Marriage Preparation is designed to enable couples to learn and practice the skills necessary to help their marriage thrive.

In the midst of all the other wedding preparations this is a time for couples to retreat and care for their own relationship.  We believe that in making quality time available in this way, a healthy pattern is established early in the relationship.  There are two ways of doing pre-marriage preparation.

Group Session

In a safe and relaxed environment couples learn together over a Friday night and a Saturday.  This is an opportunity to share your experience, enthusiasm and learning with other couples.

Private Sessions

Some couples prefer to do pre-marriage privately.  This offers the possibility of tailoring the sessions to meet the couple’s unique circumstances, and provides greater flexibility for those with busy schedules.

Pre-marriage Questionnaire

For both the private and the group sessions you are asked to fill out a pre-marriage questionnaire.  This tool provides you with a profile of your relationship, including your strengths and areas of challenge.  This can be found online at www.relate-institute.org  There is a nominal fee for this service which can be paid online.  Please bring the completed questionnaire to the session.

The areas we will explore together include

● Stages of marriage
● Effective, emphatic communications
● How the family we grew up in affects our expectations of marriage
● Recognising and appreciating gender differences
● Intimacy and sexuality in marriage
● The fair division of household chores
● Designing a mission statement for your marriage

“The energy was very good.  There was a very open environment for discussion.  The information was down-to-earth, not idealized and old fashioned.  The church sure has changed since I’ve been away from it!”

Top

Choose one of the following workshops:

Group

March 14 & 15, 2008
April 4 & 5, 2008
May 16 & 17, 2008

Friday evening 7:30 - 10:00 PM and
Saturday 9:30 AM, until 4:00 PM
lunch is provided.

Private

Please call to book your sessions.

 

"Having a man and a woman's perspective allowed for great insight.  Your own experiences and anecdotes provided much interest and humour ..."

Top

Ann and Bruce bring many years of experience as marriage and family therapists.  They are highly trained, accountable professionals, who regard this as a very important ministry to couples.

Participants comment on the importance of having a husband and wife team leading the group sessions.  Bruce and Ann share openly and appropriately their own experience of what it takes to create and sustain a loving marriage.  For those choosing private sessions, you will benefit from Dr. Ann Evan's 20 years of experience in a successful marriage counselling practice.

Dr. Ann Evans

Ann is a Clinical Member, Supervisor, and past President of the British Columbia Association of Marriage and Family Therapy (BCAMFT).  In the past, she has been adjunct faculty at the University of Toronto teaching counselling.

The Rev. Bruce Sanguin

Bruce is the minister of Canadian Memorial United Church.  He is a clinical member of the BCAMFT and is an experienced marriage therapist.

 

"You both made us feel very comfortable.  The workshop was productive and fun.  My fiancée was reluctant to come, by by the end he was happy he did ..."

Top

Call

the Wedding Director at Canadian Memorial Church
at (604) 731-5052 (or click here for e-mail)

Location

Canadian Memorial Centre for Peace
1825 West 16th Ave
Vancouver, BC   V6J 2M3

Group Fee     $200.00 per couple (incl. lunch and materials)

Private Fee   $500.00 per couple for five (5) hours

Payment      

For group sessions the full fee is payable at time of registration. 
For private sessions, arrangements can be made with Dr. Ann Evans.

 

"We appreciated the practical techniques and the practice ..."

Top