https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Tue, 21 Apr 2026 16:00:35 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-you-do-any-pre-marital-counseling#post-480230 Fri, 04 Jan 2013 09:27:18 +0000 heartonastring 480230@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We did a group thing through our church that was two full days. It was awesome! Our church is very liberal and the content was based on the evidence-based book The Seven Principles for Making Marriage Work. It was really fun. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-you-do-any-pre-marital-counseling#post-480224 Fri, 04 Jan 2013 09:24:36 +0000 blackbird 480224@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We did and it was stupid. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-you-do-any-pre-marital-counseling#post-480222 Fri, 04 Jan 2013 09:24:13 +0000 BKCaribBaby 480222@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>The pastor who married us required it. We also took a one-day pre-marital course that focused a lot on communication. I really enjoyed both. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-you-do-any-pre-marital-counseling#post-480133 Fri, 04 Jan 2013 08:03:43 +0000 heffalump 480133@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>No. Our rabbi had us meet with him a couple of times, but it was just to talk and make sure that he felt comfortable marrying us, not counseling. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-you-do-any-pre-marital-counseling#post-479591 Thu, 03 Jan 2013 21:08:23 +0000 Bao 479591@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We were required to take 3-4 classes with our minister, in order to get married. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-you-do-any-pre-marital-counseling#post-479583 Thu, 03 Jan 2013 21:06:09 +0000 Meridian 479583@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Yes, my insurance covered it except for copays, so we thought, why not? I think we did 4 - 5 sessions with a family counselor. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-you-do-any-pre-marital-counseling#post-478591 Thu, 03 Jan 2013 16:30:31 +0000 Turd Ferguson 478591@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Nope. We did sit down with our family friend who married us and talk over a few beers...does that count? ;) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-you-do-any-pre-marital-counseling#post-478587 Thu, 03 Jan 2013 16:29:02 +0000 runsyellowlites 478587@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@pelikila: I can relate to your DH's feelings! That was a big reason why I wanted some kind of structured counsel &amp; not just talking with the pastor. I wanted both of us to be challenged and really get into the nitty gritty so later we wouldn't be like "This isn't what I was expecting...." </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-you-do-any-pre-marital-counseling#post-478556 Thu, 03 Jan 2013 16:19:16 +0000 pelikila 478556@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Yes. We found a Christian counseling group and attended about 10 sessions with a professional counselor. My husband had done pre-marital counseling with his first wife with their pastor at the time and he felt, looking back, that if he'd gone to a professional counselor some of the red flags he should have seen would have likely risen with professional counseling that the church isn't always equipped to address. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-you-do-any-pre-marital-counseling#post-478554 Thu, 03 Jan 2013 16:18:49 +0000 Mrsbells 478554@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Just a few basic classes at our church </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-you-do-any-pre-marital-counseling#post-478552 Thu, 03 Jan 2013 16:18:05 +0000 Mrs. Pickle 478552@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We didn't. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-you-do-any-pre-marital-counseling#post-478545 Thu, 03 Jan 2013 16:14:56 +0000 Bookish 478545@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Nope, we figured after all the crap we'd been through together, if we weren't going to work out, we wouldn't have by then! Plus, we went to Vegas, not a whole lot of church prep classes there ;) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-you-do-any-pre-marital-counseling#post-478544 Thu, 03 Jan 2013 16:14:30 +0000 Smurfette 478544@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Yep! My cousin's husband is a pastor and wouldn't marry us without it. We had to take an online test, then he got the results and we discussed it over sessions. The state of GA requires 6 hours of counseling to get a discount on the license. So we did one hour together, each had one separate, then another hour together. We didn't really talk each time for an hour. The last session was really planning the ceremony. We did really well on the tests so he didn't have a lot to discuss with us. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-you-do-any-pre-marital-counseling#post-478541 Thu, 03 Jan 2013 16:14:16 +0000 littlek 478541@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Yes, we took pre marital classes and also have done couples counseling. It really helped us learn to communicate. DH comes from a family of poor communicators. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-you-do-any-pre-marital-counseling#post-478525 Thu, 03 Jan 2013 16:09:35 +0000 Alivoo01 478525@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We didn't, but in TX if you take pre-marital classes, you get your marriage license for free! Otherwise, it's like $70 something. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-you-do-any-pre-marital-counseling#post-478523 Thu, 03 Jan 2013 16:08:46 +0000 JoJoGirl 478523@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Yep! Loved it! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-you-do-any-pre-marital-counseling#post-478516 Thu, 03 Jan 2013 16:06:06 +0000 evenstar982 478516@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Yes! Our church runs marriage preparation classes, based on a course formed from the same church who created the Alpha course. It was really useful - we covered 5 topics over 5 weeks, including conflict resolution, communication and 'keeping love alive'. We enjoyed it so much that we actually volunteered this year to help run the course for other engaged couples. ;-) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-you-do-any-pre-marital-counseling#post-478515 Thu, 03 Jan 2013 16:05:42 +0000 runsyellowlites 478515@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Yep. We used the book Preparing for Marriage with our pastor over 8 weeks. The worksheets were great &amp; I suggest them to ALL engaged couples. Most of the things covered we already knew &amp; were practicing but it was nice to still go through them and not just get a "You guys already know this stuff". Marriage is tough so any prep was/is more than welcomed. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-you-do-any-pre-marital-counseling#post-478514 Thu, 03 Jan 2013 16:05:13 +0000 yoursilverlining 478514@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Nope, none. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-you-do-any-pre-marital-counseling#post-478512 Thu, 03 Jan 2013 16:04:30 +0000 sslm 478512@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Just through the church! It was a weekend thing. I thought it was really interesting :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-you-do-any-pre-marital-counseling#post-478509 Thu, 03 Jan 2013 16:02:59 +0000 abbydabbydoodlebug 478509@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Yes, my DH and I took a pre marital counseling course with the pastor that married US. It wad required, but really learned a lot of communication skills through it. It was pretty in depth. About 6 classes I think. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-you-do-any-pre-marital-counseling#post-478506 Thu, 03 Jan 2013 16:01:24 +0000 Mrs. Lemon-Lime 478506@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>No, but we purchased a couple of the things-to-ask/consider-before-you-marry books and completed the exercises and questions. We were brutally honest and forthright, which I think has helped us to simply talk through disagreements now. I even admitted that I would not want to be a caregiver for one of his elderly parents. Can you say selfish? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-you-do-any-pre-marital-counseling#post-478481 Thu, 03 Jan 2013 15:54:40 +0000 CupQuakeWalk 478481@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My friends did too. I'm so glad they did because although they are a GREAT couple on their own, her family is kind of...hard to deal with?<br /> Basically, the counselor had them understand that her family is difficult and may be detrimental to their relationship. So, the counselor helped them set boundaries between themselves and her side of the family. My friend and her husband are TTC now and I am so, so glad that they have a "healthy" relationship with her side of the family. Her family was way too involved and very poisonous. Hell, they even drive me crazy and i'm just the friend! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-you-do-any-pre-marital-counseling#post-478472 Thu, 03 Jan 2013 15:52:49 +0000 tororojo 478472@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We did around 4 sessions with the minister who married us, which is what he requires in order to be the officiant. Wasn't super in depth, just talked about Bible passages and some other stuff. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-you-do-any-pre-marital-counseling#post-478465 Thu, 03 Jan 2013 15:51:02 +0000 autumnlove 478465@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We didn't but my engaged friend and her fiancé are currently taking a few classes! </p>