I just googled “wedding gifts,” and was amazed to find that over 43 million pages come up!  I clicked around for a while to see what some of the ideas were.  Some were very traditional: towels, silverware, toasters, etc.  And some were pretty unique: an eco-friendly picnic basket, holy matrimony soap, and my favorite, “Say I Love You” pillowcases.

But I could not help but think that even the most unique of wedding gifts will eventually disappear.  Soap will get used up, and pillowcases will get dirty.  So why not give the couple something that won’t find itself in the garage in 3 years?  How about buying that engaged couple a ticket to our premarital event that’s coming up?

Premarital education can provide a multitude of benefits for the couple entering into marriage.  Many studies have been conducted in order to gauge the effectiveness of premarital education, and the stats are astounding.  Couples who receive education prior to marriage are 31 percent less likely to get divorced, and actually experience a 30 percent increase in their levels of marital satisfaction.

Such couples report improved communication, better conflict management skills, higher dedication to one’s mate, greater emphasis on the positive aspects of a relationship, and improved overall relationship quality. These benefits appear to hold for six months to three years after the program is over, and extend to couples who enter marriage with greater risks, such as those coming from homes where parents had divorced or had high levels of conflict.

If you know someone who is getting married or is seriously considering it, or if you are getting married yourself, take some time to consider coming to our event that is designed just for these kinds of couples.   It will be on Saturday, October 17 (don’t worry, the Hogs are out of town), and will be at the Clarion in Bentonville, AR.  You can sign up here.

Boy meets girl. Girl falls in love with boy. Boy pops the question by mowing it into a field of grass. Now there’s something you don’t see every day! Click on the picture to read about this unique marriage proposal!

A lot of us don’t have the time, energy, or resources available in order to make such a grand proposal, but it’s always fun to read about the ways people propose isn’t it?  But is it not just as fun to reminisce about your own proposal?

Take some time this week with your spouse to remember your own story.  Share your memories, and if you want to get crazy, recreate the scene as a date night!  We would love to hear about your proposal, so please share with us in the comments section.

“I’ve been married six times,” explained one psychologist….”to the same woman.”  He never got divorced but rather he was putting into words what many people experience in their marital relationship over the years.  He went on to say that his marriage “changed, grew and transitioned” so much over the years that he felt at times like he “was married to another woman!”

Most of you have likely experienced this in your own marital relationship.   All healthy marriages experience change and transition over the years.  This actually is what keeps the relationship alive, growing and vibrant.  One researcher describes marriage in 10 stages:  romance, disillusionment, mature love, passion, realization, rebellion, cooperation, reunion, explosion, and completion.  Others describe it in terms of newly married, middle years, and later years.  However you look at it, realizing that your marital relationship will change and go through different seasons is helpful.  It allows you to view your marriage as a “journey through life” or a process, and can keep you from misinterpreting challenging seasons as a “reason to divorce” or “falling out of love.”

What Have You Done for Your Marriage Today?

Your marriage may be in the midst of a change of season. You may feel like you’re in a challenging season or a joyful season.  Spend a few moments discussing this with your spouse.  Identify what the current season is like. What are a few challenges? What positives are you currently experiencing? What do you appreciate about this season?  And, is this a season that attending an NWA Healthy Marriages marital enrichment event would take your marriage from good to great?