Getting Ready for Marriage: A Practical Road Map for Your Journey Together

by Jim Burns, Doug Fields

Jim Burns and Doug Fields wish you the very best for your wedding, but sadly, they won't be able to make it. What they are here for is your marriage. Jim and Doug have seen it all. They have worked with many couples and have studied extensively to uncover the essential elements for making marriages thrive. This book is their early wedding gift to  a comprehensive, easy-to-navigate road map for beginning your union. Filled with premium fuel for the journey—including meaningful exercises, hard truths, and conversations starters—this book will nourish and guide your relationship for the long haul.Jim Burns is president of HomeWord and the executive director of the HomeWord Center for Youth and Family at Azusa Pacific University. Jim speaks to thousands of people around the world each year. He has over 1.5 million resources in print and a radio broadcast heard on over 800 stations daily. He, his wife, and three daughters live in Southern California.Doug Fields is the senior director of the HomeWord Center for Youth and Family at Azusa Pacific University. Doug has been a youth and teaching pastor at Mariners Church and Saddleback Church, and has authored over 50 books. He is a passionate speaker and blogger reaching thousands of leaders, teenagers, and parents every year. Doug resides with his wife and three children in Southern California.

Genres: Marriage, Nonfiction, Christian, Relationships, Christian Living, Spirituality, Christianity

189 pages, Kindle Edition

First published September 1, 2014

About the author

Librarian Note: There is more than one author by this name in the Goodreads database.

Jim Burns, Ph.D., President of HomeWord is the host of the HomeWord with Jim Burns daily half-hour, daily one-minute, and weekly half-hour radio programs. His passion is communicating to adults and young people practical truths to help them live out their Christian lives.

Jim is the author of many resources including his latest books The Purity Code: God’s Plan for Sex and Your Body, Teaching Your Children Healthy Sexuality and Accept Nothing Less: God’s Best for Your Body, Mind and Heart. In recent years, he has also written Confident Parenting and Creating an Intimate Marriage which are available in audio CDs, books, and small group curriculum kits; The 10 Building Blocks for a Happy Family; Devotions on the Run; and Parenting Teenagers for Positive Results kit. Since 1985, HomeWord has been assisting parents and churches worldwide through radio, resources, seminars, and the web at www.homeword.com. Jim writes monthly columns for Ignite Your Faith magazine and Simply Youth Ministry newsletter and website.

Reviews

[Justin Hollahan]

I do believe I am now ready ✅

Very helpful and very practical!

[Valerie Clermont]

What better time to finish this book than one month AFTER getting married?
The comical part is the section I had left to read was the “how to plan your wedding” one, and it was honestly really nice to read their long to-do list and think “yeah, we already did all that lol”
Overall would recommend, some ideas are a tad archaic/I would have liked more expansion upon, but definitely a great discussion starter for you and your fiancé :)

[J]

*****Anyone considering getting married should read this!! 5-Star Fantastic!!*****

This was an excellent book for anyone to read who’s engaged or preparing to get married… or even for anyone who’s already married, for that matter (just as I am.) It was a pretty quick & enjoyable read too, overall, and not too “lengthy” of a book. Couples would definitely enjoy reading this together. (Even the men will enjoy this book, since it was authored by two men.) The authors add some humor and stories throughout the book, keeping it interesting and peppy. There were definitely no “boring parts” to this book, as there are in many self-help books. Plus, there was a pre-marital relationship questionnaire at the end of this book for couples to complete. I thought it was a great questionnaire… and wished that my own pre-marriage course had a questionnaire that was so in-depth and thorough. A+ and 5 Stars for “Getting Ready For Marriage!”

[Veronica Foley]

My fiancé and I read this together. It was fantastic. I really liked the examples used and the stories told in this book. I really appreciate the advice in it as well.

[Erica]

This book was recommended to my fiancé and me by our premarital counselor. Written from a Christian perspective, this book is informative and full of wisdom. Many of the chapters mention but do not focus on the Christian view of relationships and their related issues. We learned a lot about ourselves, our relationship, and each other in reading this book together. I recommend buying the workbook and completing the exercises with your significant other.

[Heather Forensky]

This book made me feel like crap

[Heather]

Well-rounded! A great guide that includes topics ranging from expectations, in-laws, communication, *conflict*, *finances*, sexuality (great considering its length - would transition well into Sex, Jesus, and the Conversations the Church Forgot), spiritual intimacy, and *remarriage*. Especially good chapters have asterisks.

I got bogged down remember who was who as far as narrators go, but I stopped caring and it made the whole read more enjoyable.

