Group Proposes Education Requirement Before Any Marriage

As if getting married wasn't complicated enough, a proposed ballot initiative would require mandatory pre-wedding education before couples could say "I do."

  • Facebook
  • LinkedIn
  • Twitter
  • Email
  • linkText
As if getting married wasn't complicated enough, a proposed ballot initiative would require mandatory pre-wedding education before couples could say "I do."

Lumped onto the hours spent debating centerpieces, picking a photographer, finding the perfect dress and corralling future in-laws, the proposed Colorado Marriage Education Act calls for 10 hours of pre-wedding marriage education.

If either the bride- or groom-to-be is marrying for the second time, the requirement kicks up to a minimum of 20 hours. It goes up to 30 hours for a third- time's-the-charm.

A re-marrying widow would be held to the same standard as a first-timer. The law would not apply to civil unions.

"I don't think it is necessary to mandate in my private life," said Margie Rodgers, who will walk down the aisle June 7 in Boulder.

Rodgers and her fiancé completed premarital counseling through their church.

Proponents David Schel and Sharon Tekolian of California-based Kids Against Divorce say the intended purpose of the act is to "better prepare individuals going into marriage to fulfill their new roles as spouse and potentially as parent, to furthermore protect children given that marriage is the foundation of a family unit."

While the organization plans to propose similar bills across the country, Colorado was selected as the first state.

  • Facebook
  • LinkedIn
  • Twitter
  • Email
  • linkText
Caroline Cournoyer is GOVERNING's senior web editor.
Special Projects