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Premarital

Scrap These Marriage Myths Today

Scrap These Marriage Myths Today

By Premarital, Relationship Basics4 Comments

Are you engaged, newly married, or even just hoping to be one day? Chances are, you’ve probably got some preconceived notions about what marriage will be – or should be – like. It’s understandable. Whether it’s through TV, social media, or the internet in general, we’re inundated by different representations of marriage like never before. From the sensationalized and often short-lived celebrity marriages, to the dramatic ultimatums of reality shows, to the relatively normal marriage of your neighbors down the street, it’s hard to know what is actually real and healthy. You can jump in blindly, but having realistic expectations will help you feel happier and more empowered in your marriage. Let’s take a look at three marriage myths you should scrap today. Read More

6 reasons newlywed counseling makes sense

6 Reasons Newlywed Counseling Makes Sense

By Premarital, Relationship Basics2 Comments

If you’re reading this, there’s a good chance you did some form of premarital counseling, and that’s great! It’s a proven and proactive way to get your marriage off on the right foot. Premarital education is where Prepare/Enrich first made its mark over 40 years ago, and it goes without saying that we couldn’t be bigger proponents of it.

But what happens after the wedding, when you start living the real married life? What do you do when you encounter those first big conflicts or need help navigating issues you never could have foreseen before marriage? It seems like this would be a really good time for another check-in on your relationship – in the form of newlywed counseling. Read More

Don't Say Yes to the Wedding Stress

Don’t Say Yes to the Wedding Stress

By Premarital2 Comments

Engagement is often touted as one of the most exciting times of your life. Sure, the actual act of getting engaged might live up to the hype. You’re giddy in love with your new fiancé, and you’ve just marked a momentous turning point in your relationship. You know lots of really special moments lie ahead – moments you’ll remember for the rest of your life. In the meantime, you’ve got a wedding to plan.

Little do you know that hiding on the other side of that emotional high is a potential mountain of wedding-related stress. If you’re not careful, it can ruin the whole experience – and strain your relationship, too. We’re not trying to scare you, but we do want to help you be prepared to face these common sources of stress as you plan your wedding. Let’s dive in. Read More

Engagement Through The First Year - A Newlywed Guide - Part 1

Engagement Through The First Year: A Newlywed Guide – Part 1

By Premarital, Relationship Basics4 Comments

The period of engagement through the first year or two of marriage is quite a ride. You and your spouse – and your relationship – go through a lot of changes and transitions. Leading up to the wedding, you might feel overwhelmed with questions and decisions, not just about the big day, but for your future together. Once you’re married, new challenges arise, new issues develop, and new conflicts erupt (or existing ones take on a new dimension). While you can never fully know what this period will be like for you and your new spouse, you can be prepared so that you’re not completely caught off guard when that honeymoon feeling starts to fade just a bit. Luckily, this newlywed guide has you covered. Read More

Premarital couple facing each other smiling sitting in back of car

Premarital Milestones to Appreciate Even After You’re Married

By Premarital4 Comments

Marriage often seems to mark the start of your lives together. And yet, you had a life together before you were married, too. The milestones you went through when you were dating or engaged can lose a bit of their color with the passage of time and the start of a shiny new chapter of life. However, they are just as important to your story because they got you to where you are now. Here are the premarital milestones to appreciate even after you’re married. Read More

Couple Sitting on Deck Chairs and Kissing

Ask These Questions On Every Anniversary

By Connection, Premarital9 Comments

How do you celebrate your wedding anniversary? Whether you go big or keep it low-key, an anniversary is something to take pride in. It’s a great opportunity to reflect on the past year together in the context of your relationship. One way to make this a meaningful tradition is to ask each other these questions every year. (Consider jotting down your answers in a notebook or journal that you can look back on later!) Read More

How To Get The Most Out Of Premarital Counseling

By Premarital11 Comments

Have you recently started premarital counseling or are you getting ready to? Are you still considering whether it’s something you should do? Whether you’re being required to complete premarital through you church or you’re seeking it out on your own, there’s one thing you need to know: you’ll get out of it what you put into it. Here’s how to get the most out of premarital counseling. Read More

Cheerful newlywed couple dancing on sandy coast on sunny day

4 Common Newlywed Arguments

By Conflict, Premarital12 Comments

Newlyweds arguing. Does that seem like an oxymoron? While it might depend on how long you define the newlywed period, we usually associate newlyweds with the honeymoon phase – that blissful time after the wedding when everything seems carefree and happy. You see each other as pretty much perfect, and hearts float around you as you gaze at each other adoringly.

Okay, that might be a bit cliché – and not very realistic. The truth is, the first years of marriage are often quite challenging. As you start your life together and continue to get to know all of the different facets of each other, new issues pop up that may not have had the opportunity to reveal themselves before. Here are four common topics you might argue about as newlyweds. Read More

4 Virtues of Great Marriage Mentors

By Premarital3 Comments

Have you heard of marriage mentors? They’re often part of premarital programs in churches or other couple-focused organizations. You may have worked with a marriage mentor couple yourself and experienced the benefits firsthand.

Marriage mentors are pretty much what they sound like: mentors for your marriage. Also called “mentor couples,” marriage mentors are couples who’ve been married long enough to have experience and perspective when it comes to the ups and downs of marriage. They provide support, encouragement, and guidance to engaged or newlywed couples. If you serve as a marriage mentor couple already, thank you for giving your time and experience to this important work!

There are some misconceptions about marriage mentors. It might seem like they need to have a perfect marriage and be experts on relationships, but that’s simply not the case. It turns out, the best mentors often have these surprising traits: Read More

Why Relationship Assessments Shouldn’t Be One & Done

By Premarital, Relationship Basics9 Comments

Did you take a relationship assessment before you got married? For many of you, the answer is (hopefully) yes. Have you taken one since? The odds are less likely.

We understand – a lot of that pre-wedding stuff can feel like boxes to be checked off before the big day. If that resonates with you, we challenge and encourage you to think of it as the start of a journey together, and in that vein, the assessment as a tool to help you take stock of things along that journey. Yes, that means taking an assessment throughout your marriage.

Need more convincing? Here are five reasons you should say keep saying yes to assess(ment): Read More