Before You Plan Your Wedding...Plan Your Marriage [Hardcover]

Dr. Greg Smalley (Author), Erin Smalley (Author), Steve Halliday (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

Building a Marriage That Will Last a Lifetime

Authors Greg and Erin Smalley open their hearts and share their lives in Before You Plan Your Wedding...Plan Your Marriage so that you can know not only how to build a marriage that will last, but also how to have the kind of marriage where you and your spouse feel safe and honored and valued. When you feel safe, your heart will be open -- and open hearts make for fulfilling, powerful relationships.

Find out about the "fear dance" and how to stop dancing it. Discover the two biggest issues that threaten every marriage and how to stop them before they start. Learn what's more important than finding your soul mate and the significance of happiness in your union.

As wonderful as a wedding is, it lasts only for a brief time -- yet marriage is meant to last a lifetime. This important book will show you how to plan your marriage before you plan your wedding.

About the Author

Dr. Greg Smalley is the director of Church Relationship Ministries for the Center for Relationship Enrichment at John Brown University, and he is the founder and board member of the National Institute of Marriage, a marriage ministry located in Branson, Missouri. In addition to maintaining a counseling practice, Dr. Smalley helps lead marriage seminars around the world, helping train pastors, professionals, and lay leaders how to effectively work with married couples. Dr. Smalley has appeared on both television and radio programs, and he is the author or co-author of eight books, including The DNA of Relationships for Couples and The Marriage You've Always Dreamed Of. Greg, his wife Erin, two daughters, Taylor and Maddy, and son, Garrison, live in Siloam Springs, Arkansas.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 336 pages
• Publisher: Howard Books; 1 edition (January 8, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1416543546
• ISBN-13: 978-1416543541
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6.2 x 1.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Bestsellers Rank: #352,705 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great book to read before you get married., January 22, 2008

By	L. Deneen "brooding bookworm" (Pennsylvania, USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This review is from: Before You Plan Your Wedding...Plan Your Marriage (Hardcover)

I just bought this book and read it and I love it. I'm engaged and this book really talks about relating to one's partner and how to properly communicate with one another. I liked how it talked about dealing with conflict in your relationship. In the book, they likened the fighting that couples do to a "dance", when couples fight, they push each other's buttons and get reactions that just go back and forth in a "dance". This book definitely made me think about how I deal with my relationship and how I fight with my fiance. Another point the book brought up is that you should never be against your partner in an argument, you need to remember you both are on the same side, going for the same goal (the argument being resolved!) This book made me think about how I treat my partner, I should treat him with respect because he is God's gift to me, not my enemy!! I really, really think this book should be read by everyone before they get married and divorce would be prevented a large amount of the time! I highly, highly recommend it!

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Recommended for every engaged couple, April 14, 2008

By	Jean L. Stewart (Columbia SC) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This review is from: Before You Plan Your Wedding...Plan Your Marriage (Hardcover)

This is an excellent pre-marital tool. I have learned a lot and I highly recommend it to anyone considering marriage. It is a great counselor before the couselling. Our date is actually a little over a year into the future, but we both are of the mindset to have our heads as well as our hearts and spirits on straight before venturing into our life together. This books helps to outline as well as provide details of how to make rational decisions regarding the most important decision one can make in a lifetime. I caution everyone. Do not take your vows lightly. Count the cost before you start to build.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Good Read, May 30, 2008

By	Jenna M. Siok (Chicago, IL) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This review is from: Before You Plan Your Wedding...Plan Your Marriage (Hardcover)

My fiance and I have read this book and discussed each chapter. Overall, it is a great practical tool that helps spark conversations. It helped us realize more about ourselves and how we relate to each other. There are 2 downsides to this book. One, it could be much shorter. Some parts repeat themselves too much and could be tightened. Two, many of the stories the Smalleys tell are a little...cheesy. But, if a book can get you and your significant other to start opening up and talking about issues you haven't discussed before, it's done its job!