Families For Life | Why You Should Attend Marriage Programmes
Why is attending one together a great idea?
Learning the skills to address sensitive topics
A good marriage programme can provide you with the skills and a supportive environment to understand and discuss key issues in your marriage. This is especially important when there’s an elephant in the room which both of you have been avoiding – a topic which is difficult or sensitive. and which neither of you has had the courage to bring up.
Here are some questions you might have had:How will we manage finances?
How do we see kids fitting in our lives?
How should we handle disagreements?
How do we balance professional roles and spousal/familial responsibilities?
What role does religion play in our lives?
A chance to learn from marriage coaches and other couples
Our courses are facilitated by experienced professionals who have been trained to support couples in strengthening their marriage. This allows you to
Benefit from the experience and knowledge of marriage coaches and other couples
Bring up and discuss topics which you may not have confidence to do so alone
Is it compulsory?
In Singapore, marriage preparation is compulsory for any party that is below 21 years old.
However, many religious organisations and groups require you to complete a marriage preparation course run directly by the group itself, or through an approved affiliate partner in order for your marriage to be spiritually recognised.
Even if it isn’t compulsory, it’s always a good idea to attend one together. One of the best things about a marriage preparation course is that it gets you to begin building the foundation of your marriage together. The better prepared you are for your future life together, the more likely you are to find happiness in your marriage.
What is a marriage preparation programme?
A marriage preparation programme provides you and your partner with a safe platform to discuss important decisions pertaining to your values and expectations. Even if you've already had some of these heart-to-heart conversations, these sessions can help uncover new perspectives or broach sensitive topics you might not have the opportunity to discuss on yet.
All our programmes cover essential topics:
Roles and Expectations
Communication & Conflict Management
Financial Planning
Emotional Connection & Sexual Intimacy
Family Planning/Fertility Awareness
Family of Origin
In-Law Relationships
View our list of FFL marriage preparation programmes
Choosing Your Ideal Marriage Preparation Programme
1. Decide between group or individual couple sessions
Group programmes: Lets you learn alongside other couples and share experiences.
Individual Couple programmes: Offers personalised attention and private discussions with your marriage coach/experienced professional.
2. Consider your schedule and preferred time commitment.
Short programmes (6 - 8 hours): Perfect for busy couples to pick up essential skills and knowledge
Medium programmes (9 - 12 hours): Provide more in-depth learning and greater opportunity for skills building
Comprehensive programmes (13 - 17 hours): For couples wanting a comprehensive coverage of all topics and a complete learning experience.
3. Choose your preferred mode.
In-person: Provides face-to-face interaction
Virtual: Offers convenience from home
Hybrid: Combines both experiences
4. Check if you want additional features.
Some programmes include evidence-based assessment tools, reports or curriculum, such as Prepare/Enrich and PREP curriculum.
Some programmes offer additional faith-based content for couples wanting religious perspectives.
5. Look at language options and locations (for in-person sessions).
Sounds good! Where do I sign up?
The Families for Life Programme website is a good place to start as it has links to marriage preparation service providers and information regarding their programmes, including sign-up details. These programmes offer a $170 rebate upon completion of the programme together.
Take the first step towards a strong and fulfilling marriage and sign up for a marriage preparation programme!
What is a marriage enrichment programme?
You've been married for a few years, and everything is going well – why would you need a marriage enrichment programme? Well, unlike traditional marriage counselling, which often focuses on resolving conflicts or addressing specific issues, a marriage enrichment programme is suited for couples like you who are looking to deepen their connection, improve their communication and nurture a more fulfilling partnership. The focus of a marriage enrichment programme is to build on existing relationship strengths, improve communication, equip you and your spouse with practical skills and tools to foster intimacy, enhance their emotional connection to navigate challenges in a healthy manner and build resilience in your marriage.
You should attend if:
You have been married for more than 2 years.
Sign up for marriage enrichment programme
1. PREPARE/ENRICH Marriage Enrichment Programme
PREPARE/ENRICH helps you identify your relationship strengths, understand dynamics, and build skills. Facilitators administer the PREPARE/ENRICH assessment, provide results through feedback sessions, and promote relationship growth. Personalised results provide insights that will put you on a path toward life-long relationship growth.
Research has shown that the act of taking an assessment improves relationship satisfaction.
Programme Details
Over either three 4-hour sessions or four 3-hour sessions, with the help of a Certified Facilitator and the PREPARE/ENRICH assessment, you will identify your strengths and growth areas, gain insights into relationship dynamics, personality, spiritual beliefs, family systems, and build confidence in your relationship skills.
PREPARE/ENRICH marriage enrichment programme is complimentary for eligible couples provided:
You have been married for more than 2 years
Either of you is a Singapore Citizen or Permanent Resident.
2. Cinta Abadi Marriage Enrichment Programme
Cinta Abadi marriage enrichment programme supports Muslim couples’ transitions to marriage and parenthood.
Marriage Modules
Marriage Check-Up
Money Matters – Making Cents (Sense) Together
Love Matters – Nurturing and Appreciating Each Other
Relationships Matter – Revisiting Boundaries
Parenting Modules
Parenting Smart – Negotiating Parental Roles
Parenting Positive – Building Attachments
Cinta Abadi marriage enrichment programme is complimentary for eligible couples provided
You have been married for more than 2 years.
Your marriage was registered at the Registry of Muslim Marriages.
Either of you is a Singapore Citizen or Permanent Resident.
Financial planning for couples
Learn how to draw up a financial plan as a couple and take steps to ensure your family is in good financial health by saving, having sufficient insurance and investing. You will also be taught how to budget for your new home and to plan ahead by making a Lasting Power Attorney (LPA) and CPF Nomination. Conducted by IFL, the workshops are run on a quarterly basis.
Marriage Programmes in Singapore
Marriage programmes provide you and your partner the tools and resources to build and maintain a strong and resilient marriage. Every marriage encounters its own unique set of opportunities and challenges and attending a marriage programme is an investment in the health and resilience of your marriage. Remember, investing is not a sign that there is something wrong with the relationship rather, it’s a reflection of your strength and commitment to each other’s happiness and well-being in your marriage.
What are the types of marriage programmes available?
We have marriage preparation programmes for soon-to-wed and newly-wed couples and marriage enrichment programmes for married couples. For marriage preparation programmes, we have couple programmes, group programmes, as well as online, self-learning programmes. To learn more, please click on the respective tabs below.