Jack Taylor/Getty Images 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.