Life is a journey, and deciding to get into marriage can change it in a significant way. There are many successful marriages out there, even though the institution might not enjoy the respect it once had.

However, for any marriage to flourish, there have to be two people doing what it takes to ensure they are ready for this important step in life.

As someone who is thinking about tying the knot, have you considered a list of things you should do before saying "I do?" After looking at this list, you will have an easier time making sure you are truly ready for marriage before getting committed to someone for life.

1. Get A Heartbreak

You have probably heard this before, but it's worth serious consideration. A breakup is one of the worst experiences you can go through in this life, which is why most people dread and avoid it.

Still, dealing with a broken heart teaches you a lot about romantic relationships and how they can end unexpectedly. That is a great lesson to have before walking into a marriage.

2. Try Online Dating

You should not jump into marriage without enjoying the pleasure of describing yourself in glowing terms for all the dating world to see how awesome you are. Once you are married, that's no longer an option unless you are failing as a spouse.

3. Learn From Past Relationship Mistakes

When you look back at your past, what do you see? In the relationships that didn't work out, what role did you play?

Did you, by any chance, take your partner for granted? Did you fail to pay enough attention to your partner?

You might underestimate how important these lessons are, especially if you feel lucky to have parted ways with your ex.

However, looking back and taking note of how your own flaws contributed to your past relationships failing is very important if you want a successful long-term relationship such as a marriage.

4. Fall In Love Multiple Times

Sometimes, it takes more than a few tries to understand what love feels like truly. The best thing about falling in love a couple of times is that you will have an excellent opportunity to figure out what you want in a life-long partner before you settle down with them for the rest of your life.

5. Make A List Of "Must-Haves" In A Partner

This is basically a list of things your ideal partner should have for the marriage you desire to work out. Think of them as deal-breakers.

They should consist of your values and things you would never compromise, not even for your partner. Of course, you should let your partner know more about these issues before you settle down.

6. Learn To Trust

Any relationship that lacks trust is doomed, no matter how much chemistry the partners share. Without trust, you can never build a great marriage.

7. Learn To Have A Life Besides The Marriage

Committing yourself to someone for the rest of your life does not mean losing your identity and pushing your goals and ambitions aside. You will never be happy if you let someone else define you.

8. Take Some Personal Time

You should learn to be comfortable in your own skin. The more comfortable in who you are, the better your chances of attracting someone perfect for you.

9. Know As Much As You Can About Your Partner

Relationships should be founded on reality, and that means knowing all you can about your partner. Therefore, you should discuss seemingly boring issues like finance and health before you tie the knot.

It won't be a very pleasant surprise to learn that your partner has a ton of debt after you have married them.

10. Live With Someone You Are Not Related To

One of the best ways to test the waters before getting married is by trying to live with someone you are not related to before marriage. If you can pull this off, you should have no problem living with your spouse.

11. Give Your Career Some Attention

Once again, you have probably heard about giving your career the attention it deserves before getting into marriage. Working on your career is one way you can work on yourself and ensure you are ready for a committed relationship.

12. Spend Time With Kids

Having kids around is a big plus if you are still on the fence about having kids once you get into a marriage. This should give you a clearer picture of what to expect once you get married.

13. Understand Your Motivation For Marriage

Before you are married, it is important to have a good reason for making this important life decision. For instance, is it because you love your partner or love the idea of being married?

Ask yourself: do you really want to spend the rest of your life with this person, or are you way too excited by the idea of a big beautiful wedding that getting married seems like a small price to pay?

Is your biological clock forcing you to walk down the aisle to make wedding vows?

Before you tie the knot, understand why you are doing it.

14. Learn To Fight Fairly

Marriage is not always smooth sailing. You will fight sometimes. If you don't know how to fight fair, you can easily break a marriage over a silly fight.

To avoid such incidents, learn to fight fairly before you even get married.

15. Learn To Love People For Who They Are

Just because you are marrying someone, it does not mean they will change for you. Marriage actually means that you have accepted the person regardless of their flaws.

16. Master Some DIY Skills

If you can do some things yourself, then you can take care of yourself and your family. For instance, you can learn how to be a handyman or master some cooking skills.

17. Meet Your Partner's Friends

There are many ways to learn about your potential marriage partner. One of them is by meeting his friends and hearing what they have to say about your spouse.

This is a great way to confirm if your decision to spend the rest of your life with this person was the best choice for you.

18. Meet Your Partner's Family

Since you are marrying this person, you will inevitably cross paths with their family members. It is good to meet the family and know what kind of family dynamics you are getting yourself into.

19. Take Time To Know Yourself

This is pretty self-explanatory. If you have no idea who you are or are not comfortable with who you are, you will have a tough time figuring out who you are married to.

20. Learn To Offer Sincere Apologies

Nobody is perfect in this world. More importantly, admitting that you are wrong does means you have lost.

A mature person should learn to apologize for their mistakes and do whatever it takes to make amends. That's an important skill in marriage.

Based on these points, do you think you are ready for marriage just yet?