Questions we often get asked....

Our Marriage Preparation weekends are very popular with couples who are engaged to be married in the Catholic Church. If you would like further information about the weekend please read on. You can also find out the answers to some general questions in our about the weekend page.

Please be sure to bring the following items with you to our marriage preparation weekends:
Comfortable casual clothing so you can relax. Toiletries, medicines and other personal items.

• For non-residential Weekends: please bring a packed lunch on both days.
• Tea/coffee/biscuits will be available throughout the weekend.
• Engaged Encounter will provide all the books and pens needed for the weekend

• For non-residential weekends: please arrive on Saturday by 08.30 a.m. so you have time to register and settle down with a tea or coffee. The Weekend will begin at 09.00 a.m.
• For residential weekends: please arrive on Friday evening between 7:00 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. The weekend will begin at 8:00 p.m.    Because we are on a tight schedule, we cannot wait for couples who arrive late. If there is an emergency and you are going to be late, please do call a presenting couple’s mobile phone (from your earlier phone conversation with them) or call the retreat centre number so we know when to expect you.

• For non-residential weekends: please arrive on Saturday by 08.30 a.m. so you have time to register and settle down with a tea or coffee. The Weekend will begin at 09.00 a.m.
• For residential weekends: please arrive between 7:00 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. The weekend will begin at 8:00 p.m.                                  Because we are on a tight schedule, we cannot wait for couples who arrive late. If there is an emergency and you are going to be late, please do call a presenting couple’s mobile phone (from your earlier phone conversation with them) or call the retreat centre number so we know when to expect you.

The weekend typically ends with a closing Mass, between 3 and 4 pm on Sunday. In special or unusual circumstances we may change our schedule, but we will usually finish no later than 4 p.m.

It is very important that you stay for the entire weekend. If you arrive late or leave early you will miss important parts of the weekend experience, and we will not be able to give you your weekend certificate and letter verifying your attendance.

Yes, please observe a few basic rules:

• Please refrain from the use of alcohol and illegal drugs
• Please do not leave the weekend, for any reason, unless an emergency arises. If you need to leave, please speak to one of the team members.

No, we do not provide dinner on Friday, but there will be a small finger buffet set out for couples on arrival. On Saturday, we will serve three meals (breakfast, lunch, and dinner). On Sunday we will serve two meals (breakfast and lunch).

• Yes, please let us know in advance so we can inform the catering staff of your needs.
• On a non-residential weekend: there is no formal catering. Please bring packed-lunches for both the Saturday and Sunday. Tea/coffee and biscuits will be available throughout the weekend.

Dress for the entire weekend is casual. Please dress comfortably. While you are welcome to do so, there is no need to change for dinner or Mass.

All of our facilities prohibit smoking. You may, however, smoke in the designated area outside of the building.

No not a lot, marriage preparation weekends are designed to give you as much time as possible to explore your relationship as a couple, and prepare for you for your marriage. You may find that we stay up later and get up earlier than you typically would on a weekend. Time permitting, we will have a break on Saturday afternoon.

Some elements of the marriage service may come up, but that is not the focus of the weekend.                                                           You can read more in our useful guide to planning your wedding service.

If you need to contact the centre because of an emergency, or if someone needs to get hold of you in an emergency we will provide contact numbers as part of your introduction & welcome package.