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SUSTAINING LOVE BEYOND THE WEDDING DAY
Premarital Preparation at Lake of the Isles
Standing at the altar and saying "I do" is one thing. Taking an "I" and a "you" and growing them into a "we" -- the type of "we" that points to a healthy and satisfying marriage -- is quite another! Premarital preparation offers you, the couple, a deliberate opportunity to consider the insights, commitments and skills necessary to grow and sustain a loving and life-giving relationship.
In order to be married in our sanctuary, you must complete the premarital program we endorse, which is offered several times a year in several locations, including at Lake of the Isles.
Accept and honor the gift that you are to each other.
Daily re-choose the life together that you first chose on your wedding day.
§ Program
We believe that growing in insight and knowledge about the commitments and challenges of marriage sooner rather than later is a good idea; therefore, we strongly urge couples being married at Lake of the Isles to complete our course of premarital preparation at least two months prior to the wedding. In order to be married in our sanctuary, you must complete a program of premarital preparation and provide written certification of completion to the wedding manager.
The program we recommend utilizes an instrument called PREPARE: Premarital Personal and Relationship Evaluation. It is widely used by clergy and counselors across the United States to help couples learn more about themselves, each other, and their relationship prior to the marriage celebration. The inventory examines a couples' responses to items that identify areas os strength and growth in the relationship. Following completion of the inventory, couples will have at least two hours with a pastor or counselor to review the results and talk about ways to strengthen your relationship.
§ Schedule and Fees
All local couples are referred to Lutheran Social Service to schedule and complete the PREPARE process with LSS counseling staff. Call 612-879-5320 to begin the process. The total cost is $135: $35 for the inventory and $100 for two hours of counseling, which may be scheduled in one or two sessions.
Non-local couples may complete the PREPARE process or a similar premarital counseling experience in their home town, if that is more convenient.
All couples must have a counselor sign and return the certification form that was sent to you with your wedding confirmation letter. This signed verification of completion should be returned to our wedding manager at least two months prior to the wedding. Please remember to take the form with you to your final counseling session!
§ Confidentiality
Lutheran Social Service will ask you to sign a release of information authorizing them to share the results of your counseling process with the pastor who conducts your wedding ceremony. Otherwise, private conversations with the counselor are held in strict confidence.
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Wedding Manual and Fees
