Do you ever meet couples that you don't think should get married?

I am a firm believer in “amor omnia vincit” which means “love conquers all”

My perceptions and experiences are uniquely my own and so can be very different to any couple I meet, so what I see as challenging, they may see as their greatest asset in their relationship. I dont judge and it would be illegal for me to discriminate.

Having said that, I interview my couples and ask some very direct questions such as 'why do you want to get married?'; do you see yourselves growing old together?"

The interview questions can be challenging but what they do, is clarify for the couple,  what and why they are about to do.

The Vows, legal and personal, then set the ground rules for the relationship. Marriage can be hard work but if you are prepared to make the effort, the rewards are astoundingly beautiful.

We are oblige to ascertain if couples are suited to get married. I have refused to do one wedding based on possible deportation, but if there are any problems I would suggest counselling.

As Celebrants we are obliged to recommend couselling but it is totally up to the couple if they decide to go down that path. 

Good Luck

Yes, it happens sometimes. You get a feeling that 2 people might not be right for each other - but it's up to them in the end. Love has a certain specialness about it that only two people can feel when it hits.  Some people get lust confised with love though.  Love is what's left, once lust disappers.  I talk to every couple about the availabilities of counselling and in fact I usually mention one or two questions that "some other couples" had never talked about before as an example of the sorts of things they should talk about before marriage. For example; most people want to have kids, but some couples don't take it any further than that and then once married they find out that. one of them wants kids straight away and the opther wasn't planning to have kids for another decade. These are the things you should talk about before the wedding.

Cheers,

Steve Mummery - Celebrant

As part of our celebrant code of practice we are obliged to mention counselling but at the end of the day it is the couples decision to decide if they need  counselling or not. :) 

We are obliged to mention counselling but in no way am I going to push you or anyone else into it. there are lots of views on the appopriateness of counselling. Happy to discuss.