Building Strong Foundations for a Successful Marriage

Wedding Photos Stephi and Jonatão Morais   C/O: jrfilm.co.uk

National Marriage Week (7-14 February) is a great time for investing in marriage and the central part it plays in building strong communities. Churches have long recognised the need to invest in marriages, both of couples in congregations and those in the wider communities. It is a privilege to marry a couple in Ashtead Parish. There is much to prepare for the wedding day, but helping couples prepare for the marriage itself is something we are delighted to offer.

Couples wishing to marry at Ashtead Parish attend the Pre-Marriage Course. This is an online course run by Holy Trinity Brompton (HTB).  Together, couples sign up for the course to share in the comfort of their homes with the Parish supplying complimentary journals to complete. 

We see this as a gift to each partner as they explore questions together around communication, conflict, commitment, connection and adventure.  The course will help build foundations for their lives together and deepen understanding of the one they love.

Once the course is completed, which has 5 sessions, we have a dedicated Pre-Marriage Team from our parish who will invite them for a meal with the opportunity to give personal feedback from the (optional) Couple Survey and to share experience of the course with the strictest confidence. 

Many have shared how helpful the course has been for them:

“We loved the Pre-Marriage course; despite having been together for over 10 years and having had many of these conversations before, it was a wonderful opportunity to re-discuss some topics in the lead up to our wedding - as things change over the course of that time! We enjoyed being able to complete it within the comfort of our own home, with a glass of wine!”

We also offer a Pre-Marriage breakfast with an informal chat to meet others being married in our parish and the staff and volunteers involved in Pre-Marriage.

If you are hoping to be married in Ashtead Parish, please visit our wedding page here.