, 10, 25, 50 years or more?
16. If I am pregnant, am I just getting married because you feel it is the best thing to do for the baby? Am I willing to wait until after the child is born to make sure that I am marrying out of love and not a sense of duty?
17. Have we talked with our religious leaders? Have we made any decisions as to what faith to practice and with which we will raise our children?
18. If we are not currently living together, am I willing to give up my home to move into his/hers, or to give up the space in my home for him/her to move in with me?
19. If I am a virgin, do I really understand what will happen on my wedding night? Am I ready to take that step with this man/woman?
20. Am I getting married just to keep my significant other in my life? Will they leave if I don't marry them whether I am ready to do so or not?
21. Do I see myself waking up next to him or her every morning? Does the thought put a smile on my face?
22. Do I trust my fiance with my life, my heart, and my soul?
23. Do I look forward to life after my wedding with a smile on my face, or do I feel unsure and fearful?
24. Am I getting married because all of my friends are married and I feel left out?
25. Can I imagine my life without this person by my side helping me through it?
By Kim Snyder