Before You Tie The Knot - SMART Couples - University of Florida, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences - UF/IFAS

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Make the SMART Choice
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Make the SMART Choice
Register for a Class Today

Before You Tie The Knot: Starting Your Relationship Right

A Premarital Workshop for Singles and Couples

Teaching Practical, Real-World Skills to Create Happy, Healthy Relationships

PARENTING

CONFLICT RESOLUTION

MONEY MANAGEMENT

HEALTHY LIFESTYLES

Class Overview
Class 1 – EIGHT NEEDS OF EVERY PARTNER, PARENT AND CHILD
- Welcome and overview
- The love bucket: 8 needs
- Keys to marital happiness
- The marriage triangle
Class 2 - POSITIVE PARENTING
- First time parents
- Stepparenting/co-parents
- Keys to healthy parenting
- Love and logic parenting
- Conflict resolution
Class 3 – NINE IMPORTANT SKILLS OF COMMUNICATION (4 DON'TS & 5 DO'S)
- Warning signs
- What do we argue about?
- The cycle of negativity
- Effective communication
- What do we talk about?
- Are you ready to tie the knot? Checklist
- 10 rules for constructive conflict
- 4 steps to fair fighting
- The cycle of positivity
Class 4 – YOUR MONEY MATTERS
- Components of financial ftability
- Setting SMART financial goals
- Money management as a couple
- Debt management
- Legalities of marriage in the financial world
Class 5 – HEALTHY LIFESTYLES
- Relationship attachment
- Stress: symptoms, impacts, and coping
- Disease prevention and wellness promotion
- Healthy eating and exercise

Before You Tie the Knot is FREE

The Benefits Are Priceless

A Lasting Impact!

See how Before You Tie the Knot Is Benefiting Attendees

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“We definitely feel like it has strengthened our relationship”

- Allison Stendardo, Before You Tie the Knot Alum

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"We have been together for 5 years and were friends first for about 2 years beforehand. Being friends first allowed us to know each other well before dating and to easily trust and communicate with each other.

We decided to take the Before You Tie the Knot class as we are now preparing to take the next step in our relationship. Although we do feel like we mostly have a great relationship already, there is always so much more we can learn when it comes to communicating and how to understand each other’s needs.

We feel like the class did just that. We learned new ways to communicate and work with our different personalities. We learned how to deal with arguments in a more positive way and how to settle those arguments more quickly. The class was also great in learning to discuss things we wouldn’t have thought to talk about before such as what parenting styles we would like to use in the future. With the tools we have learned in this class we definitely feel like it has strengthened our relationship and has prepared us for a great future together."

A couple poses for a photograph.

“It was a great start to provide us with some tools”

- Kelvin Wells, Before You Tie the Knot Alum

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"I'm glad that we took this course before we got married. I hope a lot of this information carries into the relationship. More importantly, I hope our ambition to take classes like this for our growth continues into the future."

A couple poses for a photograph.

“It has 100% impacted our relationship for the better!”

- Mr. & Mrs. McVay, Before You Tie the Knot Alums

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"Thank you so much for all of the wisdom you imparted to us during the Before You Tie the Knot workshop series! It has 100% impacted our relationship for the better! We communicate more lovingly and now openly validate each other when we share information. We’re so grateful we took the class right before we tied the knot!"

A forest path, by photographer Alex Holyoake

“I'm glad that we took this course before we got married”

- Before You Tie the Knot Alum

Read the Full Testimonial

"I'm glad that we took this course before we got married. I hope a lot of this information carries into the relationship. More importantly, I hope our ambition to take classes like this for our growth continues into the future."

Preview the Class

Quick Links

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Relationship Resources

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