FAQs about the Course

Why a pre-marriage course is needed  

Why a pre-marriage course is needed     A priest responsible for the celebrating a Catholic wedding is obliged under church law to ensure that the couple have made suitable preparation to undertake the duties of married life. Although he can opt to personally deliver this marriage preparation guidance, the usual practice is to require the couple to attend an approved pre-marriage course. It is advisable to check with your priest before booking your pre-marriage course.

Criteria for pre-marr. courses?     

Criteria for pre-marr. courses?    The Irish episcopal conference issued a set of Guidelines or CRITERIA for courses of marriage preparation (June 2010). These Criteria may be regarded as non-binding in special circumstances. It is advisable to consult your priest before booking your pre-marriage course. If he is unfamiliar with the Together course, why not tell him about us?

Benefits of the Together course ?     

Benefits of the Together course Our pre-marriage course takes a solid and sensible look at marriage as a partnership pledged for life and a sacrament blessed and sealed by God. We believe in sacramental marriage as a real and fruitful vocation to a shared life. Our four, substantial sessions are interactive, not straight lectures. Couples can get actively involved in the discussion, if they so choose. Our course director will explain your available choices for personalising your wedding ceremony. We hold a light-hearted wedding rehearsal, to help you visualise your ceremony. Our discussions will centre around: 1. Communication. 2. Sexuality and intimacy. 3. Marriage in law and in church. 4. Adapting to each other.

Where is the course located?  

Where is the course located Our courses are conducted in the Plaza Hotel, beside THE SQUARE shopping centre, Tallaght; West of the M-50. Free underground parking for the course. Click here for directions to the hotel. Advance booking is required. We could not organise a pre-marriage course without this (e.g. book the auditorium, alert the hotel's restaurant of how many guests to expect, or prepare your personalised attendance certificate to issue to each couple at the end of the course. Your booking will be confirmed by email. Please keep a note of the date for which you've booked. It will be printed on the top segment of your booking form - the part you keep as a reminder of the course date and venue.

Is there a refund if we cancel?    

Is there a refund if we cancel? If you really need to cancel a course on which you have booked, we will refund your fee in full, if you phone our office not less than 5 days in advance. Alternatively, if you wish to transfer to another date you can do so at no extra cost. 012964257 But if a couple simply fails to turn up for the course they booked, without prior notification, no refund will be due, because their unused places were made unavailable to another couple.

Is course attendance cert accepted?   

Is course attendance cert accepted?    After our fourth session (5 pm), each of our couples receives a personalised Certificate listing: The names of the couple The place and date of the course How to contact the course director Our certs are widely accepted at home and abroad.

How early to attend the course?  

How early to attend the course?   You may do it as early as you like. A good rule-of-thumb is: once you're formally engaged and have set a date with the Church. It's not unusual for couples to take their course as long as six months before the wedding date. Anyway, don't leave it to the last minute! You may actually get more benefit from it if you take it at leisure, well before the big day itself. If marrying ABROAD, you should do your pre-marriage course at least FOUR MONTHS ahead of your wedding date. The parish abroad will want to a cert from an approved pre-marriage-course among your documents, validated by your home parish or diocese.

What should we bring to the course?    

What should we bring to the course?   Just bring yourselves, with a spirit of curiosity and an open mind. There is no need to take notes, though you are of course free to do so if you wish. Elsewhere on this website we have some notes to accompany the course, which we hope you will read. You can also find them on our Irish Wedding Planner app which works on Google/Android, but not on iPhones. Complimentary tea/coffee and biscuits or pastry are provided gratis at the mid-morning break (11.00-11:30). Whatever you may require during the lunch-break (13:00 to 14:00) will be available in or near the hotel.

Is individual counselling part of it?      

Is individual counselling part of it?   There is no individual counselling DURING the course-day itself, though we may have some light-hearted, non-intrusive communication exercises to liven things up. After attending Together, and as a necessary extension of our course, any couple worried about any unresolved issue may request a counselling session before making their wedding vows. At their request, we will refer individuals or couples to one of our counsellors for a free initial session. Indeed, if thorny issues should arise later on within the marriage, we strongly urge couples to consider availing of marriage counselling before their communication difficulties reach total stalemate. See ACCORD or any other reputable counselling service.

Is it suitable for inter-faith couples?    

Is it suitable for inter-faith couples?   The Together course can serve as preparation for an interfaith wedding, though in practice most couples attending our courses are of Catholic background. We would ask interfaith couples to tell us in advance (and remind us on the day itself), so that their concerns can be addressed, especially regarding their wedding ceremony. Some pre-marriage courses specifically for Interchurch Couples are held by Accord, at venues in Dublin. Telephone: 01 4784400 or Email: marriagepreparation@dublin.accord.ie.

Any info. about weddings abroad? 

Any info. provided, about weddings abroad?   Guidelines for getting married abroad are explained in detail on this site ( "Abroad"), or consult the General Registry Office website. As a rule of thumb, have your wedding documents gathered at least four months before the wedding date. If marrying abroad your pre-marriage course certificate should be signed by the priest conducting your p-m course, or stamped with his seal. He may also be able to answer specific questions you may have, for your particular wedding.

Are financial issues discussed?     

Are financial issues discussed?   Due to tight time constraints on the day of the course, we have no specific session devoted to financial issues and problems that can arise in marriage, but the topic is raised for mention during each of our sessions, as an issue of openness and fairness between couples. As a useful supplement to our course, any of the couples who request it can have an initial financial consultation, gratis, with John Lowe, the author of Money Doctor. John's frank discussion of money issues has been useful to many couples. For details of this offer, click here.