About Love & Cherish
Love and Cherish is a charitable trust providing marriage preparation
on behalf of Christians Together in Fareham, Hampshire.
What is “Love & Cherish”?
Love and Cherish is for couples to explore together what marriage will mean for them. Two facilitating couples, with up to 6 engaged couples, will discuss a range of topics about marriage, including
- Really Knowing each Other
- Tools for Communicating
- Exploring inner Hopes and Ambitions
- Resolving Conflict
- The Meaning of Commitment
- The Marriage Vow
It runs over just one weekend Friday evening and Saturday morning.
Why prepare?
Preparing for our wedding day may take a year or more; church, reception, clothes, honeymoon all take time, effort and money to arrange how we want them.
Preparing ourselves; knowing what we want, understanding commitment, overcoming frustrations, giving love and accepting love take many years to understand and we probably continue learning for ever. We are not born with an understanding of being in a permanent married relationship; we learn about it from our parents, family and those around us. It’s fulfilling when we do it well, and there are some things we can learn to make it great!
Who it is for
The weekend is open to any couple who intend to get married in church. Couples who marry in church will be recommended to use the weekend as part of their preparation.
Some churches recommend or require couples to undertake marriage preparation. The Love and Cherish programme has been developed on behalf of Christians together in Fareham. With the inclusion of some specific items this meets the preparation recommendations of the Catholic Bishops Conference. A certificate can be given. This preparation does not substitute for meeting with your minister, priest or pastor.
Couples who have been together a long time find the weekend enjoyable and valuable too. The topics and private talking points provide the opportunity to review or uncover differing assumptions!
Delighted participants have included couples who
- have been together for 15 years,
- been widowed and are marrying again,
- been happily married for 25 years but seeking an ‘MOT’
You can marry in a Church of England church if you can show that one of you has at any time lived in the parish for a period of at least 6 months, or was baptised (christened) in the parish concerned or for other reasons. See the link https://www.yourchurchwedding.org/article/finding-a-church/
For weddings held in Church of England churches the civil arrangements are usually included by the church. For weddings in all other churches the couple must “give notice to marry” at the register office. You must give enough time and there is an interview and a fee.
Some churches, including the Catholic Church, require six months’ notice of a wedding.
The Catholic church requires a catholic who wishes to get married in another church to obtain formal “dispensation”. The parish priest will give information about this.
Other churches may have particular arrangements, just make contact and someone will be able to help you
Dates
2021
Sessions are online using Zoom
January 29th / 30th
March 26th / 27th
June 4th / 5th
October 15th / 16th
The usual times are 7.30pm to 9.45pm Friday and 9.30am to 1pm Saturday
The Session
Couples attend the weekend session in two parts, Friday evening from 7.30 to 9.45
and the next morning from 9.30 until 1pm.
Format
We cover 10 topics, each has presenter input. After each topic, couples use a few questions to prompt their private discussion. This is at their own table separated enough from other couples, and with music playing so that they can discuss their thoughts and feelings about the topics openly with each other. You may want to make a note to continue some topics at a convenient time on your own. Couples are given their own folder and take-away sheets. You will not be asked to share your private discussions.
This is a rare opportunity for you to focus on what your marriage is all about; you and your relationship.
During the year
Sessions are normally arranged once a month from September to July, depending on need. Couples are advised to book a place as soon as they have decided to marry and as early as they can. The Love and Cherish experience helps with the engagement period too.
Special Circumstances
If couples have circumstances which make participating in the session difficult then it may be possible to assist; mention this at the administration session at your church.
To book a place, see the dates section and book using the webform.
Alternatively print this pdf form to fill-in and post to us.
Who Runs the Weekend?
The team of presenters welcomes new couples who may be interested in joining them. We are all passionate about marriage and have undergone a thorough selection and training process. The sessions are reviewed after feedback and updated with ideas from churches.
Paul & Annette.
Presenters & Administrators
Paul & Lucy.
Presenters
What Couples Said
Cost of the Session
For most churches in Fareham the cost of the Love and Cherish session is included in the church’s fees. If your wedding is outside Fareham then we recommend a contribution of £25 for the couple. This is to cover the costs, the presenters are volunteers!
Contact Us
The Love and Cherish sessions are held in central Fareham at Fareham Community Church. There is plenty of parking nearby available on Friday evening. There is lift access for wheelchair users.
Sessions are held at: 171 West St, Fareham PO16 0EF
admin@loveandcherish.org.uk
Fareham Community Church.