Marriages come in all shapes and sizes. Perhaps this is your first marriage, or your second, or even third. You may be young, middle-aged or older, and you might have children or be gaining a step-child. Maybe you're getting married in a home, church, synagogue, mosque or courthouse. Whatever your circumstances are as you take this important step, we celebrate your commitment to one another.
This guide draws upon the work of many scholars and practitioners in the field of couples and marriage education and research, including Francesca Adler-Baeder, Ph.D., Brian Higginbotham, Ph.D., Theodora Ooms, Amber Paulk, Ph.D., David Schramm, Ph.D., Scott Stanley, Ph.D., the Alabama Cooperative Extension System and the Auburn University's Department of Human Development at Family Studies' "The Healthy Marriage Handbook," Chattanooga's First Things First and its "Before the Wedding," the Louisiana Department of Social Services, Office of Family Support and its "Marriage Matters!: A Guide for Louisiana Couples" and "Raising Your Child Together" and PREP, Inc.
The Oklahoma Marriage Initiative would also like to offer special thanks to OMI's Research Advisory Group, including Paul Amato, Ph.D.; Robin Dion; Kathryn Edin, Ph.D.; David Fournier, Ph.D.; Norval Glenn, Ph.D.; Ron Haskins, Ph.D.; Pamela Jordan, Ph.D.; Christine Johnson, Ph.D.; Michael P. Johnson, Ph.D.; Howard Markman, Ph.D.; Theodora Ooms; and Scott Stanley, Ph.D. for review and consultation, PREP, Inc. for curriculum content, the Oklahoma Department of Human Services for funding, and the state of Oklahoma's County Clerks for distribution.
