Chris Pratt and Katherine Schwarzenegger Reveal Premarital Counseling Helped Them Prepare for Marriage

The couple opened up about the valuable experience of going through pre-marriage counseling before tying the knot.

Published on Feb. 8, 2026

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In a recent interview, actor Chris Pratt shared that he and his wife Katherine Schwarzenegger underwent premarital counseling before getting married in 2019. Pratt explained that the counseling sessions, which were required as part of their wedding ceremony at a Catholic church, helped them discuss and agree on important topics like when to start and stop celebrating Christmas. The couple believes the counseling was invaluable in identifying and resolving potential issues before they became problems in their marriage.

Why it matters

Premarital counseling is becoming more common as couples recognize the benefits of having open and honest conversations about their expectations, values, and potential areas of conflict before marriage. By addressing these topics upfront, couples can build a stronger foundation for their relationship and be better prepared to navigate the challenges of married life.

The details

Pratt and Schwarzenegger participated in six sessions of premarital counseling with a priest at St. Monica's Catholic Church in Santa Monica, California. During these sessions, they discussed a range of topics, including when they would start and stop celebrating Christmas each year. The counseling process helped them identify potential "landmines" and "diffuse them beforehand" so they could have productive conversations about any disagreements and find mutually agreeable solutions.

  • Pratt and Schwarzenegger got married in 2019.
  • They have since welcomed three children together - daughters Lyla and Eloise, and son Ford.

The players

Chris Pratt

An American actor known for his roles in the Guardians of the Galaxy and Jurassic World film franchises.

Katherine Schwarzenegger

An author and the daughter of actor and former California governor Arnold Schwarzenegger.

St. Monica's Catholic Church

A Catholic parish in Santa Monica, California where Pratt and Schwarzenegger participated in premarital counseling as part of their wedding ceremony.

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What they’re saying

“Part of getting married at St. Monica's church is doing premarital counseling. We did like, six sessions with this guy who was, by the way, the best thing in the world.”

— Chris Pratt (SiriusXM)

“One of them was that we were gonna play Christmas music on November 1, and that we were gonna take the Christmas tree down December 26.”

— Chris Pratt (SiriusXM)

“It's like 300 potential landmines and [you can] diffuse them beforehand. And that way, if you have an issue, you talk about it and you hash it out.”

— Chris Pratt (SiriusXM)

The takeaway

Premarital counseling can be an invaluable tool for couples to have open and honest conversations about their expectations, values, and potential areas of conflict before getting married. By addressing these topics upfront, couples can build a stronger foundation for their relationship and be better prepared to navigate the challenges of married life.