Marriage preparation meetings can be enormously helpful.

Subjects that are likely to arise in marriage preparation meetings include:

• Expectations of married life
• How well couples really know each other
• Finances, joint accounts and planning
• Children
• Family and friends and their impact on the relationship
• Differences and similarities of outlook and what this can mean
• Communication — the why’s and how’s
• Support and collaboration

I have helped to develop and run the marriage preparation workshop at two of Putney’s churches: All Saints and St Mary’s.