If you are getting married in Lagos this December, premarital counselling can help you and your partner address important questions about money, communication, family expectations, intimacy and conflict before the wedding.
Temple’s Counsel offers a three-session Pre-Marital Series for ₦150,000 and a six-session Pre-Marital Extended package for ₦270,000, giving couples a structured opportunity to prepare for married life.
A wedding ceremony can be planned in a few months. Building a healthy marriage, however, requires ongoing conversations, realistic expectations and a willingness to understand each other beyond the excitement of the celebration. Premarital counselling creates a guided space for those conversations.
What does premarital counselling include?
Premarital counselling is not an examination designed to determine whether two people are perfect for each other. It helps an engaged couple understand their relationship patterns, identify areas that need attention and develop practical skills for married life.
At Temple’s Counsel, the published Pre-Marital Series includes communication patterns, conflict resolution, expectations alignment and basic financial planning. Couples who choose the six-session Pre-Marital Extended package receive a broader programme covering all core premarital topics, an in-depth assessment, family dynamics and crisis-prevention tools.
Depending on the couple’s needs, sessions may explore:
- Communication: How do you express disappointment, ask for support and discuss sensitive subjects?
- Conflict: What happens when you disagree? Do you withdraw, shout, become defensive or try to resolve the issue?
- Money: Will you combine finances, maintain separate accounts or use a hybrid arrangement? How will you handle debt, savings and family obligations?
- Family boundaries: What role will parents, siblings and extended relatives play in your marriage?
- Intimacy: Can you discuss affection, sexual expectations, consent and emotional connection without shame or hostility?
- Children and parenting: Do you both want children? What are your expectations about timing, childcare and discipline?
- Faith and values: How will you handle differences in religious practice, traditions and major life decisions?
The aim is not to force identical opinions. It is to help you understand where you agree, where you differ and how you will make decisions together.
Questions to settle before your December wedding
Some couples spend more time choosing wedding colours than discussing their expectations for married life. These questions deserve equal attention.
1. How will we manage money?
Discuss income, spending habits, debts, savings, investments and financial responsibilities towards relatives. In Nigeria, family support can be a significant part of household spending. Agree on what you can comfortably give, what requires joint approval and what remains a personal decision.
2. Where will we live?
Will you rent in Lagos, move to another state or live abroad? If you will remain in Lagos, consider commuting costs, traffic, work locations and the distance between your home and both families.
3. What boundaries will we establish with our families?
Marriage connects families, but it does not mean every relative should have unrestricted access to private decisions. Discuss visits, financial requests, holiday arrangements, parenting advice and how you will respond when relatives interfere.
4. How do we behave when we are angry?
Ask each other what conflict looked like in your childhood homes. Identify behaviours that feel threatening or disrespectful. Agree that insults, intimidation, threats and physical aggression are unacceptable. If conflict becomes difficult to manage, seek professional support rather than treating harmful behaviour as normal.
5. What does commitment mean to each of us?
Discuss fidelity, friendships, social media, privacy, transparency and expectations around time spent with other people. Do not assume you share the same definition of boundaries simply because you are engaged.
How much does premarital counselling cost in Lagos?
Temple’s Counsel currently lists the following premarital options:
| Package | Sessions | Published fee |
|---|---|---|
| Pre-Marital Series | 3 | ₦150,000 |
| Pre-Marital Extended | 6 | ₦270,000 |
The three-session package provides a foundation in communication, conflict resolution, expectations and basic financial planning. The extended option offers more time for deeper assessment, family dynamics and crisis-prevention work.
Fees and availability can change. Review the current Temple’s Counsel packages and prices before booking.
A real reason couples choose premarital counselling
A published Google review from a couple identified as Chiamaka A. describes completing premarital counselling with Temple’s Counsel. The reviewer explained that they wanted counselling outside their church and described the experience as one of the best investments they had made towards their future.
This is a client review, not a guarantee that every couple will have the same experience. It does, however, illustrate why some engaged couples seek professional guidance before the wedding rather than waiting until a problem becomes difficult to manage.
Make room for the conversations that matter
December weddings can create pressure. There may be vendors to pay, guests to accommodate, family expectations to manage and travel arrangements to complete. Do not allow the ceremony to consume all the time you need to prepare for the marriage itself.
If you are getting married this December, begin your premarital conversations now. You do not need to agree on everything before the wedding, but you should be willing to discuss difficult subjects honestly and respectfully.
Ready to prepare for married life? Explore the Pre-Marital Series and Pre-Marital Extended packages and book a session with Temple’s Counsel.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. When should couples start premarital counselling?
Ideally, begin several months before the wedding. However, couples with December weddings can still benefit from starting now. The important thing is to make enough time for meaningful conversations rather than rushing through them.
2. Is premarital counselling compulsory before marriage?
It is not a universal legal requirement in Nigeria. Some churches and religious institutions may have their own preparation requirements. Even when it is not compulsory, counselling can help couples prepare for shared responsibilities.
3. Can we attend premarital counselling online?
Temple’s Counsel offers virtual counselling options. Contact the practice or use its booking system to confirm the appropriate arrangement for your preferred package.
4. How many premarital counselling sessions do we need?
The published options include three-session and six-session packages. The right choice depends on the subjects you need to explore and how much time you want for deeper preparation.
5. What if we discover serious differences during counselling?
Differences do not automatically mean a relationship must end. Counselling can help you understand their significance, discuss possible compromises and decide what is healthy for both partners. Serious concerns should not be ignored simply because the wedding date is close.
