How to Choose a Premarital Counseling Curriculum
Whether you are a pastor selecting a curriculum for your church, a therapist expanding your premarital offerings, or a couple deciding which approach fits best — the options can be overwhelming.
This guide compares 7 of the most widely used premarital counseling programs across the categories that matter: structure, cost, theological perspective, evidence base, and practical strengths.
Quick Comparison Table
| Program | Sessions | Cost | Faith-Based | Evidence-Based | Best For | |---------|----------|------|-------------|----------------|----------| | Ready to Wed | 8 sessions | $15–$20 (book) | Yes (evangelical) | Moderate | Churches wanting a complete curriculum | | Saving Your Marriage Before It Starts | 7 sessions | $15 (book + workbook) | Yes (broad Christian) | Moderate | Couples who prefer self-directed + counselor combo | | The Meaning of Marriage | Flexible | $12–$16 (book) | Yes (Reformed) | Low (theological) | Intellectually curious couples; Reformed tradition | | Catching Foxes | 6–8 sessions | $15 (book) | Yes (Catholic/liturgical) | Moderate | Catholic couples; liturgical traditions | | PREPARE/ENRICH | 4–8 sessions | $35/couple | Yes (version available) | Strong | Clinical settings; couples wanting data-driven results | | SYMBIS | 4–6 sessions | $40/couple | Yes (designed for churches) | Moderate | Churches wanting accessible, visual assessment | | Gottman Method | Varies | $50–$75/couple | No (secular) | Very Strong | Evidence-focused couples; clinical settings |
Detailed Reviews
1. Ready to Wed (Focus on the Family)
Authors: Greg and Erin Smalley Format: 8-session group or individual curriculum with video teaching, discussion guide, and couple exercises Cost: $15–$20 for the book/kit; leader guide available separately
What it covers:
- Building a Christ-centered marriage
- Communication styles and conflict resolution
- Financial planning and generosity
- Intimacy and sexuality
- In-law and extended family dynamics
- Personality differences and expectations
Strengths:
- Complete, turnkey curriculum that requires minimal prep from the leader
- High-quality video content from Focus on the Family
- Explicitly evangelical perspective — clear about theological foundations
- Good balance of teaching and couple conversation time
Limitations:
- Evangelical framing may not fit all denominations
- Less data-driven than PREPARE/ENRICH or Gottman
- No formal assessment component
Best for: Churches that want a ready-made program with minimal leader training required.
2. Saving Your Marriage Before It Starts (SYMBIS)
Authors: Drs. Les and Leslie Parrott Format: 7 sessions based on the book, with optional SYMBIS assessment add-on Cost: $15 for book + workbook; SYMBIS assessment $40/couple
What it covers:
- Debunking marriage myths
- Communication strategies
- Love languages and emotional needs
- Managing conflict constructively
- Navigating finances together
- Building spiritual intimacy
Strengths:
- Accessible writing style — couples actually enjoy reading it
- Optionally pairs with the SYMBIS assessment for data-driven insights
- Works well for both self-directed couples and counselor-led programs
- Broad Christian perspective without being denomination-specific
Limitations:
- The book alone lacks structure for a formal church program
- Assessment is an additional cost
- Less depth on theological foundations than Ready to Wed
Best for: Couples who prefer a reading-based approach combined with counselor sessions.
3. The Meaning of Marriage (Tim Keller)
Author: Timothy Keller with Kathy Keller Format: Book-based; adaptable to group discussion or individual study Cost: $12–$16
What it covers:
- The purpose of marriage in Christian theology
- The power of grace in relationships
- Friendship as the foundation of marriage
- The role of truth-telling in love
- Singleness and marriage in God's design
Strengths:
- Intellectually rigorous — draws on theology, philosophy, and pastoral experience
- Addresses marriage at the worldview level, not just practical tips
- Excellent for couples who want to understand why marriage matters, not just how to do it
- Broad appeal across denominations
Limitations:
- Not a structured curriculum — requires a facilitator to build sessions around it
- No assessment, exercises, or couple activities built in
- Reformed theological perspective may not resonate with all traditions
- Light on practical skills (finances, conflict tools, intimacy)
Best for: Intellectually engaged couples; book clubs or small groups; Reformed tradition.
