The Pre-Marriage Course is an opportunity for you to invest in your relationship through five in person or online date nights created to help you to learn to communicate well, understand and appreciate your differences, and prepare for potential challenges.
Learn practical tools to help you invest in your relationship for a lasting marriage.
Gain insights from interviews with leading psychologists, authors and psychosexual specialists.
Enjoy private, intimate conversations as a couple giving you the space to engage openly and honestly throughout each session.
The Marriage Course and The Pre-Marriage Course have been run in over 117 countries for over 1.5 million couples.
Choose to go through the course at a local venue in the company of other couples or online in the privacy of your own home.
We are so glad that you are interested in strengthening your relationship through one of our courses! Please enter your city or address below to search for a course near you.
In the introductory session, you will explore expectations inherited from family and upbringing; communication styles and effective communication; the importance of recognising and expressing your feelings; and some barriers to talking. You’ll also develop an awareness of bad listening habits versus the power of reflective listening. As a couple, you’ll discuss your backgrounds and communication styles and you’ll practice a listening exercise as demonstrated in the video.
Nicky and Sila explore what it means to understand and respond to each other’s needs, work through challenges and review your relational connection. Through the analogy of tending a vineyard, they explore the aspects of adjusting, pruning, supporting and renewing in marriage. The episode also touches on the amazing impact of making time for each other and learning to nurture each other.
Nicky and Sila explore what it means to understand and respond to each other’s needs, work through challenges and review your relational connection. Through the analogy of tending a vineyard, they explore the aspects of adjusting, pruning, supporting and renewing in marriage. The episode also touches on the amazing impact of making time for each other and learning to nurture each other.
Nicky and Sila explore what it means to understand and respond to each other’s needs, work through challenges and review your relational connection. Through the analogy of tending a vineyard, they explore the aspects of adjusting, pruning, supporting and renewing in marriage. The episode also touches on the amazing impact of making time for each other and learning to nurture each other.
Nicky and Sila explore what it means to understand and respond to each other’s needs, work through challenges and review your relational connection. Through the analogy of tending a vineyard, they explore the aspects of adjusting, pruning, supporting and renewing in marriage. The episode also touches on the amazing impact of making time for each other and learning to nurture each other.
Nicky and Sila explore what it means to understand and respond to each other’s needs, work through challenges and review your relational connection. Through the analogy of tending a vineyard, they explore the aspects of adjusting, pruning, supporting and renewing in marriage. The episode also touches on the amazing impact of making time for each other and learning to nurture each other.
Nicky and Sila explore what it means to understand and respond to each other’s needs, work through challenges and review your relational connection. Through the analogy of tending a vineyard, they explore the aspects of adjusting, pruning, supporting and renewing in marriage. The episode also touches on the amazing impact of making time for each other and learning to nurture each other.
Session 2 emphasises that conflict in marriage is to be expected as you adjust to your differences and unpacks the unhelpful approaches of the “rhino” and “hedgehog” for dealing with anger. Nicky and Sila look at recognising and accepting our differences in areas such as money management or family norms and share about the "10 o'clock rule". They look at five steps to help reach agreement as well as the importance of saying sorry and a practical three-step process for healing hurt.
Nicky and Sila explore what it means to understand and respond to each other’s needs, work through challenges and review your relational connection. Through the analogy of tending a vineyard, they explore the aspects of adjusting, pruning, supporting and renewing in marriage. The episode also touches on the amazing impact of making time for each other and learning to nurture each other.
Nicky and Sila explore what it means to understand and respond to each other’s needs, work through challenges and review your relational connection. Through the analogy of tending a vineyard, they explore the aspects of adjusting, pruning, supporting and renewing in marriage. The episode also touches on the amazing impact of making time for each other and learning to nurture each other.
Nicky and Sila explore what it means to understand and respond to each other’s needs, work through challenges and review your relational connection. Through the analogy of tending a vineyard, they explore the aspects of adjusting, pruning, supporting and renewing in marriage. The episode also touches on the amazing impact of making time for each other and learning to nurture each other.
Nicky and Sila explore what it means to understand and respond to each other’s needs, work through challenges and review your relational connection. Through the analogy of tending a vineyard, they explore the aspects of adjusting, pruning, supporting and renewing in marriage. The episode also touches on the amazing impact of making time for each other and learning to nurture each other.
Nicky and Sila explore what it means to understand and respond to each other’s needs, work through challenges and review your relational connection. Through the analogy of tending a vineyard, they explore the aspects of adjusting, pruning, supporting and renewing in marriage. The episode also touches on the amazing impact of making time for each other and learning to nurture each other.
