You’re planning for the wedding,
Now let’s talk about the marriage.
Premarital Coaching is NOT about predicting whether your relationship will succeed. It’s not even about searching for problems that just aren't there. It's an opportunity to better understand yourselves, strengthen your communication, and have meaningful conversations before marriage adds new expectations and responsibilities.
Through private virtual coaching or my group marriage class, you will gain practical tools for building a healthy marriage that reflects who you are as a couple.
“Minister Sharnise is ABSOLUTELY wonderful!! We chose to do pre-marital coaching with her and it turned out to be my favorite part of the wedding preparation. She helped us better understand ourselves and our relationship. ”
Who is this for?
Premarital education may be right for you if…
You are engaged or seriously considering marriage.
You love each other but want stronger communication tools.
You want to discuss finances, family, faith, intimacy, roles, and expectations before marriage.
You come from different cultures, backgrounds, or belief systems.
You want support in preparing for remarriage or blending a family.
You want more than a wedding checklist, and you want to prepare intentionally.
Premarital Coaching
A personalized experience for couples who want private guidance, flexibility, and conversations tailored to their relationship.
Includes:
Private 90-minute virtual sessions
Prepare/Enrich or SYMBIS assessment
Personalized feedback and discussion
Practical tools and exercises
Scheduling based on the couple’s availability
Support for engaged, seriously dating, remarried, or blended-family couples
The Marriage Class
A group experience for couples who want marriage education, practical tools, and the encouragement of learning alongside other committed couples.
Includes:
Ten virtual sessions
Structured marriage education
Guided conversations and exercises
A supportive community of couples
Prepare/Enrich couples assessment and workbooks
Multiple cohort dates throughout the year
Your Investment in the Marriage
Private premarital coaching begins at $200 per 90-minute session, including your Prepare/Enrich relationship assessment.
Some couples need help working through one specific area. Others want the time and space to explore communication, finances, family, intimacy, expectations, and everything in between. Individual and multi-session options are available based on the support that feels right for you.
What to Expect
1. Choose your experience
Decide whether private virtual coaching or the group Marriage Class fits your relationship, schedule, and goals.
2. Complete your assessment
You and your partner will complete a relationship assessment that helps identify strengths, growth areas, and important topics for discussion.
3. Begin the conversations
We will explore communication, conflict, finances, intimacy, family influences, expectations, faith, and other areas that shape marriage.
4. Practice new tools
You will leave with practical skills you can continue using long after the sessions end.
Topics We May Explore
Communication and conflict
Finances and shared goals
Family backgrounds and expectations
Faith, values, and spiritual intimacy
Personality and emotional connection
Sex, affection, and intimacy
Roles, responsibilities, and decision-making
Stress, marriage mindsets, and long-term commitment
Remarriage and blended-family considerations
“Sharnise was such an integral part of our wedding day and preparation. She provided premarital coaching services to us and acted as our officiant. We would recommend her to anyone for either service in an instant, but absolutely do the premarital coaching!! ”
Meet Minister Sharnise Sears
Marriage Educator • Wedding Officiant • Cleveland’s Love Leader
Minister Sharnise Sears is an ordained minister, wedding officiant, and marriage educator with a passion for helping couples prepare for both the wedding and the marriage.
She is a certified SYMBIS and Prepare/Enrich facilitator, a certified Prepare/Enrich trainer for professionals, and a Certified Mental Health First Aid Responder. She is also a member of the American Association of Christian Counselors.
Sharnise holds a degree in Biblical Studies from Ohio Christian University and a bachelor’s degree in Psychology from Tiffin University. She is currently pursuing her master’s degree in Marriage and Family Therapy.
Her approach blends faith, relationship education, practical tools, and honest conversation to help couples enter marriage with greater understanding, confidence, and intention.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is premarital coaching going to uncover problems that make us question getting married?
That is a very real fear, especially when the wedding is already being planned, and deposits have been paid. The goal is not to search for reasons you should not get married or to pull your relationship apart. It is to help you enter marriage with your eyes open, with a better understanding of one another, and with practical tools for handling areas that may need more conversation.
What if we are already happy and do not feel like anything needs to be fixed?
That is a wonderful place to begin. Premarital coaching is not only for couples who are struggling, and you do not need to arrive with a problem to solve. Think of it as making space to understand what is already working, talk through what is ahead, and build on the relationship you already have.
Are you going to tell us whether or not we should get married?
No. I am not here to make that decision for you. My role is to guide honest conversations, help you better understand yourselves and each other, and provide information and tools to support your decision-making as you build your life together.
What if a difficult subject comes up?
We take it one conversation and one step at a time. A difficult subject does not automatically mean your relationship is unhealthy or your wedding should be canceled. Sometimes it simply means you have reached an area that deserves more understanding, patience, or a clearer plan before marriage.
What if one of us is more interested in premarital coaching than the other?
That is more common than you may think. One person may be excited while the other is nervous, skeptical, or unsure what to expect. You do not have to arrive equally enthusiastic. I just ask that both partners come willing to participate, be honest, and remain open to learning something about themselves and each other.
Will you judge us for our answers, relationship history, or differences?
No. Couples come from different families, cultures, faith traditions, experiences, and ways of viewing marriage. You do not have to perform or give the answer you think I want to hear. The more honest you can be, the more useful the experience will be.
Is this therapy?
No. Premarital coaching and education focus on awareness, practical skills, guided conversations, and preparation for marriage. It is not a replacement for therapy or mental-health treatment. If something comes up that would be better supported by a licensed therapist, we can talk openly about that and discuss an appropriate next step.
Are the sessions religious?
They can be, but they do not have to be. Faith can be included when it is meaningful to you as a couple. I also work with couples from different faith backgrounds and couples who prefer a nonreligious experience. The conversations should reflect your relationship, not assumptions about what your marriage is supposed to look like.
What are we actually trying to accomplish?
Not perfection. Not a relationship without disagreements. And definitely not fixing everything before the wedding.
The goal is to begin your marriage with greater awareness, more honest communication, practical tools, and a shared understanding of what you are building together. You are simply taking the next step with your eyes open.
Every couple from every walk of life deserves to step into marriage with clarity and confidence. Let’s talk about what preparing intentionally could look like for the two of you.
XO, Minister Sharnise Sears