Thinking about getting married or planning to take that next step together? While the journey towards marriage is exciting, it often brings changes that can affect how couples relate to each other.
Pre-marriage counselling gives you and your partner the space to explore important topics before they become stress points. It’s about understanding each other’s values, expectations, and emotional needs more clearly. These sessions help you build a strong connection through honest conversations, shared goals, and practical tools for communication and conflict management.
At All in the Family Counselling, we offer supportive sessions led by an experienced counsellor who understands the unique dynamics of relationships. Whether you’re navigating cultural differences, family expectations, or simply preparing for life as a team, we’re here to guide you through it, all before you say “I do.”
How Pre-Marriage Counselling Can Help?
Marriage marks a meaningful transition not only in your relationship but also in how you navigate everyday life as a couple. For many in Singapore, this shift brings its own set of challenges: adjusting to shared living, managing expectations from both families, and finding common ground in cultural or religious practices.
These changes can sometimes feel like too much, especially when conversations around finances, future plans, or responsibilities begin to surface.
Pre-marriage counselling creates a safe space to explore these topics before they become sources of stress. With professional support, you and your partner can discuss what matters most, align on values, and build practical communication tools to start your life together with clarity.
Is Pre-Marriage Counselling Compulsory in Singapore?
At its core, pre-marriage counselling isn’t just about airing grievances or ticking boxes on a compatibility checklist. It’s about ensuring that a couple possesses mutual understanding, respect, and preparedness for the journey ahead. This not only equips couples with solutions for immediate concerns but also with the skills to navigate the evolving challenges of married life.
To open important conversations before the marriage, these topics will be discussed during pre-wedding counselling workshops:
1. Financial Harmony
Beyond budgeting, you and your partner should know about each other’s financial aspirations, fears, and philosophies about money. During our pre-marriage counselling sessions together, we will tackle topics such as spending habits, saving goals, debt management, and more to ensure that you are aligned when it comes to financial planning.
2. Roles & Responsibilities
Household roles and responsibilities can often become a point of tension if expectations are not clearly set from the beginning. That’s why we discuss this from the get-go during pre-wedding counselling sessions. It’s important to set expectations for household duties, independence and shared commitments to create a balanced partnership.
3. Sex & Intimacy
A fulfilling emotional and physical connection is crucial in any marriage. However, discussing intimacy, expectations, and desires can be challenging for many couples. As such, working with a pre-marriage counsellor can help you and your partner learn how to openly express your needs, concerns, and boundaries regarding sex and emotional intimacy.
4. Religion, Culture & Values
Couples often juggle differing beliefs, whether in interfaith relationships or when blending cultural traditions from their parents. Counselling allows you to explore how religion and values shape roles, celebrations, or moral decisions so that both partners feel respected. It helps prevent silent resentment by clarifying what truly matters to each of you, thereby preventing expectations from getting misaligned.
5. Children & Parenting
Deciding to have kids includes considering factors like schooling, discipline style, financial readiness, work-life balance, and what roles each partner will take. In Singapore, where childcare is costly, pre-marriage counselling gives space to voice hopes and fears. You’ll plan together, reducing conflict and uncertainty when children become part of your life.
6. Family Boundaries
With close-knit families common in Singapore, pressure from in-laws on decisions or frequent family gatherings can strain a relationship. Pre-wedding counselling helps set healthy boundaries: what support you accept, when to step in, and how to communicate expectations with extended family. Aligning boundaries early reduces stress and prioritises your marriage.
7. Conflicts & Individual Struggles
Everyone brings baggage, work stress, past hurts, and personal goals; conflicts are inevitable. Pre-marriage counselling teaches tools for respectful communication, understanding differences, and resolving disputes before they escalate into damaging situations. Especially in Singapore, where busy schedules and high expectations can magnify tension, having coping strategies strengthens your bond and helps you face challenges together.
Benefits of Pre-Marriage Counselling
Engaging in pre-marriage counselling isn’t just about addressing potential conflicts—it’s about strengthening the foundation of a lifelong partnership. These sessions allow you and your future spouse to gain valuable insights to navigate your future together with confidence and clarity.
1. Productive Communication with Partner
Pre-marriage counselling can help you communicate productively with your partner through open discussions and active listening. It also enables you to learn strategies for communicating with empathy and respect, so you and your partner are less likely to misinterpret each other’s intentions or emotions. This promotes emotional intimacy, ensuring that both individuals feel heard, valued, and understood in their relationship.
2. Prepares for Major Life Decisions
Marriage involves numerous practical considerations that can impact both partners’ lives. From financial planning and career aspirations to decisions about children and living arrangements, many aspects require alignment. With pre-wedding counselling, you both have the opportunity to openly discuss these major life decisions so that you can identify common goals and set clear expectations for the future. Addressing these topics beforehand ensures that both partners are on the same page and prepared to make important decisions together.
3. Setting Realistic Expectations
It’s easy to idealise marriage, but reality involves surprises. Counselling allows couples to contrast “what we hope” with “what usually happens” (housing constraints, changing job demands, etc.), so expectations are grounded and less likely to disappoint.
4. Exploring Individual and Shared Values
You bring your own background and beliefs into a marriage, so do they match or clash with your partner’s? By exploring what each of you values, your religion, culture, and traditions, you can create a shared vision that both of you can commit to.
