Should I or shouldn’t I get married? Are mental reservations keeping you up at night? Is your prospective future spouse overspending on the wedding preparation? Our Florida premarital preparation course will answer these questions and more. As a psychologist and relationship expert, I am often challenged with this question. Should I get married must be answered by you and your spouse and you both must be on the same page. Fortunately, I will provide you with some important facts to help you in making the decision about getting married and making the right decision for the two of you. If you want to know if you both are compatible, then taking our premarital preparation is also extremely important.

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Some interesting facts to know when deciding whether to be married or not:

1. 60 percent of all divorces involve individuals aged 25 to 39. Know that if you are within this age group you are at a higher risk for divorce than those at other ages. However, don’t be too worried by this statistic as most people getting married are within this age bracket and this likely raises the rate of divorce.
2. Those who wait to marry until they are over 25 years old are 24 percent less likely to get divorced. Remember, that the older you are, the more likely you are to be successful. Think about it. The greatest risk of divorce is actually financial problems and the older you are, the more likely you will have more money and be more stable financially, thus increasing your chances of remaining married.
3. If you and your partner have had previous marriages, you are 90 percent more likely to get divorced than if this had been the first marriage for both of you. This is true. Remember that the people that have stable marriages but with problems and stick it out are not included in this segment, so the people whom get divorced at least one time may possess certain factors that decrease their chances of marital success in the future.
4.  If you met your spouse in high school, college, or grad school, you are 41 percent less likely to get divorced. It is clear that education provides a buffer to problems and thus divorce. Marriage is a lot less stressful if both partners have an education and jobs and are already established when they came together. Being stable already helps to avoid many unnecessary headaches.
5. Having a baby before marriage can increase risk of divorce by 24 percent. Although many people choose to have a child prior to being married, given the many stresses and adjustments with marriage and permanently combining lives, having a child already certainly adds to the stress level.
6. The average total cost of divorce in the United States is $15,000. You are likely realizing the high cost of getting married if you are planning a wedding, and you should know the cost of divorce. Know that this cost is for a low conflict divorce.
7. And most importantly, being super excited about your prospective partner and sharing many values, goals, and dreams is key. Couples that are lukewarm or are cold during the courting process or have dissimilar attitudes and lifestyles are more prone to relationship problems.

Florida Premarital Preparation Course Page

Online Florida Premarital Preparation Blog Page

Hopefully we have answered the question as to whether you should get married. It’s important to know what is stacked against you or what is working in your favor. Taking our premarital preparation course is an excellent way to answer the question, “Should I get married”. We hope you are ready for the big commitment. Marriage is a wonderful thing when two people join together with eyes wide open and are in love with each other.

Interesting article about the changing trends of marriage….

New research explores counterintuitive trends in the link between premarital sex and marital stability.

Source: More sex partners before marriage doesn’t necessarily lead to divorce

There is a tension between what spouses demand from their marriages and what they are capable of attaining from those marriages, according to recent psychology research. High standards, whether in caring, support, or independence, improve satisfaction only in strong marriages. For less strong marriages, such as those involving higher levels of indirect hostility or more severe problems, high standards further erode the relationship.

Source: High standards produce mixed effects on marriages

Great article about the science behind kissing in short and long term relationships. The take away is that the human mouth is possibly like a dog’s nose, and that if you and your partner are not kissing as usual…you must have done something displeasing and you are in the dog house, or he or she is searching for better dog chow!

What’s in a kiss? A new study suggests kissing helps us size up potential partners and, once in a relationship, may be a way of getting a partner to stick around.

Source: Kissing helps us find the right partner – and keep them