Who Is Getting Married This Summer?

Spring is around the corner and summer not far behind. We are told by the end of May, many in our country will be vaccinated. Life will regain some normalcy. Some of you have been holding off getting married because of the pandemic.

This summer seems like a great time for a wedding. A beautiful wedding.

Many will be receiving a stimulus check in the next few weeks. There are lots of ways you can use the money. I get that. Weddings are expensive. But if you are getting married or if your children are getting married, consider using some of your stimulus check for premarital counseling.

Why get premarital counseling? I am sure most people get married with the best of intentions. They plan a happily ever after, but every marriage has problems and every marriage needs lots of work.

Please allow me to do a bit of a hard sell. Since one-half of first marriages end in divorce and two-thirds of second marriages end in divorce, pursuing professional premarital counseling shows foresight and courage.

Even if someone has been married before, it is still a smart move since people tend to make the same mistakes and carry the same patterns into a second marriage.

Professional counseling will help break old patterns and set healthy marital habits that help insure future children grow up in a healthy environment. If you are a parent of a son or daughter getting married this summer, you can help make a better life for your future grandchildren.

The length of time for premarital counseling depends on the issues you present. If a couple comes to me with a fairly healthy relationship, three sessions may be enough. More sessions may be indicated depending on your needs.

I have had an abundance of premarital counseling experience and have developed my own approach. It is an area of counseling I greatly enjoy. I would love to help you.

Whether you choose premarital counseling or not, I have included three tips that will help make a more enjoyable engagement.

1. Relax and enjoy the journey.

Many brides are physically and emotionally exhausted from planning a wedding. Let the memory not just be the day of the wedding but the journey to get there. It doesn’t all have to be perfect to be a perfect memory.

If you are the parent of a son or daughter getting married, please remember it is their wedding, not your’s. Be supportive and encouraging. Allow them to plan their wedding.

2. Remember why you are getting married.

I have witnessed many couples who are at odds because of the details of the wedding. I hear, “You’re not helping with the plans. It all falls on me,” or “All you ever do is plan for the wedding. I wish we could just get it over with.”

There are in-law conflicts, wedding party conflicts and all kinds of bumps along the way. You are entering into marriage with the one you have chosen to spend your life with. Be patient with each other and remember you are a team.

I think this past year with the pandemic has taught a lot of couples to be flexible and have a great wedding, but one different than originally envisioned. Enjoy the journey.

3. Prepare for marriage and not just the wedding.

You can choose to defy divorce statistics and to the best of your ability, build a great marriage. You just need some tools to best prepare. Don’t spend all your time and money on the wedding and not prepare for marriage. Premarital counseling is one of the best investments you can ever make.