Premarital counseling

We're doing it next month. It's more like a "class" for us--a Friday evening and then all day the next day (Saturday). We have to take a personality test before we go in. Basically it's to help you improve on communication skills and whatnot.

I am currently doing it...In mine we have done personality tests, talked about finances, talked about how we met, what we expect out of marriage, etc. they have been excellent experience. Don't worry they are painless! :-)

We have 2 out 3 sessions completed. We are Lutheran, so I don't know how any other religions do it, but it's a really really simple and laid back process so far for us. We are going through a little book that describes the components of marriage (finances, sex, children, commitment, etc.) and there are accompanying bible passages, of course, that detail what we should expect and how we should handle it. It's easy as pie, and the discussions are actually really helpful and fun. We didn't take any tests like the brides above.

Dear Amanda, when I attended premarital counseling several years ago I did not know what to expect. However, right after I have completed the training I found myself better prepared to get marry. This course is to teach you about marriage, the economy within a couple, intimacy, and a lot more. Just go in with an open mind.

My experience was the same as Ali's but we're Catholic. There was 70 couples in our group (Which they said was small?!) but you only speak with your partner for the most part.

We have to do a class and then a weekend retreat. Our friends did the same thing and they said it was pretty hysterical.

Every church is different, but at ours basically you just sort out things like what you want out of life and how you feel certain responsibilities in marriage should be handle. Also you will discuss the things you like best and least about each other and any problems you have had in the past. We even got a little deeper and discussed issues like our families and previous relationships. It sounds a little scary at first but it helps to have it all out in the open before you get married.

I'm hoping we won't have to bring up past arguments because I don't want to have unneeded fights. Ours will just be by ourselves, not with any other couples. The weekend retreat sounds kind of fun, I wish we could do that!

We went through DH's health insurance because I wanted premarital counseling. Although, I really just wanted it for help in dealing with his ex-wife who gets me pissed off and stressed out a lot because she changes the kids' schedules nearly every week! LOL. But we've gone a couple times and she's been really helpful.

@Jenn: Were you and DH married when you went through the premarital counseling?? If you weren't, how did that work?? I don't have insurance but we would like to do actually premarital sessions not just this class.

We weren't married yet when we went through the counseling. His health insurance covered it. Just a $20 copay-SWEET! It's just nice having an objective person help us to understand each other's position on things. Honestly I don't see how those short classes can truly prepare you for marriage. We've been living together for 2 years so we knew a lot of things weren't going to change. Everyone always has a need for improvement, right

Jessica, 70 people???! When we do our sessions, it's just fh, me, and pastor in his office. Wow, I don't know if I would be all that comfortable with that. Did you feel like you were getting anything out of it?

I'm going to have my FH look into the counseling through his insurance. I'm wondering how that would work...

Have him go to his health insurance website. Or just start calling doctors/counselors and see if they accept your FH's insurance plan. It's really easy. I think a lot of people really miss out on great help because it's "embarrassing" to go to a counselor. DH has Highmark Blue Cross/Blue Shield, and I've previously had Aetna and United Healthcare and they all covered it.

My fiance also has Blue Cross/ Blue Shield and we gave them his insurance info over the phone. Since it is $65 / session I am hoping his insurance covers it (his insurance is waaay better than mine).

I'm getting married the same day. We've not started ours yet either. I'm a little nervous myself, but I know it will help us to talk about things that need to be addressed.

I am with all the Catholic girls on here. We did ours during a weekend event. There were only 20 couples and 6 guest speaker couples came in and discussed different topics. When the speech was over we had time to go off by ourselves and talk about what we just heard and answer questions.

I would say do it...It will only help your marriage in the future!! Only good can come out of it! My FH and myself have been going on our own and it really has helped in certain areas!! Be excited! You will learn more about your FH!

We are on week 2 of ours but my pastor had to cancel due to his daughters high school graduation. So far we have done our "personal 10 commandments", discussed how our families effect us (we both have absentee fathers), and gone over if we have any fears about marriage. Our next assignment was to fill outon a scale of 1-7 where we rank certain issues to see if we are on the same page.

I really think the key is to talk to each other about everything on a regular basis. I was freaking out about getting married a few days before our family ceremony. And I talked to DH about being scared. I just take marriage so seriously, which is why I waited til I was 26 to get engaged and 27 to get married. And he asked what I was afraid of specifically and such and we had a good talk. A couple months prior to this I was having a freak-out moment and we talked about it then.