4. Catching Foxes (John Mark and Ashley Comer)
Authors: John Mark Comer and Ashley Comer Format: 6–8 sessions based on the book; works as individual or group study Cost: ~$15
What it covers:
- Spiritual formation in marriage
- Communication and conflict through a liturgical lens
- Sexuality and embodiment
- Vocation and calling as a couple
- Sabbath, rhythms, and rest in marriage
Strengths:
- Beautiful writing — resonates with younger, post-evangelical couples
- Liturgical and sacramental perspective that is rare in premarital resources
- Addresses formation and spiritual practices, not just skills
- Feels fresh compared to traditional evangelical curricula
Limitations:
- Less structured than a formal curriculum
- Light on practical tools for finances and conflict resolution
- No assessment component
- Newer resource with less track record
Best for: Catholic, Anglican, or liturgically-minded couples; younger couples drawn to spiritual formation.
5. PREPARE/ENRICH
Developer: Life Innovations, Inc. Format: 4–8 facilitator-led sessions built around a comprehensive couples assessment Cost: ~$35/couple for the assessment; facilitator certification ~$200
What it covers:
- 30+ relationship dimensions including communication, conflict, finances, sexuality, spiritual beliefs, family, and personality
- Custom couple report with strengths and growth areas
- Structured exercises for each growth area
Strengths:
- Most research-backed assessment in the field — over 40 years of validation data
- Over 4 million couples have taken it
- Faith-integrated version available
- Facilitator certification ensures quality
- Accepted by many states for marriage license discount programs
- Generates a custom report that makes sessions productive
Limitations:
- Requires facilitator certification
- More clinical feel — may not be ideal for churches wanting a warm, casual program
- The assessment is the strength, but it requires a skilled facilitator to debrief well
Best for: Clinical settings, counselors wanting a data-driven approach, and any facilitator who wants to let the data guide the conversation.
6. SYMBIS Assessment
Developer: Drs. Les and Leslie Parrott Format: 4–6 sessions built around an online assessment Cost: ~$40/couple; no facilitator certification required
What it covers:
- Well-being, social cognition, emotional intelligence
- Love styles and conflict approaches
- Financial philosophy
- Communication patterns
- Spiritual intimacy
Strengths:
- No certification required — any pastor or counselor can use it
- Beautiful, visual report that couples love
- Quicker than PREPARE/ENRICH — assessment takes about 25 minutes
- Designed specifically for church and ministry contexts
- Great for pastors who do occasional premarital counseling
Limitations:
- Less research validation than PREPARE/ENRICH
- Shallower assessment — fewer dimensions covered
- Not accepted in some states for discount programs (check your state)
Best for: Churches and pastors wanting an accessible, visual assessment without certification requirements.
7. Gottman Method Couples Therapy
Developer: Drs. John and Julie Gottman, The Gottman Institute Format: Varies — typically 8–12 sessions with a certified Gottman therapist Cost: Included in therapist session fees; Gottman Relationship Checkup assessment ~$50–$75/couple
What it covers:
- Building Love Maps (knowing your partner's world)
- Turning Towards vs. Turning Away (bids for connection)
- The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse (destructive conflict patterns)
- Creating shared meaning and rituals
- Managing physiological flooding during conflict
- Building a Sound Relationship House
Strengths:
- Most evidence-based approach — decades of longitudinal research at the Love Lab
- Specific, actionable tools that couples can practice immediately
- Therapists are rigorously trained and certified
- Works equally well for secular and faith-based couples
- Excellent for couples with existing conflict patterns
Limitations:
- Most expensive approach (therapist session fees)
- Secular framework — no built-in faith integration
- Requires a certified Gottman therapist (limited availability in some areas)
- Not a self-directed curriculum — requires professional facilitation
Best for: Evidence-focused couples, clinical therapy settings, and couples who want the most research-backed approach available.
How to Choose
If you are a pastor looking for a turnkey church program: Start with Ready to Wed or SYMBIS. Both are designed for ministry contexts with minimal preparation.
If you are a therapist building a premarital practice: Use PREPARE/ENRICH or Gottman. Both give you clinical credibility and data-driven insights that justify your fees.
If you are a couple choosing your own path: Consider what matters most to you — faith integration, evidence base, practical tools, or spiritual depth. Our directory can help you find a counselor who uses the approach that fits.
Bottom Line
There is no single "best" premarital counseling curriculum. The best program is the one that matches your context — your theology, your couples, your time, and your training. What matters most is that you do something intentional before the wedding, not which specific program you choose.
Every program on this list is better than nothing. And research consistently shows that premarital counseling reduces divorce risk regardless of the specific approach used.
Find a premarital counselor near you →