Are weekly marriage meetings the key to a happy and healthy relationship? And if yes, how do you hold a weekly marriage meeting?

A good marriage isn’t something you find, it’s something you make, and you have to keep making it.

But what if there was a simple way that could keep you and your partner connected and on the same page without arguments or sacrifices?

A weekly marriage meeting is one of the easiest ways to keep your household organized and improve your marriage.

And all it takes is 30 minutes per week.

A weekly marriage meeting goes by a variety of names – companionship inventory, marriage meeting, relationship check-in.

But no matter what you call them, these weekly meetings are one of the best ways to keep your relationship on track and keep your family organized from day to day.

Here’s a sneak peek at what you can expect to learn in this blog post:

How often you and your partner should plan to have these meetings.
The benefits of weekly marriage meetings.
Various marriage meeting topics you can cover.
How to have weekly marriage meetings.
Questions you and your partner can cover during the meeting.
And tips to make your meeting a complete success!

Before I dive into all the weekly marriage meeting tips I want to share today, let’s first take a deeper look at what a marriage meeting is and how you and your partner can use them to your advantage.

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What is a Marriage Meeting?

Let’s face it; life can get really crazy.

Oftentimes, it feels like there are a million things going on all at once, and life seems to happen to you rather than for you. (At least this is how many people, especially young families feel!)

And it makes sense because your time isn’t your own any more.

You’ve got responsibilities, little humans to care for, endless to-do lists, and all the other stuff that life throws at you.

This is where weekly marriage meetings (or however often you’d like to have them) come into play!

These meetings offer a great way for couples to get together to discuss important issues and improve their relationship.

Many couples use a standard four-part agenda for their marriage meeting, which includes time for:

Appreciation – showing your spouse how much they mean to you and expressing gratitude for the things they do.
Chores – discussing household items that need to be accomplished during the upcoming week.
Plan For Good Times – making plans for date nights, family activities, and more.
Problems and Challenges – addressing conflicts or issues that have come up in the household, the family, and/or in the relationship.

Addressing these four core topics on a regular basis is a great way for you and your spouse to reconnect and communicate on a regular basis.

These weekly meetings allow you to quickly address problems before they become bigger issues and help you keep your romance alive by setting time aside for just the two of you.

Marriage meetings are also a great way for struggling couples to help get their relationship back on track. But these meetings aren’t just for couples who are having issues.

Weekly meetings can also be beneficial to couples who are already in a great relationship.

Scheduling time to keep each other up to date will help strengthen your bond and improve upon your relationship even more.

How Often Should You Have Marriage Meetings?

While the frequency of your meetings will vary depending on your relationship and your schedule, most couples opt to meet at least once a week.

Holding regular weekly meetings will ensure you and your spouse stay on top of things that need to be done from day to day.

Plus it gives you a standing date to catch up on a regular basis.

Marriage meetings don’t need to be time-consuming, either.

Sticking to a 30-minute time frame is a good idea to help keep your meetings productive.

This time limit will ensure you stay on track and take care of the important discussion topics that need to be addressed. You can always extend your meeting if items on the agenda will take longer than half an hour to discuss.

Benefits of a Weekly Marriage Meeting

Now, you might be on the fence about whether a marriage meeting is a good idea for you and your partner.

You might be thinking things like:

These only sound like they are for couples who don’t have time to regularly connect.
I could never get my partner on board with these, so what’s the point?
This sounds way too structured for our lifestyle.

Rest assured these are all just fears you are having and marriage meetings have many benefits.

These benefits can make it easier to get your partner on board to participate and work well for any couple no matter the current state of their relationship or time constraints.

So, what are the reasons to add these weekly meetings with your spouse onto your calendar?

Improved communication

One of the foundational pillars of a strong and healthy marriage is effective communication.

However, amidst the hustle and bustle of daily life, couples often find themselves caught in a web of miscommunications, unspoken frustrations, and neglected conversations.

