We follow different religions. What do we need to sort out before marrying?

The avoidance you describe is understandable, as these conversations are indeed hard, but delaying them only raises the stakes and makes finding common ground more expensive later. It is crucial to have direct, open discussions now, before marriage, about how your differing religious backgrounds will manifest in your shared life, especially given your families' involvement. Start by outlining which religious ceremonies you each feel are non-negotiable for your wedding, any future naming ceremonies, or even rites of passage for your children. Consider how you will celebrate festivals – which ones, whose traditions will lead, and how you will navigate attending events for both religions. When it comes to children, discuss their religious upbringing: will they be raised in one faith, both, or neither? What names will you choose, and will they reflect a specific religious identity? Beyond your immediate household, clarify expectations from both sets of in-laws. Will you be expected to participate in their religious practices? How will you set boundaries that respect both families while protecting your own choices as a couple? For example, if one set of parents insists on a specific ritual for a grandchild, how will you respond as a united front? Sometimes, a parent might frame their wishes as a deeply held belief when it is actually a way to exert control over your new family; swap the genders in that scene and nothing about the mechanism changes — it is a dynamic, not a sex. Remember that both your families will have expectations, and you both need to manage them together. These conversations will reveal potential friction points, but it is far better to address them now and build strategies for managing them than to discover irreconcilable differences after you are married. Approaching this with honesty and a commitment to understanding each other’s perspectives, and those of your families, will lay a stronger foundation for your future.