So to help couples build their relationship upon a firm foundation, we’ve rounded up some of our favorite Christian-centered resources for the newly engaged and newlywed!

For the Newly Engaged…

Catching Foxes: A Gospel-Guided Journey to Marriage by John Henderson

Do you feel prepared for marriage? Well, biblical counselor, John Henderson, has written a book to help you gain the understanding needed to ensure a happy and thriving marriage. In Catching Foxes Henderson refers to the “foxes” inside our relationships – the idols and selfish appetites that can destroy and cause heartache. By identifying these dangers and confronting them before the wedding takes place, couples can refer to God’s gospel to overcome them all. Catching Foxes is a fifteen chapter book containing interactive questions for personal response and discussion that guides couples toward a Christ-Centered marriage.

Before You Say I Do: A Marriage Preparation Guide for Couples by H. Norman Wright & Wes Roberts

Communication is key, right? So, before you “tie the knot”, take some time to get to know each other by discussing important topics like children, money, and spiritual beliefs. This popular interactive workbook aims to help assist you through this process by providing prompts for thoughtful discussions to help you explore these vital areas. Drawn from years of marriage preparation seminars and counseling sessions, these insightful questions will help to strengthen your relationship and deepen your bond with one another. With Jesus as your cornerstone, you can create a loving and successful marriage.

Things I Wish I’d Known Before We Got Married by Gary Chapman

Gary Chapman is the bestselling author of The 5 Love Languages, so it is safe to say when it comes to love and marriage, he knows what he’s talking about! In Things I Wish I’d Known Before We Got Married, Chapman helps couples to work together as an intimate team by sharing practical tips he wishes he knew before getting married. Key topics in these discussions include love, romance, conflict resolution, forgiveness, and sexual fulfillment. Through insightful questions, suggestions, and exercises, Chapman aims to to help couples develop the loving, supportive, and mutually beneficial marriage they envision. A book that will help you prepare for the challenges of marriage.

To Have and To Hold Bible Study Book by Byron and Carla Weathersbee

Investing time and energy into building a lifelong partnership is key as you approach your wedding day – or even in the early years of your marriage. To Have and to Hold comprises over 8 sessions designed to develop your foundation as both individuals and a couple. It also helps you to grow in your understanding of Christ and ultimately, His divine goal for marriage. This book features interactive questions and tools to guide discussion as well as tools and suggestions for pre-marital education and counsel. A seriously great Bible study book for couples looking to keep Christ first and grow in spiritual maturity as a couple!

For the Newlyweds…

After the Honeymoon: 90 Days to a Thriving Marriage by Rod Loy

So, you’ve had the ceremony, you’ve been on your honeymoon… now what? This is where Rod Loy steps in! Originally written as Facebook posts to his engaged son, the ninety devotions in After the Honeymoon provide insight and wisdom based on biblical principles and personal experience. Loy tackles a range of topics including money matters, balancing roles, finding time for each other, forgiveness and more. Alongside each devotion is a “Thought for the Day’ as well as an activity for couples to complete. Added bonus, this book also includes “90 Dates for $10 or Less” – perfect for making sure you spend time together, no matter what your financial situation!

Fierce Marriage: Radically Pursuing Each Other in Light of Christ’s Relentless Love by Ryan & Selena Frederick

Fierce Marriage is a call to put Christ at the center of your marriage. With passionate, personal stories along with practical, gospel-centered advice, the Fredericks help you handle five key areas of marriage – priorities, communication, money, sex, and conflict. Their fresh approach will help you to see marriage as not just a relationship you should keep healthy, but also one that is worth fighting for – no matter what. An incredible read for all newlyweds!

Making Marriage Beautiful by Dorothy Littell Greco with Christopher Greco

A wedding binds together two imperfect people who cannot completely satisfy each other’s expectations – of that we can be sure. How a couple respond to the inevitable conflicts and disappointments determines the kind of people they will become and the kind of marriage they will have. Equipping couple’s to deal with these conflicts and disappointments is the goal of Making Marriage Beautiful. Through grounded faith, humor, and disarming candor, Dorothy Greco helps readers to build flourishing, Christ-centered marriages that last a lifetime. A great read for newlyweds, but just as important a read for those celebrating their 40th anniversary!

