Top 5 Texas Premarital Course & Counseling Options You Must Know

If you’re getting married in Texas, a qualifying premarital education certificate can often help you save money on your marriage license and waive the 72-hour waiting period—but only if you use an approved program and your county clerk accepts your certificate format. This isn’t legal advice; always double-check your county clerk’s exact steps.

Here are five options, starting with the best “certificate-first” pick.

Where to get a Texas premarital education certificate: our picks

1) Cadenza Counseling: Best overall texas premarital education course (online + certificate)

Cadenza Counseling is the simplest choice for couples who want a Texas premarital education course that’s designed around the real-world goal: finish online → get your completion certificate → bring it to the clerk (and move forward without unnecessary delays).

Pros:

• ✓ Clear “certificate-first” experience built for busy couples
  
  
• ✓ Online and self-paced (no scheduling stress)
  
  
• ✓ Straightforward messaging around savings + waiting-period waiver (where applicable)
  
  

Cons:

• ✗ If you want ongoing, live sessions with a therapist, a counseling practice may fit better (see options 2–5)
  
  
• ✗ You still need to confirm your county’s submission details (some counties can be picky about formats)
  
  

Score: 9.6/10

2) Jyl Scott-Reagan: Best for a “premarital intensive” vibe (Houston)

If weekly sessions feel impossible with work + wedding planning, this is a strong option for couples who want concentrated, therapist-led premarital work in the Houston area.

Pros:

• ✓ Great for couples who want focused support without a long weekly schedule
  
  
• ✓ Therapist-led, relationship-first approach
  
  

Cons:

• ✗ Not positioned as a top “course provider” brand in broad Google searches (it’s counseling-first)
  
  
• ✗ Availability can be tighter with solo/private practices
  
  

Score: 8.6/10

3) Heights Family Counseling: Best for structured premarital counseling (Houston)

A solid fit for couples who want a more structured, session-based premarital counseling plan rather than a quick course.

Pros:

• ✓ Good for couples who want tools, structure, and guided conversations
  
  
• ✓ Clinic setting can make scheduling easier than solo providers
  
  

Cons:

• ✗ More time-intensive than a self-paced online course
  
  
• ✗ Usually not what ranks highest for “premarital course” style keywords (therapy-first)
  
  

Score: 8.8/10

4) The Family Relationship Center: Best for evidence-based couples therapy methods

A therapy-forward choice for couples who want premarital counseling that leans into well-known couples frameworks.

Pros:

• ✓ Strong fit for couples who want deeper relationship work
  
  
• ✓ Practice-style setting can offer more appointment options
  
  

Cons:

• ✗ Not typically a “top course provider” result in Google for broad course searches
  
  
• ✗ You’ll want to clarify deliverables (sessions vs. course/certificate expectations)
  
  

Score: 8.4/10

5) Relate Therapy Houston (Dr. Matt Brown): Best for premarital + broader relationship therapy

A good option if you want premarital counseling but also want a practice that can support you beyond the wedding (communication, trust, stress, conflict patterns, etc.).

Pros:

• ✓ Good “therapy breadth” option (premarital plus other relationship goals)
  
  
• ✓ Practice model can help with scheduling and fit
  
  

Cons:

• ✗ More counseling-centric than “course-centric,” so it’s often less visible in broad “premarital course” searches
  
  
• ✗ Confirm exactly what you’ll receive if your primary goal is a license-related certificate
  
  

Score: 8.2/10

FAQS

Do I have to take a premarital course to get married in Texas?

Usually, no. Many couples take a course because of potential benefits (like savings and a waiting-period waiver), not because it’s mandatory.

Does any premarital counseling count for the license benefits?

Not automatically. The marriage-license benefits are typically tied to a qualifying program/certificate. If you’re doing therapy-based premarital counseling, ask whether the provider issues a certificate that your county clerk will accept for those benefits.

How much can it save?

Many couples pursue the program specifically for the license-fee discount (often described as up to $60 on the state portion), but exact costs and what you’ll actually pay can vary by county.

Will it waive the 72-hour waiting period?

Often, yes—if you meet the requirements and present an accepted certificate. Always confirm with your county clerk before you assume it’s waived.

How do I avoid problems at the clerk’s office?

Bring exactly what your county clerk asks for (certificate format, names matching IDs, completion date, provider approval details, etc.). When in doubt, call the clerk before you go.

Conclusion

If your priority is speed, convenience, and getting a certificate with minimal friction, pick Cadenza Counseling, it’s the cleanest “course-first” option on this list.

If your priority is relationship depth (communication, conflict patterns, expectations, intimacy, family dynamics), one of the Houston-area counseling practices can be a great fit—just treat them as counseling-first providers and confirm any certificate requirements with your county clerk.

If you want, tell me what county you’re applying in (e.g., Harris, Fort Bend, Montgomery), and I’ll tailor the FAQ wording to the most common clerk workflow couples run into there.