I appreciate that the book has resources tucked in at the end - wedding checklist, monthly budgeting, 50 questions to ask during engagement. The questions tie directly into what is written in the book, in case you don't take notes and want to see where you stand overall.

[Kelly Halsch]

I’ve been reading this book alongside the workbook as part of a premarital group that my boyfriend and I are a part of at our church. The insights in this book are very helpful in initiating important conversations and giving you a well rounded view of marriage. The authors are very cut and dry, straight forward and to the point, which made it a little hard to read at times, but also made sense given how they were approaching each topic. I feel like this book is best read alongside the study that goes with it rather than just on its own, although it is a great resource for those considering marriage either way.

[Amanda]

This book was a phenomenally insightful and easy read!
My boyfriend and I both read it separately, then reviewed later on after we finished.
I would recommend this to anyone who's preparing themselves for a Godly marriage in the future.
They mention many great points and incorporate Scripture as well.

[Abby Burg]

A pretty basic, up-to-date handbook for premarital counseling. Used this with a couple this spring as they look toward their wedding. Not sure it will be my forever go-to as an officiant, but it’s solid.

[Jasmine Ellis]

My boyfriend and I just finished reading this book together. It was very insightful and provided us the opportunity to have extremely tough conversations before he even proses. I think this book is necessary for all couples. I highly recommend!

[Isaiah Espinoza]

This book covers a wide variety of topics that can be expected to come up in the early years of marriage and before in the engagement process. The last chapter is particularly useful as it deals with the planning of the wedding and the ceremony.

[Michael Powers]

Required reading for any couple before they get married!

Highly recommend this book! I go through this book with any couple whose wedding I officiate. Fantastic book filled with practical advice, wisdom and humor!

[Shammoy Brown]

GoodRead

I love how they got into the practical side of it by outlining what the wedding consists of. This was defined a good read as it was well rounded to have touched those big tickets things that need to be addressed before the “I Dos”

[Page]

I highly recommend this book and the workbook to couples looking towards marriage. You will save a lot of time and trouble later.

[Destiny Chamberlain]

Very good book. I recommend this to everyone regardless of relationship status. This book keeps it real and i loved it!

[Grace Evans]

A but more religious than I would have liked, but still has some good information.

[Tom Roepke]

Great book for premarital counseling and conversations. Doug and Jim offer practical insight on how to start a life together.

[Betsy]

Has some good things to think about before getting married but also somewhat condescending.

[Mark]

Lots of helpful ideas. Worth reading.

[Mary Lyn]

Very basic without questions at the end of the chapter. Maybe the depth is in the "workbook" but I didn't find it in the actual book.

[Lauren Zook]

My fiancé and I just finished this and going through the workbook together and it was great! Lots of practical advice and good conversations because of this book!

[tin_foil_tinnu]

Comprehensive overview and not too long. Inspired me to get the workbook

[April]

A must read before your wedding

Anyone thinking of getting married should read this book. Very thorough and honest and asks the hard questions. Absolutely loved it.

[Alise Lutz]

Took me 4 months post-wedding to finally finish this book, but so glad I did! Learned about how to have a successful Godly marriage. Great book!

[Grace Brady]

4.5 stars. so easy to read and covers really helpful topics. loved doing this with the study guide!

[Carina Herlina]

4.5 stars. Read it with my boyfriend/fiancé, and we both like it. The only critic is that it’s promoting the authors’ products too much that it got a little bit annoying. But regardless, we learned a lot about how important marriage is and how we can prepare for it. Reading this book assure us more about our relationship, our readiness for next giant step, and why we want to get married.

[amanda]

****An Advance Reader Copy of Getting Ready for Marriage: A Practical Road Map for Your Journey Together by Jim Burns and Doug Fields was generously provided to me via NetGalley in exchange of honest review.

3.5 stars, great but.. Not my cup of tea.

Not sure why I picked up this book, I thought it's going to be some sort of romance, but no, it's a non fiction book. Or personally to me, more like a self-help book but for a soon-to be married couple. It's great but not gonna lie, I don't really read it up until the end.

But overall, I enjoyed it. And maybe who knows, by the time I'm ready to get married I'll reread this book again. :)

[Shin]

I've read about 10 books on marriage in preparation for mine and this one was the best by far. Very comprehensive and practical, yet based on Biblical principles. It quoted from several of the other books I had read. Highly recommended.

[Vanessa]

Although this book says it is not very religious, it really really is. It sets out a view of marriage and preparing for it that is fully based on Christianity, and there is no point in reading it if you aren’t religious.