• IN A HURRY?

    You can have your completion certificate immediately upon completing the course. You can complete the course in a weekend or over a few evenings. The pace is up to you.

  • AT YOUR OWN PACE

    You have the option to spread the course out over several months. That way you have more time to think about, practice and enjoy the activities and content.

  • ONLINE

    You complete the course online. Living in different cities or having difficult schedules are no longer a problem. Complete the course at your convenience.

Couple's Comments

  • perfect for us due to logistics issues, it was difficult for us to complete a marriage course in person

    “This course was perfect for us due to logistics issues, it was difficult for us to find a way to complete a marriage course in person and when we found this, we were very excited. . . We would definitely recommend this course to others. Thank you!" — Nastashia D & Adam T, Red Deer, AB

  • allowed us to work through the course at our own pace

    "The online course was great. It allowed us to work through the course at our own pace. It created some very deep and extremely meaningful conversation. It brought up things we hadn't discussed in detail and made us really think about ourselves, not just our partner and how important it is to work on ourselves as well as our relationship with each other. Thank you!" — Tara K & Blair C, Saskatoon, SK

  • good course overall. “We must learn to listen, to not just what our partner is saying, but how and why and who they are.”

    “Good course overall. “We must learn to listen, to not just what our partner is saying, but how and why and who they are.” We truly believe in the above quotation!" — Lisanne L & Gérald L, Fort McMurray, AB

Prepare for Success

We are excited about your decision to plan and prepare for your future together. Marriage preparation can help the two of you recognize and enhance your strengths, clarify your expectations for marriage, learn and practice communication skills, improve your conflict resolution skills, and develop more emotional and sexual intimacy. Most couples can create and maintain a strong relationship by developing healthy relationship habits, prioritizing their relationship and ongoing efforts to make their relationship worth their commitment to it. It is unfortunate that up to fifty percent of marriages end in divorce. And of those who stay together, only 50% report being happily married. This could be taken to mean that only 1/4 of married couples consider themselves happily married.

Benefits of Marriage Preparation

Preparing for your marriage can help you improve your chances of having a happy, successful marriage. There is evidence to indicate that couples who increase their positivity, learn to resolve conflict, prioritize their marriage, and avoid relationship traps, are able to increase their satisfaction and staying power.

  • Clarify

    Recognize your strengths as a couple and clarify your expectations for marriage.

  • Connect

    The course creates an opportunity for important conversations. Build and strengthen your connection to each other.

  • Grow

    Learn and practice communication skills, improve your conflict resolution skills

Get Started Today

Complete the course online at your convenience

Register Now

Couple's Comments

  • educational and fun, we learned a lot about each other

    “We are very glad that we found your course, it was very educational and fun, we learned a lot about each other." — Zoe-Lynn H. & Travis W., Red Deer, AB

  • enjoyed the discussions that were triggered during the course

    “This course helped us to take a serious look at ourselves both as individuals and as a couple. While we are normally very open in conversation with each other, we really enjoyed the discussions that were triggered during the completion of this course." — Kimberly R & David L, Arlington, VA

  • made us realize that in our marriage we should be prepared

    “We truly enjoyed the course. It made us realize that in our marriage we should be prepared not only for beautiful moments, but also 'bumpy roads'." — Anna K & Krystian B, Anaheim, CA

All the best for your future together.

This course was designed to help you explore all areas of your relationship, strengthen the foundation of your relationship and create a lasting meaningful marriage. Preparing for your marriage can help you improve your chances of having a happy, successful marriage. There is evidence to indicate that couples who increase their positivity, learn to resolve conflict, prioritize their marriage, and avoid relationship traps, are able to increase their satisfaction and staying power.

Course curriculum

  • 01

    Welcome

    • Welcome to Marriage Preparation
  • 02

    Predicting Marriage Satisfaction

    • Marital Satisfaction Factors

    • Predicting Marriage Satisfaction Survey

    • Predicting Marital Satisfaction
  • 03

    Red Flags

    • Red Flags May Indicate a Less Than Healthy Relationship

    • What if My Behavior Could be a Red Flag
  • 04

    Values & Commitment

    • Shared Values, Priorities & Commitment

    • What are Your Values and Priorities?

