frequently asked questions

What is Prepare & Enrich?
Prepare/Enrich is one of the most widely used premarital and marriage assessments in the world, taken by more than four million couples and administered through trained facilitators. It is not a pass/fail test — it's a customized relationship inventory that each of you completes individually online (about 30–40 minutes), producing a detailed report of your relationship's strength areas and growth areas. The Minister is a trained Prepare/Enrich facilitator and uses your results to personalize your mentorship sessions.

Is it research-based or Biblically based?
Both, in the way we use it. The assessment itself is research-based — developed by relationship researchers and refined over four decades, with published studies supporting its reliability. Prepare/Enrich also offers a faith-based customization for Christian couples, which we use, adding questions on spiritual beliefs and practices. Your mentorship sessions then interpret the results through Biblical teaching, prayer, and Scripture — so you get the credibility of a validated tool inside a Christ-centered mentorship framework.

What topics does it cover?
The assessment and your sessions cover the areas research shows matter most to marital health: communication; conflict resolution; financial management; roles and responsibilities; affection and intimacy; spiritual beliefs; family and friends; personality (each partner's SCOPE personality profile); family-of-origin patterns and how your upbringing shapes your expectations; and relationship dynamics like commitment and idealization. Your personalized report shows exactly where you're aligned and where you'll benefit from focused conversation.

How many sessions do we get?
The Premarital Mentorship Program includes three to four one-hour sessions with the Minister (see Section 8.1). The first session typically reviews your assessment results together; the remaining sessions work through your growth areas using skill-building exercises, Biblical teaching, and prayer. Sessions are usually spaced two to four weeks apart.

How do we take the assessment?
After your ministry fees are received, the Minister registers you in the Prepare/Enrich system and each of you receives a secure link by email. You complete it individually — no comparing answers! Honest, independent responses are what make the report useful.

Will we see the results of the assessment?
Yes — reviewing your couple report together is the heart of the first session. The Minister walks you through your strengths and growth areas and builds your mentorship plan around them.

Is this counseling or therapy?
No. The assessment is a ministry and educational tool, and your sessions are faith-based ministerial mentorship — not licensed professional counseling, psychotherapy, or psychological evaluation (see Sections 4 and 7 of the final agreement). If your results surface something that would benefit from professional support, the Minister may recommend a licensed counselor (see Section 11.9).

What if the assessment reveals problems?
That's a feature, not a failure. Every couple has growth areas, and it is far better to discover and work through them before the wedding than after. The assessment doesn't tell you whether to get married — it shows you where to focus so you can build the strongest possible foundation.

Do you offer “ceremony only” officiating?
No. Premarital mentorship (or proof of at least six hours of approved faith-based marriage preparation) is required for every wedding we officiate. See Section 4 of the Agreement.

Where do we get our marriage license?
From any Texas county clerk. Plan around the 72-hour waiting period after issuance and the 90-day expiration. Bring the original license to the ceremony — no license, no ceremony. See Section 9.4.

Who returns the license after the wedding?
The Minister completes it and returns it to the issuing county clerk within the statutory deadline. Certified copies of your marriage certificate are ordered by you from the county clerk.

Will you officiate at a non-church venue?
Yes — outdoor venues, event centers, private homes, and other locations within Texas are welcome. Travel within 50 miles of Austin is included; farther travel is billed at a pre-approved cost. See Sections 7.3 and 9.3.

Can we personalize the ceremony?
Absolutely — vows, Scripture, unity elements, and more, within the framework of a Christian ceremony and the Minister’s pastoral discretion. See Sections 8 and 9.15.

What if we need to change our date?
One reschedule to a date within 12 months is included at no additional deposit, subject to availability. See Section 9.5.

What happens if the Minister is ill on our wedding day?
We will make every reasonable effort to provide a substitute ordained minister acceptable to you; if we cannot, all officiating fees — including the deposit — are refunded. See Section 9.6.

Should we consider wedding insurance?
We recommend it. The Ministry does not provide event insurance; wedding or special-event insurance can protect you against cancellation, weather, vendor, and venue losses. See Section 9.21.

Can we share our ceremony video online?
Yes — your photos and recordings of your own ceremony are yours to share personally, including on social media. See Section 9.19.

Is the mentorship confidential?
Yes, as confidential pastoral communication, subject only to legally required exceptions such as mandatory reporting of abuse or neglect. See Section 9.18.