Nicky and Sila explore what it means to understand and respond to each other’s needs, work through challenges and review your relational connection. Through the analogy of tending a vineyard, they explore the aspects of adjusting, pruning, supporting and renewing in marriage. The episode also touches on the amazing impact of making time for each other and learning to nurture each other.
This episode explores the benefits of the marriage commitment in terms of deep friendship and a strong family life, and the idea of an equal partnership with responsibilities divided up according to strengths. You’ll hear what it means to put each other’s needs above your own, looking at the marriage covenant and love that is deliberate and intentional, not just a feeling. You’ll also discuss two practical aspects of the marriage vows: dealing with finances and managing relationships with the wider family.
Nicky and Sila explore what it means to understand and respond to each other’s needs, work through challenges and review your relational connection. Through the analogy of tending a vineyard, they explore the aspects of adjusting, pruning, supporting and renewing in marriage. The episode also touches on the amazing impact of making time for each other and learning to nurture each other.
Nicky and Sila explore what it means to understand and respond to each other’s needs, work through challenges and review your relational connection. Through the analogy of tending a vineyard, they explore the aspects of adjusting, pruning, supporting and renewing in marriage. The episode also touches on the amazing impact of making time for each other and learning to nurture each other.
Nicky and Sila explore what it means to understand and respond to each other’s needs, work through challenges and review your relational connection. Through the analogy of tending a vineyard, they explore the aspects of adjusting, pruning, supporting and renewing in marriage. The episode also touches on the amazing impact of making time for each other and learning to nurture each other.
Nicky and Sila explore what it means to understand and respond to each other’s needs, work through challenges and review your relational connection. Through the analogy of tending a vineyard, they explore the aspects of adjusting, pruning, supporting and renewing in marriage. The episode also touches on the amazing impact of making time for each other and learning to nurture each other.
Nicky and Sila explore what it means to understand and respond to each other’s needs, work through challenges and review your relational connection. Through the analogy of tending a vineyard, they explore the aspects of adjusting, pruning, supporting and renewing in marriage. The episode also touches on the amazing impact of making time for each other and learning to nurture each other.
Nicky and Sila explore what it means to understand and respond to each other’s needs, work through challenges and review your relational connection. Through the analogy of tending a vineyard, they explore the aspects of adjusting, pruning, supporting and renewing in marriage. The episode also touches on the amazing impact of making time for each other and learning to nurture each other.
Nicky and Sila look at keeping love alive during the whole course of a marriage and the deliberate choice to do so. They unpack various tools such as a weekly date night (with no phones!) and using Gary Chapman’s “five love languages” (words of affirmation, gifts or presents, quality time, kind actions and physical touch). This episode also focusses on the importance of sex in marriage, giving practical advice for good sex that is us-oriented not me-oriented and addressing the devastating effects of porn.
Nicky and Sila explore what it means to understand and respond to each other’s needs, work through challenges and review your relational connection. Through the analogy of tending a vineyard, they explore the aspects of adjusting, pruning, supporting and renewing in marriage. The episode also touches on the amazing impact of making time for each other and learning to nurture each other.
Nicky and Sila explore what it means to understand and respond to each other’s needs, work through challenges and review your relational connection. Through the analogy of tending a vineyard, they explore the aspects of adjusting, pruning, supporting and renewing in marriage. The episode also touches on the amazing impact of making time for each other and learning to nurture each other.
Nicky and Sila explore what it means to understand and respond to each other’s needs, work through challenges and review your relational connection. Through the analogy of tending a vineyard, they explore the aspects of adjusting, pruning, supporting and renewing in marriage. The episode also touches on the amazing impact of making time for each other and learning to nurture each other.
Nicky and Sila explore what it means to understand and respond to each other’s needs, work through challenges and review your relational connection. Through the analogy of tending a vineyard, they explore the aspects of adjusting, pruning, supporting and renewing in marriage. The episode also touches on the amazing impact of making time for each other and learning to nurture each other.
Nicky and Sila explore what it means to understand and respond to each other’s needs, work through challenges and review your relational connection. Through the analogy of tending a vineyard, they explore the aspects of adjusting, pruning, supporting and renewing in marriage. The episode also touches on the amazing impact of making time for each other and learning to nurture each other.