Even couples who talk on a regular basis can benefit from a scheduled meeting designed specifically for touching base with your partner.

This is where the transformative power of weekly marriage meetings comes into play, offering a structured opportunity for couples to enhance their communication, deepen their understanding, and strengthen their emotional connection.

Sharing the workload

Taking the time to meet with your partner to discuss the household budget and divvy up weekly chores is a great way to ensure each member of the marriage is an equal partner.

In marriages, we often see the household workload begin to fall on the shoulders of one member of the partnership.

But when you take the time to discuss what needs to be done ahead of time, the chores can be equally divided between the two of you without a fight.

If you have kids, this can also be a great opportunity for you and your partner to get aligned on what you expect from your kids in terms of sharing the workload, making you a united team in the eyes of your kids.

Discussing problems before they start to grow

When we have issues in our relationship, sometimes it’s easier to just push them aside because we can’t find the right time to bring them up.

However, this isn’t a healthy way to deal with things in any aspect of life, least of all your relationship.

But part of the weekly meeting process is discussing these very issues.

Taking the time to bring up problems, frustrations, and needs each of you have in your marriage when you notice them can prevent those small issues from growing into an insurmountable problem.

Reigniting the romance

No matter how long you and your partner have been married, there comes a time when the romance begins to fade if you don’t feed the flame.

While weekly marriage meetings may not seem like an obvious gateway to romance, they can definitely improve your relationship.

Putting the effort into planning romantic activities, like at home date nights and romantic getaways, during your weekly meetings is a great way to keep the romance alive as the years go on.

And showing your appreciation for your spouse on a regular basis can also help strengthen your romantic bond.

Getting to know your spouse

Even if you and your partner have been married for years, there are probably several things you still don’t know about each other.

Taking the time to schedule a weekly conversation with your spouse is a great way to learn more about each other, learn about your wants and needs, and become closer in your relationship.

These meetings also offer an opportunity for you to get to know what’s going on with your spouse at this time in the areas of life in which you aren’t immediately involved such as work, things with friends, and so on.

Talking about your relationship in a neutral setting

Since the whole point of a weekly marriage meeting is to touch base with your spouse, the meeting provides each of you with a neutral place to share the positive and negative aspects of your relationship.

This will give you both a chance to discuss sensitive topics without worrying about your partner becoming combative or defensive.

Marriage Meeting Topics

If you’re still reading, you’re likely intrigued by this concept and are ready to give it a go!

But what on earth do you talk about to get the ball rolling?

Before you go into your first marriage meeting, it’s a good idea to have a plan in place.

And one of the most important things to consider is what you’ll talk about during each meeting.

That’s why it’s best to outline a few topics you both want to discuss during your meetings before you get started.

These basic agenda items are a good starting point for planning your own weekly meetings:

Budgeting and finances

Staying on top of your household’s finances is an essential chore for any marriage.

And whether you both have a say in the family’s budgeting or only one of you handles this chore, it should be a topic on your weekly meeting agenda.

During your meeting, take the time to go through each of your spending from the previous week, check to see where you stand in each of your budgeting categories, adjust the budget as needed, and discuss any big purchases that may need to be made in the near future.

If talking about money is something that makes you uncomfortable, this can also be a good opportunity for you to start dipping your toes into the water so you and your partner can practice doing this.

Chores and projects

Taking a few minutes to talk about the things that need to be done around the house in the upcoming week is a great way to ensure each member of the marriage does their part in the household upkeep.

Divvying up the chores and household projects will keep home maintenance from becoming a one-sided affair, allowing you both to share in the regular household chores.

