- Before you get married, reading books by those who have been there can help prepare you for the commitment you're about to make.
- Equip yourself financially by reading David Bach's "Smart Couples Finish Rich," as household budgets and retirement plans are a significant part of married life.
- Though it is common for married couples to experience a decrease in passion over time, writers such as David Schnarch and Esther Perel offer solutions to declining intimacy.
Getting married is a major milestone. It means making (hopefully) permanent room in your heart for someone else and committing to loving, supporting, nurturing, and defending your partner through thick and thin for the rest of your life.
It's no easy feat. Fortunately, authors and experts have expounded on the topic extensively and have plenty of insights to share. Here are 13 books to add to your reading list before you walk down the aisle.
SEE ALSO: How to know when it's time to break up with your partner, according to dating experts
'The 5 Love Languages' by Gary Chapman
With more than 11 million copies sold, Gary Chapman's "The 5 Love Languages: The Secret to Love that Lasts" clearly resonates with people around the world.
The 1995 book posits that there are five ways in which people express and experience love — receiving gifts, quality time, words of affirmation, acts of service (devotion), and physical touch — and that understanding the language of your partner is key in a long-lasting relationship.
'The Course of Love' by Alain de Botton
"The Course of Love" follows the evolving dynamic of two people who fall in love, get married, have kids, and learn what it takes to maintain a long-term partnership after the initial infatuation fades away.
De Botton's 2016 work poses compelling philosophical and psychological questions that will help you identify with the main characters.
'Passionate Marriage' by David Schnarch
Published in 1997, "Passionate Marriage" explores the necessary ingredients for sexual and emotional fulfillment, even later in life. Schnarch, who is a sex therapist and psychologist, offers practical advice and insight from his clinical work and international workshops.
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