Nicky and Sila explore what it means to understand and respond to each other’s needs, work through challenges and review your relational connection. Through the analogy of tending a vineyard, they explore the aspects of adjusting, pruning, supporting and renewing in marriage. The episode also touches on the amazing impact of making time for each other and learning to nurture each other.
Marriage provides us with one of life’s greatest opportunities and one of its greatest challenges. In the final session, you’ll learn four requirements for working together as a team in marriage: showing daily appreciation for each other; letting go of unrealistic expectations; being prepared to change; and recognising common overreactions. Nicky and Sila also discuss the importance of a couple’s values and priorities, and the roles of the more adventuring and more nurturing partner in the relationship.
Nicky and Sila explore what it means to understand and respond to each other’s needs, work through challenges and review your relational connection. Through the analogy of tending a vineyard, they explore the aspects of adjusting, pruning, supporting and renewing in marriage. The episode also touches on the amazing impact of making time for each other and learning to nurture each other.
Nicky and Sila explore what it means to understand and respond to each other’s needs, work through challenges and review your relational connection. Through the analogy of tending a vineyard, they explore the aspects of adjusting, pruning, supporting and renewing in marriage. The episode also touches on the amazing impact of making time for each other and learning to nurture each other.
Nicky and Sila explore what it means to understand and respond to each other’s needs, work through challenges and review your relational connection. Through the analogy of tending a vineyard, they explore the aspects of adjusting, pruning, supporting and renewing in marriage. The episode also touches on the amazing impact of making time for each other and learning to nurture each other.
Nicky and Sila explore what it means to understand and respond to each other’s needs, work through challenges and review your relational connection. Through the analogy of tending a vineyard, they explore the aspects of adjusting, pruning, supporting and renewing in marriage. The episode also touches on the amazing impact of making time for each other and learning to nurture each other.
Nicky and Sila explore what it means to understand and respond to each other’s needs, work through challenges and review your relational connection. Through the analogy of tending a vineyard, they explore the aspects of adjusting, pruning, supporting and renewing in marriage. The episode also touches on the amazing impact of making time for each other and learning to nurture each other.
Nicky and Sila explore what it means to understand and respond to each other’s needs, work through challenges and review your relational connection. Through the analogy of tending a vineyard, they explore the aspects of adjusting, pruning, supporting and renewing in marriage. The episode also touches on the amazing impact of making time for each other and learning to nurture each other.
At the start of each session, you will share a special meal together. This is an opportunity to unwind and connect, helping to create the romance and enjoyment of a date.
Each engaging and enriching episode explores a different topic through real experiences, expert insights and relevant teaching, with breaks for conversations.
Through workbook prompts and questions, you will be invited to enjoy private, intimate conversations that help you to engage with honesty and openness throughout the session.
...it means that we stay friends, interested and really invested in the same things as opposed to just drifting apart. That means that we catch stuff really early and don't allow resentment to creep in.
Thank you for your email about resources for the blind. The company we use is TorchTrust:
https://eshop.torchtrust.org.uk/product/pre-marriage-course-guest-journal-the/
Yes, in some countries, The Marriage Course and The Pre-Marriage Course have been translated into other languages. Please click HERE and use the Find a Course widget to see what courses are available in your region.
In most cases, The Marriage Course and The Pre-Marriage Course are free to attend, but some churches or organisations do charge a nominal fee to cover the meal and other running costs. As a guest, you may need to purchase your own Guest Journals.
The Marriage Course was created by Alpha International, which also runs Alpha courses around the world. Alpha is a multi-week series of sessions exploring the Christian faith. Each week, the session looks at a different question around faith and is designed to create conversation. Alpha is run all around the globe and everyone is welcome. It runs online, in cafés, churches, universities, homes—you name it! No two Alphas look the same, but they generally have three key things in common: hospitality, a talk and good conversation. Click HERE for more information.
Each couple on The Pre-Marriage Course is allocated a Support Couple. This is a married couple who have completed The Marriage Course themselves and have signed up to host a couple from The Pre-Marriage Course. You will usually be hosted in their home, over an evening. During the evening, the Support Couple will guide you in conversation as a couple, using the findings of your Couple Survey, which you would have completed before the start of the course.
Even if you are not yet engaged, The Pre-Marriage Course can serve as a tool to work on your relationship and help you decide whether or not you are ready to get engaged and married.
The Couple Survey is an optional series of questions that you will complete before The Pre-Marriage Course begins. The purpose of the Couple Survey is to:
You will not receive the results of your Couple Survey, as these will go to the Support Couple assigned to you. The link to your Couple Survey expires 60 days after the last Pre-Marriage Course session. Following the course, you will have a discussion with your designated Support Couple. The Couple Survey report will guide this conversation, affirming areas of strength in your relationship and highlighting issues for discussion.
