1. Attend a wedding together.
Nothing says that you’ve found “The One” like bringing him or her to a wedding, whether it’s of a friend or a relative. It’s practically saying that you’re on the path to marriage yourselves. Now, this has a lot of perks: one, free meal and souvenirs (yey!); two, you meet people who are close to your partner, and through that get to know him/her better; and three, it’ll give you oodles of ideas on what to do (or not to do) on your own wedding.
2. Describe each other in writing.
You already know that you and your partner love each other, right? But just how exactly do you see each other? What fuels your love and your attraction? This is the way to find out. While you can, of course, simply describe each other verbally, putting things in ink makes it more permanent, and, therefore, more significant. This is one of the best ways you can express your love: not by telling your partner how much you love them, but why.
Image Courtesy of Z Wedding Design
3. Answer the 36 questions that lead to love.
Psychologist Arthur Aron has devised a questionnaire that has been scientifically proven to make even total strangers form intimacy. It has been featured in The New York Time and Psychology Today, among other publications, and has real couples – in lab settings, as well as in restaurants and bars – swear to its effectiveness.
4. Help each other shave.
You shave your legs, he shaves his face – so why not help each other? You both want to look good (for yourself as well as for your partner), so being part of each other’s personal grooming gives that an extra layer of love (and friskiness). Well, this is obviously not for the unmarried and extremely conservative, but I have to say this is just about the sexiest thing you can do with still (some of) your clothes on.
Image Courtesy of My Dream Wedding
5. Spend a day with each other’s family (without your partner).
Yes, the title says “as a couple”, but I think you’d forgive me for making an exception with this one. This activity has double benefits. The first is that you and your partner will get to connect with your respective families-in-law, and have an excellent chance to impress them. Second, you’ll know a lot more about your partner as his/her mother, father and siblings are sure to share some information about him/her to you, most probably something embarrassing.
6. Have another “first date”.
Chances are you had a great first date. (If not, we’d love to hear how you became a couple despite a bad start.) But don’t you wish to experience the same kind of excitement and attraction you had, this time knowing that the person before you really is the one you’re going to spend the rest of your life with? This is a lot more fun if you pretend that your “new” date is a complete stranger.
Image Courtesy of Chris Ling Photography
7. Compare each other’s spending habits
While this may seem terribly unexciting, it will give you a lot of helpful ideas of what your future marriage would be like. (Take note that financial incompatibility is one of the biggest reasons why married couples fight.) Men, be warned though: prepare for the possibility of an hour-long tale of epic bargaining about how your girl bought a $10 dress for $8 at Mustafa Centre.
8. Commit to a cause.
The happiest people are those who contribute to the betterment of their community or the world at large, so it follows that couples can be happier by supporting a cause. Now what this cause is is entirely up to you—it could be as simple as cheering up the elderly, advocating animal rights, or volunteering at Habitat for Humanity—but whatever it is, it should be something both you and your partner feel passionate about.
Image Courtesy of Avior Pictures
9. Bury a time capsule.
A time capsule is a cache of items that, when unearthed, are supposed to inform people in the future of what the past—that is, our present—is like. Your own time capsule could contain items that had an important role in your relationships (love letters, gifts, etc.) or those that will remind you of what you were like (photographs being the perfect example). Agree to dig up your time capsule at an important date in the future, such as on your 10th wedding anniversary or on the birth of your second child.
10. Something you’ve always wanted to do (but we’re too afraid to try).
We’ve all dreamt of doing something that would give us a big sense of achievement but knew that we just couldn’t do it alone, whether that’s performing in front of an audience, publishing a book, or climbing a mountain. Well guess what, you’re not alone anymore. Now you have the love of your life, the greatest supporter you’ll ever have, right next to you. So what else are you waiting for?
Image Courtesy of Chris Ling Photography
