Marriage is a long road, and it only begins with the engagement. Couples will face a lot of difficult challenges throughout their marriage, and planning a wedding is just the beginning. You could face frustrating in-laws, divorced parents who put you in the middle or arguments about money. What happens down the road if one of you loses your job or you have a sick child? Are you prepared to handle those obstacles together?

Pre-marriage counseling can help couples face such issues by teaching them how to better communicate, support each other and keep their unique bond alive for years to come. According to leading marriage researchers, premarital counseling can lower the risk of divorce and lead to a happier marriage. It can also reduce the stress of wedding planning. So what is it, exactly?

What is Pre-Marriage Counseling?

So what is pre-marriage counseling? Ever see "License to Wed," with Robin Williams as crazy Reverend Frank, who puts an engaged couple through a grueling pre-marriage prep course? It's sort of like that, but with a counselor who's not quite as insane (hopefully).

Couples can receive premarital counseling from a religious adviser or non-religious professional counselor. The counseling can range from one or two meetings to an extended series of sessions, and sometimes includes an assessment inventory and skills training.

Finding What You Need

Finding an experienced counselor in Texas should not be taken lightly. Premarital counseling can help you deal with the stress of everything from the engagement to the wedding and the marriage itself. Pre-marriage, wedding and marriage counselors should, at a minimum, possess a valid license and be able to confirm their level of training and experience in marriage and couples counseling. Find a counselor or therapist near you by searching the National Marriage Counselor Directory or check out MarriageMD.

The Healthy Marriage Initiative

Couples tying the knot in Texas will pay a higher fee for a marriage license and endure a 72-hour waiting period unless they are willing to complete an eight-hour course about how to effectively communicate and resolve arguments.

The new law, called "Twogether in Texas," went into effect Sept. 1, 2008, and promotes free, skills-based marriage education classes aimed at providing couples with the tools they need to manage the challenges that all relationships at some point face. If the couple elects to attend the premarital class, they can avoid the 72-hour waiting period and the increased rate for the marriage license. The law aims to reduce the number of divorces and promote healthy marriages.

Twelve organizations throughout Texas are designated as regional intermediaries and are responsible for ensuring premarital services are available in their regions. The free classes take place across the state and are open to all couple--whether they are dating, engaged or are already married. A link to Healthy Marriage Regional Intermediaries can be found here.