    • What If Your Values, Priorities, and Commitment Don't Match?

    • Marriage Prep Quiz 1
  • 05

    Vision

    • Beliefs About Marriage

    • Importance of Vision

    • Ideal Marriage

    • Discussion - Things To Consider

    • Vision Quest

    • Dealing With Differences
  • 06

    Preparing Yourself for Marriage

    • Arranging the Bouquet

    • Emotional Maturity Exercise

    • Emotional Immaturity/Maturity

    • Strong Healthy Relationships

    • Characteristics of Emotional Adults

    • Strong Relationships Are Made of Two Emotional Adults

    • Connecting With Your Parrtner
  • 07

    Communication

    • Miscommunication

    • Sharing

    • Be Congruent

    • How Well Do You Know Each Other

    • Am I a Good Listener?

    • Is My Partner a Good Listener?

    • Active Listening

    • Active to Compassionate Listening

    • Connecting

    • Marriage Prep Quiz 2
  • 08

    Conflict Resolution

    • Fear and Conflict

    • Healthy Approach to Conflict

    • Conflict Resolution Exercises

    • More Conflict Resolution Exercises

    • Three Principles for Facing Problems
  • 09

    Boundaries

    • Healthy Boundaries

    • Claiming Boundaries

    • Permission to Say No

    • ​Coping with Criticism

    • Build Bridges Instead of Walls

    • Marriage Prep Quiz 3
  • 10

    Intimacy

    • Intimacy Vs. Sex

    • Building Adoration

    • Making Love All The Time

    • Let's Talk About Sex

    • ​Barriers to Sexual Intimacy
  • 11

    Be Still

    • Be Still

    • The Power of the Mind

    • The Relaxation Response

    • Now What?

    • Be Still Experiments
  • 12

    Money, Money, Money

    • Finances

    • Finance Decisions Discussion
  • 13

    Family and Friends

    • Family and Friends

    • Family-of-Origin

    • ​Getting Along
  • 14

    Staying Married

    • ​Sticking to it
  • 15

    FREE BONUS: Wedding Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

    • Wedding Mistakes and How to Avoid Them (pdf)

This course was created by Susan Derry, a relationship expert and master therapeutic counsellor who has been married for over 40 years. She has extensive knowledge from her own experience, growing her relationship, as well as 20 years of experience counseling couples. She has developed this course for couples preparing for marriage. The course is designed to help you learn more about your relationship and each other and learn how to create the elements of a satisfying and lasting marriage. All the best to you as you work to build a healthy future together!

Couple's Comments

  • for a couple with a busy work schedule, hectic family life the course delivery was ideal

    “The content provided in the course was very useful and can be used in our marriage and life. It is healthy to review this information regularly to keep the important points and concepts in mind. Colin liked the section on emotional maturity. As a couple with a busy work schedule, hectic family life the course delivery was ideal as Colin and I were able to complete the course on our time and at our pace." — Meaghen A & Colin P, Edmonton, AB

  • we feel fully equipped to begin the challenges of marriage

    “Before doing this course we knew that we had a very strong relationship. Your course confirmed this but it also gave us some things to work on. We realize now that taking time for each other and for ourselves is extremely important to a relationship. We are both very committed to being married only once and we feel fully equipped to begin this challenge." — Laura S & Joseph Z, Sidney Mines, NS

  • in-depth conversations brought us to new heights in our relationship

    “After years of being together and having a family we honestly didn’t think Marriage Prep was going to teach us anything we haven’t already encountered as a couple, we were mistaken. The in-depth conversations brought us to new heights in our relationship both mentally and physically and the strategies in accomplishing those new heights will carry on throughout our married life as well!" — Lonnie R & Donald B, Penhold, AB