So, you’re in love and have decided to finally take the plunge. While love should definitely be the driving force for a couple to make the decision of getting married, the success of a marriage or any long-term relationship depends a lot on many practical issues as well. Ignoring these may cause problems in your future married life and it is best to talk it over with your partner before actually walking down the aisle.

Here are ten important things that you should make sure to discuss with your future spouse before tying the knot.

#1 – Children

Probably the most important thing to consider is your thoughts about children. Don’t assume that just because your partner wants to get married, his or her attitude about children will be the same as yours.

You should discuss whether you both want to have children or not. If you do want to have children, how many? Would you like to start a family immediately after marriage or would you like to wait a few years? You may also want to discuss how the responsibilities of taking care of an infant will be shared, especially if career is important for both of you.

You may also want to consider talking about how you would like to raise your children. This is especially important if both of you come from a different religious or community background.