Get past the romantic fog and look at the legal and financial partnership you are signing.
A marriage certificate is a legal, binding merger. In many jurisdictions, any debt your partner racks up or gets sued for during the marriage is partially or fully your burden too.
Pull credit reports together. Seriously. Look each other in the eye and sign off on active liabilities.
A prenuptial agreement isn't "preparing for divorce," it's writing down a clean, respectful partnership agreement while you actually like each other. If you split without one, state judges get to choose who gets your retirement account.
Decide in advance if personal assets owned before marriage remain strictly isolated or fully merged.
Financial friction is the #1 cause of divorce. Spouses have completely different definitions of what constitutes "casual spending" versus "major investment."
Agree on a maximum spending threshold (e.g., $500) above which both partners must consult before swiping.
Your partner's parents will expect veto power over holidays, housing, and parenting unless you raise a solid concrete defense line early.
Clearly define what topics are strictly internal to your household and exempt from parental consult.