5. Identifying and Addressing Red Flags
Sometimes minor issues hint at deeper concerns, e.g. recurring disagreements about in-laws, or one partner’s financial secrecy. Pre-marriage counselling helps identify these issues early, so you can address them before they develop into serious problems.
Fees for Pre-Marriage Counselling in Singapore
| Session Type | Duration | Fee | Availability |
| Regular Session | 50 minutes | S$250 | Monday to Sunday12pm to 3am |
| Regular Session | 80 minutes | S$375 | Monday to Sunday12pm to 3am |
| Regular Session | 100 minutes | S$500 | Monday to Sunday12pm to 3am |
| Outside Office Hours | 50 minutes | S$450 | Monday to Sunday12pm to 3am |
| Package (3 sessions) | – | S$750 | Monday to Sunday12pm to 3am |
| Package (6 sessions) | – | S$1,399 | Monday to Sunday12pm to 3am |
| Package (10 sessions) | – | S$2,300 | Monday to Sunday12pm to 3am |
| Package (20 sessions) | – | S$4,200 | Monday to Sunday12pm to 3am |
| Annual Package (52 sessions) | 12 months | S$10,300 | Monday to Sunday12pm to 3am |
For full details of the fees for our counselling services, view our complete fee structure.
Our Pre-Marriage Counsellor
Tammy Fontana
M.S., NCC, CTRT, Hypnotherapist
Tammy Fontana brings years of professional experience working with both married and unmarried couples in Singapore’s diverse community of locals and expatriates.
Holding a Master’s degree in Mental Health Counselling from Capella University, USA, she specialises in guiding couples through different relationship stages, from dating and engagement to marriage and long-term commitment.
Her training in the Gottman Method Couples Counselling and certification as a Choice Theory Reality Therapist (CTRT) equips her with proven strategies to help couples strengthen communication, deepen emotional bonds, and manage challenges with clarity. Tammy has also supported clients in addressing intimacy and trust concerns with compassion and practical, research-backed approaches.
Dedicated to ongoing education and growth, Tammy ensures that every session is tailored to meet the unique needs of each couple. She offers both in-office and online pre-marriage and marriage counselling in Singapore, making professional support accessible and flexible for modern couples preparing for a fulfilling future together.
While pre-marriage counselling is not compulsory, it is still encouraged as it could help build a strong foundation for a lasting marriage. Research found that couples who had completed some form of premarital counselling had a 30% increase in marital satisfaction compared to those who had not undergone such counselling.
The journey to marriage involves more than just planning a wedding—it requires emotional readiness, open communication, and alignment on key life decisions. And given the increasing challenges in relationships today, turning to pre-marriage counselling can have its benefits. By scheduling a counselling session at All in the Family Counselling with your soon-to-be spouse, we can work together to address potential conflicts, improve understanding, and develop essential skills for a healthy partnership. That way, you and your partner can navigate married life with confidence and mutual understanding.
FAQs About Pre-Marriage Counselling
In Singapore, attending pre-marriage counselling has become increasingly accepted and encouraged among couples planning to marry. While not mandatory for all, it’s recognised as a beneficial step towards building a strong foundation for marriage. This shift towards normalisation stems from a growing awareness of the complexities of marital life and the challenges couples may face. Societal acceptance has grown as couples share positive experiences and outcomes from these sessions, highlighting the value of preparing for marriage beyond the wedding day.
Yes, premarital counselling can help couples navigate cultural or religious differences constructively. Faith-based sessions focus on traditions and values, while secular therapy addresses topics such as communication, finances, family expectations, and intimacy, without requiring religious ties. Couples can choose the approach that best aligns with their beliefs and relationship needs.
The duration of pre-marriage counselling can vary widely depending on the couple’s specific needs, the format of the counselling programme, and the depth of issues to be addressed. Typically, sessions can range from a few weeks to several months. Some counsellors or programmes offer structured sessions spread over a set number of weeks. In contrast, others may recommend a more flexible timeline, adjusting the duration based on the couple’s progress and the complexity of the discussions.
A common approach is a series of sessions (e.g., 5-10) scheduled weekly or bi-weekly, providing ample time for couples to explore various aspects of their relationship, practise new skills, and reflect on their learnings. Ultimately, the goal is to ensure that couples feel prepared and confident in their relationship before entering into marriage, regardless of the exact timeframe.
You can attend premarital counselling whenever you and your partner feel ready to prepare for marriage. Our sessions help partners discuss topics such as communication, finances, family expectations, and shared values. Attending counselling early allows couples to build understanding, strengthen their relationship, and enter marriage with confidence.
Yes, premarital counselling can help couples even if they are not facing problems. It allows partners to strengthen their relationship, improve communication, clarify expectations, and prepare for future challenges. Even without current issues, counselling provides guidance, builds a strong foundation, and ensures a smoother transition into married life.
If your partner is hesitant to attend premarital counselling, acknowledge their concerns and explore them through open-ended questions. Introduce them to flexible options such as our individual counselling sessions or online counselling in Singapore. You may also attend alone to focus on your growth, which can positively influence the relationship and encourage your partner to participate.
Articles on Pre-Marriage Counselling
Get in Touch with a Pre-Marriage Counsellor Near You
We offer pre-marriage counselling 7 days a week, with sessions available at all times. Online and in-person sessions are available.
- Address: 60 Paya Lebar Road, #11-06 Paya Lebar Square Singapore 409051
- Telephone: +65 9030 7239
