sorry for the long read.
I have a little different take…..or two cents of advice. It is the same we’ve shared with couples and singles for the past two plus decades.
first, admittedly open, honest…..revealing discussion between two people in a relationship….long or short term is at best challenging, fearful and with many stumbling blocks and pitfalls. Even the best of relationships has a great amount of difficulty “baring their soul” conversation with their SO/lover/best friend/soulmate. Especially when feelings, desires, wants, needs are involved. Ten times that when it involves intimacy….sex…..and the fear of hurting that special person.
We have found a gradual step by step elevation of conversation….direct….not sugar coated….not camouflaged with half hearted “fishing” statements/questions and certainly never by demands or statements of “or else”, “got to have” or “I deserve”. After all you are a couple, a team….the two of you against the world. This should be an open conversation, not limited by time, casual about the both of you. An extra, something exciting/pleasurable for you both….with equal interest and a casual easy simple first step. Do not cloud it with Multiple “firsts” or directly jumping in with both feet into the deep end.
The Open Couple/Lifestyle/Ethical Non Monogamy is very broad. It covers experiences….shared experiences….that could fill the Grand Canyon. It does not define you it is just another branch of your life you share together. My best image is think of it as a great tree. A mighty Oak, Maple or Beech Tree. A strong thick trunk with many deep roots, this is your relationship base. From this to many branch’s stretching in every direction with many more branches that finger out from that. Each with smaller branches that finger out even further, always growing. All tipped with clusters of leave for each life experience with new buds renewing those experiences. You grow and share together, as one, with many experiences in all aspects of your life together.
Alternate lifestyle is all inclusive. There are so many possibilities. From art, music, travel, food etc etc. Then there is also more intimate discoveries, personal, open and shared. From adult social activities (clothed/non sexual, think dirty dancing/self expression), nudism, social mingling, lifestyle/ENM social but only the two of you (enjoying the social energy but only as a couple, just you two), same room play/sex between you two but in a room with other couples (voyeur) watching/being watched, playful touching with others, couples soft swap/soft swing (oral/manual only), from here the possibilities are endless only limited by your imagination and mutual agreement only limitations are the limits you both agree together. You move forward as a couple, open conversation both agreeable before participation.
Like. New born you learn to move (communicate with each other), crawl, walk, run and race. You both decide next steps/experiences together equally.
I would advise the communication/comfort level for you both, small steps, small experiences shared together. Then openly talk after for any advancement further. Try going to a house party/club/event as a couple for the social experience, talk openly with others. Only play is between the two of you to start….baby steps.
In short do not involve yourselves in activities that if uncomfortable you can’t walk away from intact with your relationship between you both.
There are plenty of us to offer advice etc on this site, do only what the two of you are comfortable with as yourself, as a couple and your relationship.