Is a Marriage Preparation Course Compulsory?
A marriage preparation course is designed to help couples prepare for the ups and downs of the journey called marriage. While taking a marriage preparation course online is an easy and convenient way to strengthen your relationship, whether it is compulsory or not is a common question.
There are many reasons why individuals may take a pre-marriage course. For some, it may be church or state-sanctioned in the form of Pre Cana classes, while other responsible adults are just looking for advice on how to have the best marriage possible. The fact that taking such a course builds a strong foundation for your marriage and shows your commitment towards the relationship cannot be stressed enough.
Imagine going for the Olympics without training for the events.
Imagine trying to make a career without any education whatsoever.
Imagine trying to become the President without ever learning about history.
Then what makes us think that formalising the relationship by tying the knot can suddenly prepare us for the times ahead?
It doesn’t.
Now let’s deep dive into the reasons why taking a pre-marriage course is important for couples to build heathier and happier relationships.
The need for marriage preparation course
You may have been planning for days, months or may be years for the D-day of union with your partner, and are absolutely ready for “Till Death Do Us Part”. If so, you aren’t alone!
Couples mostly foresee and plan for the first few months or years of marriage i.e., where to live, where to travel, how happy they would be by finally being together with their partner, brief discussions about kids and money matters, etc.
But what happens after the honeymoon phase of the relationship is over and you have to settle down with your partner after marriage?
Studies show that physiological changes take place at that time, which can affect your relationship. The question is – will you be ready to handle those changes?
Will your relationship struggle in the face of changed expectations or will it be smooth sailing for you and your partner?
A pre-marriage course prepares you for such eventualities and more.
You can learn a lot in an online marriage course before you decide to tie the knot. Studies show that relational pronouns matter in a marriage. For example, couples who use the term “we” (and other couple-based pronouns) instead of “I” in everyday speech resulted in more positive couple behavior.
These findings indicate that language and expressions of love and affection are important for a healthy, lasting marriage. Turning yourselves from an “I” to a “We” is just one of the things you will learn in a pre-marriage class.
Here is everything you need to know about taking a marriage preparation course.
When is a marriage course compulsory?
The Australian Institute of Family Studies found that adaptability is an essential quality of a lasting marriage.
Why is this important? Because who you are at the beginning of your marriage is not always who you end up being years later.
By taking the marriage preparation course, couples learn how to grow together and be adaptable to the changes that may come their way.
Most couples make pre-marriage classes a personal choice. They want to prepare themselves for marriage by learning communication techniques and conflict resolution skills. Pre-marriage classes also help them create common goals regarding finances and family.
But there are some circumstances where a marriage course is compulsory. For example, those who belong to the Catholic Church and plan to get married are required to complete a marriage preparation course or a Pre-Cana class.
There are also state-sanctioned marriage preparation courses that give a discount on the application of a marriage license to couples.
After going through this, if you have decided to take up the course then here’s what’s in store for you.
Marriage Preparation Course – What to expect
If you have never taken an online marriage preparation course, you may be wondering what to expect.
Throughout the lesson plan, couples will learn everything they need to know about building a strong and successful marriage.
For this, couples need to sit down and do a self-paced course. The lessons contain videos, questionnaires, and activities to help couples learn more about each other. Topics covered in the course are:
- Creating shared goals for a happier future
- Learning the importance of compassion and empathy
- Communication techniques
- The importance of emotional and physical intimacy
- How traditions play a role in your family life
Benefits of an Online Marriage Preparation Course
- When you get engaged, you likely know your partner very well, but there is always more to learn! A marriage preparation course helps couples get on the same page about their future while learning communication and conflict resolution techniques to help them deal with the inevitable ups and downs of a marriage.
- Even if couples have been dating for many years or have decided to get married after dating for a short time and believe that they “know” their partners, marriage prep courses help them take a deeper look at issues that they may face in the future (finance, intimacy, communication, etc.). Such courses also help them connect in a better way on an emotional level.
- If you take a marriage course online instead of in-person, you can decide your schedule. You can also stop & start the lesson plans at your convenience.
- Shy couples will also appreciate the comfortable atmosphere. There is no counselor present, so you will be able to be as open and vulnerable with your spouse as you wish.
- Online courses are also convenient for couples who already have children since there will be no need for childcare when taking the classes.
- What’s more, the courses are set up to be fun, engaging, and enjoyable.
Enroll in a marriage course today to build a relationship that you’ve dreamed of!
How long is a marriage preparation course?
In a study on marital happiness, SAGE Journals randomly assigned married couples to engage activities that were defined as either exciting or pleasant.
Results show that couples who engaged in the exciting activities had higher levels of marital satisfaction than those who were spending mundane but pleasant time together.
Taking an online marriage course should be considered an exciting new adventure. You are getting to know your spouse on a deeper level over the course of a day, a week, a month, or several months.
The length of an online marriage course is entirely up to the couple. Marriage.com’s marriage courses last anywhere from 2 to 5 hours, to be attempted by a couple at their own pace.
Is a Marriage Preparation Course Compulsory – The Verdict
Going through marital classes will show your spouse-to-be that you care and will help you get on the same page about the future of your relationship. So it is not a question of just being mandatory. Taking such a course is absolutely necessary to make sure that the castle of romance that you build has a strong foundation.
Whether you’re searching for a marriage preparation course online for free or you have the resources to devote time and finances into your lessons, there has never been a better time to take a pre-marriage course.
Want to have a happier, healthier marriage?
If you feel disconnected or frustrated about the state of your marriage but want to avoid separation and/or divorce, the marriage.com course meant for married couples is an excellent resource to help you overcome the most challenging aspects of being married.
Rachael Pace is a noted relationship writer associated with Marriage.com. She provides inspiration, support, and empowerment in the form of motivational articles and essays. Rachael enjoys studying the evolution of loving partnerships and is passionate about writing on them. She believes that everyone should make room for love in their lives and encourages couples to work on overcoming their challenges together.
