Welcome To

Marriage Prep 101

The longest established San Francisco Bay Area Premarital Workshop!

Join Us!

Marriage Prep 101 is the longest-established premarital workshop in the Bay Area — serving couples for over 30 years and helping thousands build the foundation for a lasting, loving marriage.

Conflict and tension happen in every relationship — the difference lies in how you navigate them. In this program, you’ll learn practical, research-based tools to manage conflict, communicate effectively, and grow closer through challenges.

Join us for a positive, proactive, and fun experience designed to deepen your connection, strengthen your bond, and set your marriage up for lifelong success.

We look forward to meeting you and supporting your journey together!

Workshops & Dates

Santa Cruz

Weekend retreat Premarital Workshop
May 16-17, 2026

San Francisco

1-Day immersive Premarital Workshop August 28th, 2026

Private Workshop (1:2)

For a more personal experience, work privately with Marriage Prep 101 instructor Michelle Joy, MFT

Parent Prep 101

Relationship & Parenting Skills for New, Expecting & Planning-to-Start-a-Family Couples

Becoming parents is one of the biggest transitions a couple will ever experience — and one of the most stressful. Most couples prepare for the baby… but not for how the relationship will change after the baby arrives.

Parent Prep 101 gives you practical tools to stay connected as a team, prevent unnecessary conflict, and enter early parenthood with clarity and confidence.

Designed for:

✔ New parents (child under age 2)

✔ Expecting couples

✔ Couples planning to start trying

✔ Couples who want aligned communication and a shared plan

Meet Your Guide

Marriage Prep 101 is led by Michelle Joy, MA, MFT, a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist who has specialized in helping couples for nearly 25 years. Through decades of work with long-term partners, Michelle has seen firsthand what makes relationships thrive—and what causes them to falter.

“Too many divorces could have been prevented with earlier understanding and the right tools,” Michelle says. “That’s why I’ve infused Marriage Prep 101 with the exact concepts and techniques couples need—so that, from this day forward, your relationship can truly stand the test of time.”

Join Michelle for an inspiring, practical, and heart-centered program designed to help you build a strong, lasting foundation for your marriage. and replace that photo with this one

Selected Press Mentions

Why Marriage Prep 101 Works

Our Marriage Prep 101 Workshop is grounded in research-based principles and refined through Michelle Joy’s 25 years of experience working with real couples. She’s seen firsthand what helps relationships thrive — and what causes them to drift apart.

In this workshop, you’ll identify your strengths, learn practical tools to navigate challenges, set meaningful goals, and gain the skills to help your relationship withstand the test of time.

Because the wedding is one day — but your relationship is for life.

What Couples Say About Marriage Prep 101

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“Marriage Prep 101 taught me things I never thought about.”
“From non-verbal communication to problem resolution, I can now take the tools I learned from the instructors and put them to work in real-life situations, making my relationship with my fiancé more enjoyable and more likely to succeed. I truly am grateful I was able to attend Marriage Prep 101. Thank you!”

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“A wonderful experience and very helpful.”
“We attended Marriage Prep 101 at the recommendation of newlywed friends, and it was a wonderful experience. It’s long enough to be worth the price and short enough not to be overwhelming. It’s very active (but only with your partner), so I never felt bored or tuned out. It gave us a lot of tools and reaffirmed many of our strengths as a couple.”

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“A must-do for any couple who wants to invest in their relationship.”
“Marriage Prep 101 is a must-do for any couple who is looking to invest in and improve their relationship! It helped us talk through our needs and expectations and create a roadmap for the marriage we want to have. We particularly enjoyed the conflict resolution portion, which helped us identify potential challenges and plan for how to handle them. The instructors were great—relatable, real, and passionate about what they teach. We highly recommend it!”