The Pre-Marriage Course consists of five consecutive sessions and is designed with the intention that guests attend one session per week.
As a guest you can purchase any of the Guest Journals through our Resources page HERE. Please do check if the Guest Journals are provided through your course hosts.
The Marriage Book was written by Nicky and Sila Lee, founders of TheMarriage Courses and is available to buy in your region through the Resources page. You can also find it on Amazon, as an e-book version, suitable for Kindle.
If you are doing The Pre-Marriage Course online, you will need to buy two copies of the relevant Guest Journal (one per person).You can check the availability of Guest Journals in your region and language on the Resources page. Please note that availability varies by country.
Yes, The Marriage Course and The Pre-Marriage Course are both available online. Visit The Marriage Courses Online platform and create an account to access the support material and video sessions. We recommend you purchase your Guest Journals (two per couple) for your course. Visit the Resources page (top menu).
After the course, it is important that as a couple, you continue to put into practice what you've learned to help keep your marriage strong and healthy. As a starting point we recommend you visit our blog (top menu) for articles and guidance.
Sometimes couples require additional help. As a first step, we recommend you ask your course leader for a referral. They can often recommend someone suited to your needs and based near you.
If you attend The Marriage Course or The Pre-Marriage Course in person through a church or organisation in your area, each session should have the environment of a date-night: relaxed, romantic, and private. We ask our course leaders to make the evening as welcoming as possible. When you arrive at your course you should be seated at your own table for two, as we believe each couple should have privacy and not have to share anything about your relationship with anyone other than your partner. You should be served a meal in a romantic setting while listening to practical talks that are informative and fun. Background music will ensure that you have complete privacy for your conversations. Arrangements will vary from course to course depending on where it is being held and who is running it, but this is how we recommend the evening be set up.
Yes. To get the most out of The Marriage Course or The Pre-Marriage Course we recommend you try to come to every session, but if you do miss one you could always ask the course organiser to catch you up by sending you the missed session’s episode. You can then work through it with your Guest Journals in your own time. We do not recommend you attempt to do the whole course on your own like this.
If you’ve been cohabiting for more than two years and are not engaged or considering marriage, we recommend you try The Marriage Course. If you’ve been living together or married for less than a year and you are not aware of any major issues to address, it’s a great idea to attend The Pre-Marriage Course.
To find a course near you, click on either The Pre-Marriage Course or The Marriage Course in the top menu and then choose Find out about attending and the Attend a course button where you can search for a course by country, city, or area code. If you’re having trouble finding a course where you are, you can look at doing the course online or please get in touch with your local Alpha Office who will be happy to help (The Marriage Course is a part of Alpha International).
While The Marriage Course and The Pre-Marriage Course are based on Christian principles, they are designed for couples with or without a Christian faith. We would love any couple to feel welcome to attend whether or not they have a Christian faith or any religious faith at all. We are confident all couples will find the courses relevant and helpful for their relationship.
We would love any couple to feel welcome to attend The Marriage Course, whether married or in a long-term, cohabitating relationship. The Pre-Marriage Course is ideal for engaged couples, newlyweds, or couples exploring the idea of marriage.
Both The Marriage Course and The Pre-Marriage Course have a similar structure, with the environment of a date night and an emphasis on private discussions for each couple. The key difference is that The Pre-Marriage Course is for engaged couples and those considering marriage, whereas we recommend The Marriage Course for couples who have been married for at least two years. The Pre-Marriage Course can also include a Couple Survey which each guest completes in advance of the course. Following the course they look at the results of their survey over a meal with a designated married "Support Couple".
Currently we have over 8,000 courses, run in 117 countries, in 45 languages.
The Marriage Course has been run in over 117 countries for over 1.5 million couples and consists of two courses: The Marriage Course and The Pre-Marriage Course. The Marriage Course and The Pre-Marriage Course recognise the need to help couples with their relationships. The Marriage Course was developed in 1996 by Nicky and Sila Lee (authors of The Marriage Book) for couples looking for practical support to strengthen their relationship. The course equips couples with tools and techniques to keep the spark alive and stay connected. There is no group work and each couple’s conversations are completely private.
The Marriage Course and The Pre-Marriage Course have been successfully run in over 117 countries worldwide since they were created by Nicky and Sila Lee, authors of The Marriage Book.