Marriage

Whether you are preparing yourself to be a good spouse, preparing to get married or already married, intentional preparation and investment is key. Here is a list of books, assessments, podcasts, courses, conferences and weekend getaways to help you live the marriage of your dreams! All except one resource (identified below as a secular resource) are Christian-based resources.

Books - marriage preparation

  • Should I get Married? (Blaine Smith) / Me marier?
  • Saving Your Marriage Before It Starts (Les and Leslie Parrott)
  • Before Saying "I Do" (Norman Wright, Wes Roberts) / Avant de dire Oui je le veux
  • Things I Wish I'd Known Before We Got Married (Gary Chapman) / Ce que j'aurais aimé savoir avant de me marier
  • Ready To Wed (Greg and Erin Smalley, Focus on the Family) - book, workbook, pre-Marital Counseling Kit (10 video sessions, Leader's Guide, workbook)
  • Before the Ring (William Coleman)
  • 101 Questions to Ask Before You Get Engaged (Norman Wright)
  • Boundaries in Dating (Henry Cloud and John Townsend)
  • Too Close Too Soon (Jim Talley and Bobbie Reed)
  • 101 Questions to Ask Before You Get Remarried (Norman Wright)
  • The Premarital Counseling Handbook (Norman Wright)

Books - marriage

  • The Meaning of Marriage (Timothy and Kathy Keller) / Le Mariage - Un engagement complexe à vivre avec la sagesse de Dieu
  • Sacred Marriage (Gary Thomas) / Vous avez dit Oui à quoi?
  • After Saying "I Do" (Norman Wright)
  • The Seven Principles for Making Marriage Work (John Gottman and Nan Silver) - secular resource
  • Held in Honor (Matthew D. Haste and Robert L. Plummer) / Sagesse du passé pour votre mariage
  • Love and Respect (Emerson Eggerichs) / L'Amour et le Respect
  • Strengths Based Marriage (Jimmy Evans and Allan Kelsey)
  • Making Magnificent Marriages (Jared Pingleton)
  • The Power of a Praying Husband (Stormie Omartian)
  • The Power of a Praying Wife (Stormie Omartian)
  • The Power of a Praying Couple (Stormie Omartian)
  • The Five Love Languages (Gary Chapman) / Les Langages de l'amour
  • When Sorry Isn't Enough (Gary Chapman) / Les langages de la réconciliation
  • Marriage Coaching (Jeff and Jill Williams)
  • The Four Seasons of Marriage (Gary Chapman) / Les Saisons du mariage
  • Boundaries in Marriage (Henry Cloud and John Townsend)

Training - marriage preparation

  • Nothing Hidden Ministries: Relationship Health Checklist; online (free)
  • Nothing Hidden Ministries: Single Life Workshop; eCourse or in-person
  • Focus on the Family Canada: podcasts
  • Focus on the Family Canada: Journey to Us conference and marriage weekend retreat; singles, dating and engaged welcome; in-person
  • Alpha: The Pre-Marriage Course; eCourse
  • Psychological Publications Inc.: Taylor-Johnson Temperament Analysis; online + facilitator; available in 7 languages
  • ###; Set Free; ###
  • Life Languages International; 7 Life Languages assessment (communication styles) (also known as Kendall Life Languages™ Profile); online
  • Celebrate Recovery Canada; Celebrate Recovery program (for freedom from addictions, hurts and hang-ups); virtual
  • Pure Desire Ministries; Pure desire support groups and counseling (for freedom from sexual brokenness and betrayal trauma); virtual

Training - marriage

  • Les and Leslie Parrott: SYMBIS+ assessment (Saving Your Marriage Before It Starts) - for married; online
  • Fruitful Journey Coaching: SYMBIS Coaching Program; virtual
  • FamilyLife Canada (Power to Change): Together for Good workshop; eCourse
  • FamilyLife Canada (Power to Change): Weekend Getaway Marriage Conference; in-person
  • Prepare/Enrich: Prepare/Enrich assessment (marital); online + facilitator; available in 11 languages
  • Nothing Hidden Ministries: Love After Marriage; need to be at least engaged to attend in-person; eCourse or in-person
  • Focus on the Family Canada: podcasts
  • Focus on the Family Canada: Journey to Us conference and marriage weekend retreat; unaccompanied spouses welcome; in-person
  • Focus on the Family Canada: Hope Restored weekend; for struggling marriages; in-person
  • Focus on the Family USA: Marriage assessment; online (free)
  • Focus on the Family USA: Resist the Drift Marriage Conference; in-person
  • Focus on the Family USA: Marriage Weekend Getaway; in-person
  • Promised Land Living: Marriage Course; virtual
  • Alpha: The Marriage Course; eCourse (also available in French and Spanish)
  • Psychological Publications Inc.: Taylor-Johnson Temperament Analysis; online + facilitator; available in 7 languages
  • Life Languages International; 7 Life Languages assessment (communication styles) (also known as Kendall Life Languages™ Profile); online
  • Celebrate Recovery Canada; Celebrate Recovery program (for  freedom from addictions, hurts and hang-ups); virtual
  • Pure Desire Ministries; Pure desire support groups and counseling (for freedom from sexual brokenness and betrayal trauma); virtual