Welcome to marriage-preparation.co.uk!

This web site, prepared by a group on behalf of 'Churches Together for Families', sets out to encourage a fresh start in marriage preparation and a reappraisal of the Church's role in supporting and enabling healthy marriages, sensitive to the experience and needs of couples. What can marriage preparation achieve?

For a couple it can

show the Church takes them and their relationship seriously
help their marriage service be more meaningful and personal
provide space to talk about important things together
help them get to know more about each other and their hopes for their future
give them the chance to meet other couples and share experiences.

For churches it can

involve them with people at a serious moment in their lives
help marriage services become more meaningful
provide a base for wider support for family life (e.g. parenting courses)
demonstrate the Church as a supportive community
show their commitment to people's marriages.

For marriage it can

emphasize the value and importance of marriage
model good practice
help couples set out on married life better prepared
help bridge the gap between ideal and reality.

So, we need marriage preparation that

couples enjoy - and tell others about
is relevant, and sensitive to the experience and needs of couples
is well delivered
is available everywhere
involves lay people from the churches.