Preparing couples for marriage 

1. Initial Meeting
The initial meeting with the engaged couple should be with the priest, deacon or marriage coordinator at least six months before the ceremony. Wedding dates should not be confirmed until that first conversation. 
This initial gathering is a time to share joy, and ask/answer basic questions on the marriage preparation process. Topics include:

• Overview of the Marriage Preparation Processincluding:
  • The Prepare-Enrich "Relationship Inventory" 
  • The "Witness to Love"  preparation process
  • The role of a Mentor Couple 
• Completion of "Freedom to Marry" forms  

 
2. Second Meeting: Relationship Inventory Review
After the couple have taken the online inventory,  the parish coordinator discusses the results and highlights aspects that may need deeper conversation.  These results provide insights that will put the engaged couple on a path toward life-long relationship growth. The inventory gives an instant snapshot of the relationship strengths, weaknesses and disagreements. 
Next, ask the couple to plan gatherings with their selected Mentor couple using "Witness to Love". 

3. Mentor and Engaged Couple Gatherings
Encourage the engage couple to pray and seriously discern their choice of the right Mentor couple. Discuss with them:

• Who can challenge the couple to have a better marriage?
• Does the mentor couple have a strong relationship with Christ?
• Are they a couple you admire and would go to naturally for advise?
• Would you be happy if you had a marriage relationship like theirs?
• Are they married five years or more years and active in the Catholic Church

After their selection, call the Mentor Couple and explain the series of home gatherings, the Witness to Love program and most importantly, encourage them to share their lives with each other

4. Suggest a Marriage Retreat or additioanl "at home" resources
Retreats provide an opportunity for Engaged couples to spend extended time with each other. The presentations and private time include topics such as the sacramentality of marriage, faith, family, communication, finances, and intimacy.  Retreats include: Engaged Encounter, 2 become1, Smart Loving or Better Together

5. Meeting with Wedding Presider 
Prior to the wedding, the presider informally meets, to discuss the important questions on an going faith journey and exploring marriage through the lens of Covenant & Sacrament. (Notes from WTL session 5). The presider should also take the opportunity to discuss Theology of the Body and Natural Family Planning. Finally, review the wedding vows and answer any questions that they may have regardign the wedding Mass or ceremony.   

6. Meeting with Parish Wedding Coordinator
- Explain the wedding liturgical options:  the Rite of Marriage within Mass and the Rite of Marriage without Mass (wedding Ceremony).   
- Encourage the use of a printed worship program for active participation of those who are unfamiliar with the Catholic Liturgy. 
- Any person who fills ththe role of lector should be a strong Christian that will be proclaiming the Word of God.
- Extraordinary Ministers of Communion must be commissioned in their parishes to fill this role during the wedding. 
- The Catechism of the Catholic Church states that financial circumstances should never prevent a couple from marriage. 

7. Parish Accompaniment
The parish has the privileged to accompany the engaged couple on their journey of your love, and should be honored that they have entrusted the parish with equipping them to prepare for marriage. Make plans to follow up regularly with the couple, especially in the first few years of married life. Most importantly, encourage parishioners to pray with and for the couple, that the Holy Spirit guides and directs them on their new journey of love for each other.