7 Reasons Every Couple Should Go to Premarital Counseling

Premarital counseling will give you a real dose of marriage reality and help you better prepare your mind, body, and spirit for a happy marriage — because let's face it: seven years down the road, your wedding day will be nothing more than a memory. An actual marriage takes work, commitment, and lots of forgiveness. Premarital counseling will dive head first into what both of your expectations are and how realistic (or unrealistic) they might be. Premarital counseling will prepare you for the good, the bad, and the ugly side of what marriage really is.

Getting hitched is one of the most intimate things you can do with your lover. It signifies a deeper level of commitment and should ultimately bring you closer. But a lot of couples jump into marriage, resisting to fully open up to their partner. They have an underlying fear of rejection. Premarital counseling will jump-start that deep connection you both seek and help you break down those walls of protection. You will feel free to open up to your partner like never before.

When a lot of couples get married, they think they should do everything together, from walking the dog to grocery shopping to catching the latest flick. They give up a big piece of themselves to please their spouse. Even though pleasing your spouse should be your top priority, it's not your only one. Maintaining some sense of individuality is crucial for a marriage to flourish. Premarital counseling will teach you which compromises are essential and which ones are optional.

Once you've confronted your deepest fears, you can get a better grasp of your own needs as a whole. You'll finally explore what makes you tick. A successful marriage must have equality, meaning both partners need to feel valued and loved. The simplest way to achieve that goal is to understand each other's needs and wants. To fully master that, you must first understand yourself.

A healthy sex life is arguably one of the most important elements of a happy marriage. We are all different, and some of us have a higher libido than others. Experts agree that couples with a thriving sex life seem to be more fulfilled in their relationships and in life as a whole. Premarital counseling will encourage couples to talk openly about sex and what turns them on and turns them off. We all want to please our partner in the bedroom, and being honest about what we want can be the best way to do that.

No matter how brave we all pretend to be, we usually fear something in life. One of the first steps to confronting our fears is admitting we have some to begin with. Premarital counseling will help you discover those hidden fears — the ones you try to hide from your partner and even from yourself.

States like Florida and Texas offer couples a discount on their marriage license for completing a premarital counseling course. Texas even waives the fee altogether. Every state is different, so it's up to you to do some research. A simple call to your courthouse or even a quick Google search can give you the information you need to save a little dough. When you're planning a wedding, a little goes a long way, and with some money saved, you might be able to afford that sweet surprise you've been eyeing for your spouse's wedding day gift. It's a win-win situation.