Covenant Ready™ · Premarital Counseling & Wedding Ceremonies
Before the vows,
the foundation.
Choosing the person you will build a life with is one of the most important decisions you will ever make. Covenant Ready walks you toward that day with clarity, skill and faith, and ends with the two of you standing before God, family and friends, ready.
Begin with a Discovery CallExplore the PackagesDr. Shena Manning, LPC · Pastor Tony Manning, M.Ed.
Prepare for the marriage,
not only the wedding
Most couples spend months planning a single day and very little time preparing for the marriage that follows. We would love to help you give the marriage the same care.
In private, virtual sessions with Dr. Shena Manning, LPC, you will learn how each of you handles conflict, money, closeness and faith, using the Manning Marriage Method™. Then Pastor Tony Manning, M.Ed., and Dr. Shena help you shape a ceremony that tells your story and honors your covenant.
You arrive at the altar knowing each other more deeply, with tools you will use for the rest of your lives.
“Two are better than one… and a threefold cord is not quickly broken.”
Ecclesiastes 4:9, 12From “yes” to “I do”
Discovery Call
A complimentary conversation about your story, your date and your vision.
Assessment
Each of you completes the Manning Marriage Method Assessment. Your results become your roadmap.
Premarital Sessions
Sixty-minute virtual sessions built around the six pillars of a lasting marriage.
Ceremony Design
We craft a personalized ceremony with you and guide you through writing your vows.
Your Wedding Day
We lead your rehearsal and ceremony and sign your Georgia marriage license.
Choose how deeply you want to prepare
Every package includes the couples assessment and sessions with a licensed professional counselor. Covenant and Legacy include your ceremony and rehearsal.
Foundation
The Essentials
3 sessions · 60 minutes each
A clear, guided start for engaged and seriously dating couples.
- Three premarital counseling sessions
- Manning Marriage Method Assessment for both of you
- Written session summaries
- Email support between sessions
Covenant
Preparation & Ceremony
6 sessions · ceremony · rehearsal
Complete preparation for your marriage, and your ceremony led by the couple who walked with you.
- Six premarital counseling sessions
- Manning Marriage Method Assessment
- Personalized ceremony and vows guidance
- One-hour rehearsal and your officiated ceremony
- Six hours of premarital education for the Georgia license discount
Legacy
Twelve Weeks Together
12 sessions over 12 weeks · ceremony · rehearsal
Our most personal experience, for couples who want depth that shapes generations.
- Twelve premarital counseling sessions
- Full Covenant Ready workbook
- Rehearsal and your officiated ceremony
- One-year anniversary check-in session
- The Manning Legacy Letter, sealed for your fifth anniversary
Prefer both of us at your ceremony? Add Dr. Shena and Pastor Tony together to Covenant or Legacy for $250. Legacy payment plans are available. Premarital sessions are held virtually; ceremonies are offered in metro Atlanta and beyond, with travel noted below.
Already prepared? Let us lead your ceremony.
Choose Dr. Shena Manning or Pastor Tony Manning, or have both of us stand with you.
Your preparation can lower your license fee
Georgia reduces the marriage license fee for couples who complete at least six hours of premarital education with a licensed counselor or clergy member. In Gwinnett County the fee drops from $56 to $16. The Covenant and Legacy packages meet the six-hour requirement, and we provide your certificate of completion.
The details, settled ahead of time
Reserved Time
Your officiant is reserved for 1 hour at the rehearsal and 2 hours on the wedding day (1 hour for an elopement, 1.5 hours for a vow renewal). After a 15-minute grace period, additional time is $75 per 30 minutes per officiant, charged to the card on file in your secure client portal.
Travel
Travel within 30 miles of Atlanta is included. Beyond 30 miles, travel is $0.75 per mile, round trip. Destinations over 100 miles are quoted individually.
Reserving Your Date
Your package is paid in full at booking, and $250 of it is a non-refundable date retainer that holds your date for you. It is part of your package price, not an extra fee.
Your Agreement
Every couple receives a written Services Agreement to review and sign through the secure client portal, along with a card on file for any overtime or travel.
What couples ask us most
How far in advance should we book?
For Foundation, at least 8 weeks before your wedding. For Covenant, at least 3 months. For Legacy, at least 4 months so the full twelve weeks can be completed with margin. Popular dates fill early, so we encourage reserving as soon as you know your date.
Are sessions in person or online?
Premarital sessions are held virtually through a secure video platform, so you can meet from home. Rehearsals and ceremonies are in person.
Do we have to share your faith?
Covenant Ready is rooted in Christian faith and grounded in clinical research. Couples of every background are welcome, and we will talk honestly with you during your Discovery Call about the ceremony you envision.
Can we choose which of you officiates?
Yes. You may choose Dr. Shena Manning, Pastor Tony Manning, or both of us together as co-officiants.
What happens if our ceremony runs long?
We will never rush your moment. If your officiant stays beyond the reserved window, time is billed at $75 per 30 minutes per officiant to the card on file, as outlined in your agreement.
Can seriously dating couples begin the program?
Absolutely. Foundation is a wonderful choice for couples who want wisdom and clarity before they commit.
Walk into marriage ready.
“What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder.”
Mark 10:9
Schedule Your Discovery Call