So, what is premarital counselling all about, and should you and your groom give it a go? Here’s what you really NEED to consider:
1 Your vision for the future
“People tend to assume they’re on the same page without checking in,” explains therapist Ali Goldstein. “Do you want to live in an apartment or a house? In the city or the suburbs? If the relationship becomes strained, what steps do you agree to take?” Unless you ask these questions now, you may be in for surprises later.
2 Your fighting style
How you argue is just as important as what you argue about. “Problems arise when a couple is mismatched in fighting style,” explains Anita A. Chlipala, a marriage and family therapist. To get in sync, Dr. Goldstein suggests that you each ask yourselves, How do I deal with a change or crisis? What’s my communication style? You may react to stress differently (e.g. one of you clams up and plays video games while the other rants and eats French fries). But if you examine your habits, then ask yourself, Would I rather be right or be loved? and Is my reaction helpful? when disagreements arise, you’ll be able to make headway instead of spinning your wheels.
3 How you deal with money
It’s not romantic, but its a fact: You cant survive on love; you need money. But how much, and how will it be coming in? Are you a saver or a spender? What’s your long-term financial goal? These are things Rabbi John Rosove recommends that couples talk a financial counsellor before the wedding ‘to help set up long and short-term goals,” he says.
4 What family means to you
By now, you’ve likely discussed whether you want kids. But the questions don’t end there, says Reverend Julie Hoplamazian of Grace Episcopal Church. “You bring your past with you to the table,” she says. “For example, if one person comes from a small nuclear family and the other from a large one, the couple might argue about the ‘right way’ to celebrate Christmas without realizing its because their experiences were different.” Each of you will probably default to how your family did things. Find compromises.
5 What you believe in
This isn’t about whether you think Tupac is alive or if Beyoncé carried her own baby; this is about spirituality. Maybe religion is cultural for you, maybe faith gives meaning to your life, or maybe you find organized worship of any kind intolerable. Talk about it, Anne Bohner of Villanova, Pennsylvania, attended Pre-Cana sessions with her husband, and they were eye opening. “We had different religions; it helped to discuss our expectations. Did we hope deep down that the other would convert? How would the kids be raised? Would we attend one church or both? Pre-Cana put it all on the table,” she says.
6 Your sex life
This is among the most awkward subjects to discuss – and the most important. “Talk about what your romantic expectations are,” recommends Goldstein. “Are they fair? Are they realistic?” The key is being open and honest. “I ask couples, do they view their sexual relationship as a reflection of trust and faith?” says Rosove. “Do they share secrets?” That’s a crucial part of intimacy.
7 Why you love each other
Once you’ve answered the tough questions, it’s time for the lovefest. Rosove, as part of the counselling process, gave us an exercise: “I have a couples write what they love about the other person and why they want to get married,” he says. “Then, at the ceremony, I repeat parts of what they said. It’s a statement of who they are-personal and cosmic at the same time.” Whether you’re from Mars or Venus or Kalamazoo, doing the work up front doesn’t mean marriage will always be easy, but it will give you more time after the wedding to enjoy what you’ve created together, through love and hard work.
Tying the knot soon? Here’s 10 things no one ever tells you about marriage and s hould you be signing a prenup? All the answers here.