101 Secrets to a Happy Marriage: Real Couples Share Keys to their Success 

101 Secrets to a Happy Marriage provides words of wisdom and anecdotes from 87 couples who have been there done that! Whether these couples were married for three years or fifty years, they deliver invaluable knowledge fo helping you to create a fulfilling and joyful marriage. It’s also a friendly reminder to any couple that they’re not alone! Alongside these anecdotes and nuggets of wisdom are practical steps and ideas that are easy for couples to apply to their own relationship. A wonderful gift book for the newlywed couple, if you ask us!

For more great reads for the happy couple, click here!

The post Books for Newlywed and Engaged Couples appeared first on Christianbook.com Blog.

We get it, it can be a little stressful. Which is why we’ve put together a collection of our favorite gifts. Whether you’re looking for something that reflects their faith, or a uniquely personal item for their home – we hope you’ll find the ideal gift here.

Mr & Mrs Personalized Frame

What a great way to help the happy couple remember their special day! This photo frame can be engraved with their names and date of marriage to make it extra personal. We think this is a lovely item they’ll surely cherish

Personalized Wooden Cross

This rustic wooden wall cross is a way the happy couple can acknowledge their deep and lasting faith and love! As well as the sentiment ‘to have and to hold, from this day forward…’ it can be personalized (at no extra cost) with their special date.

The Lord Bless You Wedding Blessing Plate

A truly wonderful wedding gift! This beautifully-boxed bone china plate features a watercolor motif with the quote ‘The Lord bless you and keep you’. A gift that will help you communicate your well-wishes on their special day.

Happily Ever After Clock 

With a distressed country farmhouse look, we think this clock would take pride of place in the couple’s home. It would surely be a “timely” reminder of their very own happily ever after story!

Mr & Mrs Stainless Steel Water Bottles

A gift that is both practical and good for the environment! These matching stainless steel water bottles could be a the perfect little pre-wedding gift for the bride and groom – an ideal way for them to stay refreshed throughout the festivities.

The post We Pick: Wedding Gifts for the Happy Couple appeared first on Christianbook.com Blog.

MR. AND MRS. KEEPSAKE SHADOWBOX

This wooden shadowbox has a hinged glass lid to display some photos or other tokens of love from the bride and groom. But why not even use it after the wedding? It’s perfect for safely tucking away some lovely mementos or keepsakes from the big day. It’s so neat and will look just lovely in about any setting.

MR. AND MRS. PLATE AND FORK SET

The cake… It’s one of our favorite parts of any wedding day, so we could hardly leave it out! This Mr & Mrs plate and fork set will be perfect for the cake cutting ceremony and will look great in all your photos. It’s also a wonderful little keepsake – you can dig it out every anniversary (or just any time you indulge in a slice of cake!).

TWO SHALL BECOME ONE, WEDDING UNITY CANDLE

Add a symbolic unifying detail to your wedding ceremony! This candle symbolizes the joining together of two people in marriage -the bride and groom each light an outer candle and then come together to light the center candle. A beautiful moment you can treasure together. As the candle says – ‘Two shall become one’

MR. AND MRS. PERSONALIZED PHOTO FRAME

What an official yet personal way to mark the occasion! It’s perfect for showcasing photos of the bride and groom during the reception but will also hold a special place of honor in your home after you’ve said ‘I do’.

WILLOW TREE, AROUND YOU CAKE TOPPER

This exquisite topper is really, well, the icing on the cake! Set on a base of carved flowers to provide stability when placed on your cake, it’s simple and so sentimental. We love it! But of course we do… it’s by Susan Lordi for Willow Tree® after all!

Want a little more inspiration? Click here to keep browsing our Wedding pages for more!

The post Celebrate: Wedding Season appeared first on Christianbook.com Blog.