Why Every Modern Couple Should Be Talking About Prenups—Yes, Even You!

When most couples imagine wedding planning, they picture florals and playlists—not prenups. But as relationships evolve, so should the conversations we have around them. In this honest and empowering post, Canadian lawyers and Jointly co-founders Amanda Baron and Aimee Schalles challenge the outdated stigma around prenuptial agreements. Far from being cold or pessimistic, a prenup—done right—can be an act of deep care, clarity, and commitment. Think of it as part of the same love story you’re already writing: a thoughtful, honest plan for your future, made while you’re still on the same team. Here’s why it might be the most romantic decision you make.

When people picture wedding planning, they think of seating charts, song lists, and signature cocktails – not spreadsheets and legal agreements. But here’s the truth: your wedding is one day. Your partnership is the rest of your life. And making a prenuptial agreement isn’t about betting against your marriage – it’s about planning for your future with clarity, calm, and commitment.

As a lawyer and co-founder of Jointly, a Canadian platform helping couples create affordable and modern prenups and cohabitation agreements, I’ve spoken to so many couples who say the same thing: “We know we should have this conversation, but we don’t know how.” Or: “Starting our marriage sitting in separate lawyers’ offices just feels wrong.”

Here’s the good news: it doesn’t have to be that way. When done with the right tone and timing, a prenup can actually bring couples closer, not push them apart.

A prenup isn’t cold. It’s courageous.

We don’t shy away from planning other big decisions – why should this be any different? A prenup is like your wedding budget, your guest list, or your honeymoon spreadsheet. It’s just another important conversation about logistics, priorities, and values. And like all the best wedding decisions, it should be done early, thoughtfully, and together.

The stigma around prenups often comes from the idea that they’re all about mistrust or imbalance. But most couples today – especially younger ones – don’t see it that way. In fact, recent surveys show Gen Z and Millennials are more likely to want a prenup than older generations. Why? Because they value financial transparency, emotional intelligence, and equality in relationships.

Talking about a prenup is talking about your real life together

So how do you bring it up without it feeling awkward or confrontational? The answer: tie it to something you’re already doing.

Moving in together? Talking about joint finances? Saving for a house? Those are perfect entry points. The same way you’d sit down to decide how you’ll split rent or who’s better at remembering to pay bills, you can also talk about what would happen if your relationship ever changed.

Here are a few simple reframes that make the conversation feel natural:

• “We’ve been talking about merging our finances – let’s also talk about what happens if we ever need to separate them.”
  
• “We’re planning for our life together – what would it look like to plan for every possibility?”
  
• “I love what we’re building. I think having an agreement is a way to protect that, no matter what happens.”

This isn’t about being pessimistic. It’s about being prepared.

You don’t need to be wealthy to benefit

A common misconception is that prenups are only for the ultra-rich. But that’s not the case. The truth is, a prenup can help any couple – especially those with debts, kids from a previous relationship, a small business, or future inheritances on the horizon.

Prenups aren’t just about protecting existing assets; they’re about setting expectations. They cover things like:

• Who’s responsible for shared or separate debt
  
• What happens to pets, property, or family gifts
  
• Whether support will be provided if the relationship ends
  
• How to handle contributions to a home, business, or savings plan

When both partners are on the same page, it reduces uncertainty, minimizes potential conflict, and makes sure you both feel seen and supported.

Planning while you’re still on the same team

One of the most powerful things a couple can say to each other is: “I want to talk through the hard stuff while we’re still in a good place.” That’s what a prenup really is – a conversation about values, responsibilities, and care, made while your relationship is strong.

Think about it this way: if something did go wrong years down the road, you’d want your past self – the one in love, thoughtful, and fair – to help guide the process. Not your future self, who may be hurt or scared or under pressure.

This approach isn’t just legally smart – it’s emotionally kind.

A prenup can actually make your relationship stronger

At Jointly, we’ve seen that couples who talk about their prenup with openness and curiosity often end up feeling more connected. That’s because the process forces you to talk about things that matter – your financial goals, your fears, your assumptions, and how you define fairness.

In a way, it’s like a relationship check-in. It helps you understand each other more deeply, especially around topics that are easy to avoid in everyday life.

There’s also something incredibly affirming about saying: “We’re making this agreement not because we expect to separate, but because we love each other enough to prepare with care.”

Why now?

Modern relationships are different than they used to be. People are marrying later. Many couples live together for years before tying the knot. Women are increasingly the higher earners in relationships. And a growing number of people are building businesses, freelancing, or managing complex blended family dynamics.

All of this makes communication – and legal clarity – more important than ever.

And that’s where tools like Jointly come in: we make it easy, accessible, and stigma-free to start the conversation and get to a finished agreement. But regardless of how you make one, what matters is that you do it together.

What love really looks like

The truth is, love isn’t just about grand romantic gestures or spontaneous road trips. It’s also about the unglamorous but deeply meaningful stuff: deciding what matters, having the hard conversations, and being clear about your shared future.

A prenup doesn’t mean you’re giving up on “happily ever after.” It means you’re writing your own version of it – one built on trust, intention, and emotional maturity.

So go ahead – plan your flower arrangements, write your vows, book your dream photographer. But also plan your future. Together. With open hearts, open minds, and a little bit of legal clarity.