During this part of the meeting, consider discussing:

Regular chores that need to be completed from week to week, who will do each chore, and when those chores will be done
Larger projects that need to be started or completed and who is responsible for doing each step
Things that need to be repaired, if the project will be done by one of you, or if someone needs to be hired to complete the project
Maintenance projects that need to be completed outside the house, like landscaping tasks or vehicle maintenance
Shopping list updates, including groceries, personal care items, and household items that need to be purchased on the next shopping trip

Upcoming activities and appointments

Knowing each other’s schedules is essential in making family plans, so taking the time to discuss upcoming events and appointments during your meeting is another must-add item to your agenda.

Think about different activities you and your spouse may have in the near future, like:

Events and activities the kids may be involved in, including sports events and practices, school activities, and weekly lessons
Work functions that require attendance outside business hours
Date nights
Appointments you, your spouse, or your kids have in the future
Plans made with family or friends
Upcoming trips
Fun family activities

Appreciation and encouragement

I hope this goes without saying, but your weekly meetings don’t have to be all about business!

In fact, I hope they aren’t!

Remember, where you cultivate joy, amazing things happen, and your marriage is no exception.

This can look like taking the time to discuss positive things you noticed about your partner, sharing appreciation, affirming their thoughts and feelings, sharing words of encouragement or affirmation, and expressing gratitude for your relationship.

When coming up with words of encouragement, try to:

Be specific: Giving specific examples of things you appreciate about your partner will mean much more than general compliments.
Think big and small: While giving big compliments to your spouse is great, it’s also perfectly acceptable to tell your spouse the small things you love about them. No encouragement is too big or too small to mention at your weekly meetings.
Make sure it’s positive: Avoid backhanded compliments or complaints during this section of the meeting. Always offer positive and encouraging words to your spouse without added criticism.
Plan ahead: Don’t try to come up with words of encouragement on the spot. Make sure you’re prepared for this part of the meeting by taking the time to list some positive things to tell your spouse before the meeting starts.

Addressing frustrations and needs

I already mentioned this earlier in the blog post, but the importance of this cannot be understated.

While it’s important to talk about the good aspects of your marriage, it’s equally important to address any frustrations you’re experiencing or needs you have.

Using your weekly meeting to point out your frustrations and needs in your marriage can help prevent small things from building into a big fight.

When discussing these issues during your meeting, be sure not to point fingers and instead provide constructive criticism that can help your spouse understand the issue from your point of view.

There are a variety of different topics you could discuss during this part of the meeting, including (but not limited to):

Issues with your children and/or their behavior at home or at school
Problems with disciplining your children
Differing parenting styles
Issues with work/life balance
Problems surrounding sex and intimacy
Struggles with faith and/or religion
Problems with chores or projects around the house
Overspending or budgeting conflicts (Related: Here’s an article on how to get your wife or husband to stop spending money.)
Career concerns
Scheduling issues
Issues surrounding how your spouse makes you feel in certain situations
Lifestyle concerns, like dieting, drinking

Talking about frustrations and needs aren’t even limited to things you’re experiencing within the relationship – it can also extend to things going on outside your relationship that you need your partner’s support on.

Some examples could include:

An issue you’re experiencing at work
Conflict your child is dealing with
Health concerns
Extended family concerns
Community problems
And so on.

Weekly goals

Supporting each other in reaching your goals and dreams is essential in a solid marriage.

That’s why your weekly meeting is the perfect place to discuss progress toward your goals.

Each of you can outline what you did to accomplish your goals during the previous week and the steps you’ll take next week to work toward achieving your goals.

This part of your meeting is also a great place for you and your spouse to discuss how each of you can support the other in reaching their goals this week.

Related: Here’s an article with examples of realistic financial goals.

Marriage plans

Keeping the spark alive is an important aspect of a strong marriage.

And while setting up weekly meetings with your spouse is a great way to improve your communication, it’s not the only thing you can do to improve your relationship.

Discussing other marriage and relationship plans during your weekly meetings will force you to really think about making your marriage a priority.

During this time, you can plan date nights, discuss things you’d like to improve about your marriage and talk about goals for the future.

How to Have a Marriage Meeting

There really is no set method for having a marriage meeting.

