You've handled conflict together
If you've never had a real disagreement, you don't know how you fight — or if you can repair. Marriage multiplies stress, not reduces it. Make sure you've seen each other at your worst and still chose each other.
Your values line up on the big things
Faith, children, money, where to live, how involved family should be — these aren't details, they're foundations. You don't need identical views, but you need a plan that both of you can live with.
You're financially honest with each other
Debt, income, spending habits and future goals should be on the table. Money fights are one of the top reasons marriages struggle — start with transparency.
You've talked about the future in detail
Not just 'someday' — actual timelines, actual plans, actual compromises. If you can't picture the next five years together clearly, you're probably not ready yet.