Upcoming marriage celebration made accessible for those throughout Utah

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tah State University Extension is co-sponsoring the 2024 Utah Marriage Celebration, described as “a virtual date night of education and entertainment for individuals and couples” on their website.

The event will be put on with the Utah Marriage Commission on Feb. 9 at 6 p.m. for people who want to prepare for marriage or strengthen their relationships.

The event is set to bring together couples from diverse backgrounds, offering a platform to celebrate love, commitment and the importance of healthy relationships.

“Some people brush off marriage classes and other similar things because they already have happy relationships, but the whole idea is that we’re celebrating,” said Naomi Brower, main organizer and a family life specialist with USU Extension.

USU Extension aims to create an inclusive event celebrating the diversity and beauty of relationships and allowing couples to spend quality time together.

Alan Hawkins, a manager at the Utah Marriage Commission, stressed the importance of this type of event.

“Healthy relationships can’t be taken for granted, and we have to be willing to put work and effort into helping them flourish,” Hawkins said.

“Most people who come are dating seriously, living together or married,” Brower said. “But we have had people come who are in a casual relationship or single and want to learn as well.”

Brower, who has been the lead organizer for almost 20 years, wants the event to be as accessible as possible.

“During COVID we switched to online, which ended up allowing us to reach a lot more people,” Brower said. “We have people from all across Utah, some from out of state and even a few tuning in from Canada.”

Because it’s virtual, ticket costs are much lower than in previous years.

“It’s one ticket per couple,” Brower said. “If they want to invite friends over and make a night of it, they can all come for 10 bucks.”

The virtual format contributes to accessibility in other ways as well.

“We’re also recording everything, so ticket holders will have access to those recordings until the end of April if they want to attend but can’t make it on the scheduled date,” Brower said.

“It can be hard for couples, especially those with young children, to carve out time dedicated solely to their relationship,” Hawkins said. “We hope that the format and inexpensive cost will provide an easier opportunity for a date night.”

The Marriage Celebration is not only a festive occasion but also an opportunity for couples to engage in meaningful activities and workshops designed to strengthen their relationships.

It will feature keynote speakers renowned for their expertise in relationship dynamics and family well-being. Attendees can look forward to gaining insights and advice from experts who have dedicated their careers to understanding the intricacies of successful relationships.

“We have a fantastic lineup of speakers from across the nation,” Brower said. “They are experienced educators and therapists with clinical backgrounds who will offer valuable information and skills to make good relationships even better.”

The speakers will cover a range of topics including effective communication, intimacy, conflict resolution and connection.

“Participate in these kinds of learning events and be open to improving even if things are already good. Do what you can to keep relationships vital and strong,” Hawkins said.

Early registration is $10 per couple through Jan. 31. Tickets purchased after that date are $15. To learn more or purchase tickets, visit usuextension.mykajabi.com/marriage-celebration-2024.