That means how, when, and where you have your meeting is totally up to you!

With that said, there are a few steps you can take to make scheduling your marriage meeting quick and easy!

Step One – Bring up the idea with your partner

The first step to starting weekly marriage meetings is to get your spouse on board.

Let them know that you’d like to meet to discuss a few things, then schedule a time when you both are free to get your first meeting started.

If your spouse isn’t immediately on board or feels wary, use the first meeting to talk about the benefits of these meetings, what’s in it for them, and what they can expect.

Step Two – Make a plan together

Even if a weekly marriage meeting was your idea, this activity is supposed to be something you do together.

That means you need to plan the agenda for your meetings together. Provide your spouse with suggestions and ideas of topics you would like to discuss, then allow them to add to the list if they want.

Working together on the topics of your meeting will ensure each of you has a chance to voice your opinions and concerns.

Follow a set agenda

Once you have your discussion topics outlined, create a standing agenda together that you will use for each of your meetings.

Following a similar meeting structure from week to week will ensure the meetings run smoothly and will help you include everything that needs to be discussed during every meeting.

Set a standing date

After your planning is complete, it’s time to schedule your meetings.

Setting a standing meeting time every week is the best way to be sure you keep up with your meeting schedule.

Pick a time you both are available every week, like Sunday afternoons for example, then make it a point to meet at that time each and every week.

Weekly Marriage Meeting Questions

When you first start your weekly marriage meetings, it can be difficult to get the conversation started.

I’m talking about awkward silence where your partner stares at you, wondering why you’re doing this.

That’s why I recommend being armed with questions to get the conversation flowing.

Even if you can get through your regular household topics quickly, like with these financial questions for couples, coming up with ways to get you and your spouse talking about deeper issues may be a struggle.

Here are some ideas you can steal! (Feel free to use these to brainstorm some of your own ideas as well.)

What did you appreciate about me this week?
What needs do you have that aren’t being addressed?
Is there anything I can do to make you feel more loved?
Did I do anything this week that unknowingly hurt you?
How do you feel about our sex life and intimacy level?
What has been stressing you out lately and how can I help?
What activities do you enjoy doing together that we can do more of?
How do you feel about the distribution of household duties this week?
What is going on at work right now and is there anything I can do to help?
Is there anything going on in the next week that I need to be aware of?
What did I do this week that made you feel loved?
How can I be there for you in the coming days?

These simple questions are a great way to get the conversation started and learn more about your partner.

And asking these questions may be so helpful, that you decide to include them into your weekly meeting agenda!

Marriage Meeting Tips

Before I wrap up this blog post, I want to share some marriage meeting tips, because getting into the groove of weekly marriage meetings might take a little time.

But with these helpful tips, you and your partner can make your meetings run smoothly and efficiently from the very beginning.

Meet alone (without your kids)

Since this meeting is supposed to be a chance for you and your spouse to connect, your kids should not be a part of this meeting.

If you want to schedule a family meeting at another time, go for it!

But your weekly marriage meeting should just be between you and your spouse.

Avoid distractions

Just as it’s important for you and your spouse to meet alone, it’s also important to ensure you aren’t distracted during your meetings.

Set up your meeting in a private place, away from the rest of the family.

And don’t forget to turn off the television and silence your phones while you’re meeting so you both have each other’s undivided attention.

Start with appreciations

Kicking your meeting off on a positive note will help set the tone for the entire discussion.

That’s why it’s a good idea to start your meetings by telling each other what you appreciate about them.

This positive step can help make the more difficult discussions in the meeting less contentious and more productive.

Keep a list of discussion points

To ensure each of you talks about the things you need to discuss that week, it’s a good idea to keep a running list of discussion points for your meeting.

Keep a notebook nearby so you can quickly write down an issue or question when it pops into your head. That way, you won’t forget to mention it at your next meeting.

Take notes during the meeting

Designate one member of the meeting as the note-taker.

Make sure you jot down notes as you discuss each topic, so you can look back on your list if one of you can’t remember what you discussed.

Keeping notes is also helpful when updating your family calendar or scheduling reservations for a date night.

Sit next to each other

Although it may be tempting to sit across from each other at the dinner table while you hold your meetings, this seating arrangement can actually feel confrontational.

Instead, sit next to each other in a comfortable location in your home.

This will allow you to have a more relaxed conversation and help keep the more difficult discussion topics more lighthearted.

Use your computer or phone if you need to

Since you’ll be discussing your budget and schedule, there may be a need to use your computer or phone during your meeting.

Opening up your budgeting spreadsheet or your phone’s calendar is totally fine!

Just make sure you don’t get distracted by email notifications or social media apps while you’re using your device.

Try to keep it short

There’s no reason your weekly marriage meeting needs to be a long, drawn-out meeting every time you sit down together.

Keeping your meeting under 30 minutes is a great way to ensure you stick to the agenda and don’t drag out the discussion every time you meet.

Keep it light at first

When you first start your weekly meetings, it’s a good idea to avoid bringing up larger issues or topics that typically lead to a fight.

The point of the first few meetings is to get into a rhythm and establish a routine. And if both of you dread the meetings from the beginning, it’s unlikely you’ll continue them.

Instead, stick to smaller issues that are easy to resolve when you first start meeting, then build up to working on larger issues when you are both more comfortable discussing your problems without things becoming heated.

Set limits, if needed

While discussing basic housekeeping items, like budgeting and weekly chores, may be easy topics, talking about appreciation and grievances can sometimes get out of control.

If you or your partner tends to ramble during this part of the meeting, consider different ways you can cut down on the discussion time when it comes to these touchy topics.

Limit the number of talking points: Start by setting a limit to the number of compliments and/or issues you are both allowed to discuss during each meeting. Keeping the number of topics limited to two or three positives and negatives will ensure you stay on topic. And it will keep you both from going on and on about the same topic for too long.
Set a timer: Giving each other a set amount of time, like 10 minutes, to discuss positives and negatives in your relationship is another simple way to keep the discussion on track. Start the timer at the beginning of the discussion, then let your partner say the things they want to say. After that, it’s your turn to talk for your set time frame. This method will help you be sure that each of you has equal time to discuss your concerns without either of you overtaking the meeting with your feelings.

Use “I” statements

Especially when discussing your needs and frustrations, it can be easy to jump into the blame game and put all the blame on your spouse.

To avoid pointing fingers during your meeting, try sticking to “I” statements instead of “you” statements.

This will help you convey your feelings and emotions without putting the blame on your spouse.

Practice active listening

When we get into a deep discussion with our spouse, it can be easy to simply hear what our spouse is saying without actually listening to them.

Active listening helps you not only understand what your partner is trying to say but also helps you empathize with their situation. When practicing active listening, try to:

Let your partner speak without interruption
See the situation from your partner’s perspective
Ask questions for clarification, without disguising the questions as accusations
Paraphrase what they’re saying to be sure you understand

Stay positive

To ensure your meetings don’t become a big fight every time you sit down, it’s essential that both partners come into the meeting with a positive attitude.

Use supportive language throughout the meeting.

And take the time to actually listen to your partner’s concerns, thinking about the issue from their point of view.

End with affection

Just as it’s important to start your meeting on a positive note, it’s also a good idea to end your meeting with some positivity.

Ending your meeting with a kiss, hug, or other form of physical affection helps conclude the meeting with positivity and love, giving each of you the opportunity to look forward to your next weekly meeting.

As we’ve explored the transformative potential of weekly marriage meetings, it becomes evident that such a simple practice can profoundly impact the health and happiness of a relationship.

By dedicating time each week to connect, communicate, and collaborate, couples can create a strong foundation built on understanding, respect, and love.

Other tips on the weekly marriage meeting? Comment below.