Love and Respect: The primary challenge for a man is to learn how to let his wife know that he loves her. That is the husband’s number one job, yet it is not easy for a husband to find ways to make his wife feel secure in his love. For the wife, the challenge is to learn ways to show that she respects her husband and to make him feel secure in that respect and admiration. Larimore and Crockett understand that these tasks are often beyond human capability; that is why the spiritual dimension is so important. These tasks are “God-sized jobs.” They require God’s supernatural love.

Prior Sexual Partners: The authors recommend an in-depth medical examination for those with prior sexual experience. They argue that a potential spouse needs to know who they are committing to in marriage in terms of the risk of viral diseases. They are also strong advocates of “secondary virginity” –– vowing to cease sexual activity until marriage. If a fiancé is unwilling to make and keep such a commitment, it is a huge warning sign about that person’s ability to be faithful to you. In fact, such a person is virtually guaranteed to cheat after marriage. Larimore and Crockett also recommend that couples with prior sexual experience who promise and commit to sexual purity during marriage learn to forgive and forget –– a task that is impossible without the Biblical agape love.

Health and Honeymoon Kits: One of the more unique and important suggestions in the book is for the honeymooning couple to pack both a health and a honeymoon kit. In the health kit would be pain relievers, cold medicine, upset stomach tablets, band-aids, topical salves, and preventative medicine for specific situations such as seasickness patches or altitude sickness prescriptions. The honeymoon kit would have two sections: items for mood setting (for instance, candles and matches and bath soaps) and health items (practical items for female health care).

Larimore and Crocker’s book includes very helpful practical items in an appendix, including a packing list and a planning calendar. Perhaps most important, the authors include a week’s worth of spiritual devotions for the couple to share together during the first 7 days of their marriage.

During a time when family members are often widespread, the tradition of passing along wisdom from grandparents to parents to young adults is not easily accomplished. A book of practical advice for couples is long overdue. The $72 billion wedding industry pays scant attention to preparing a couple for a faithful, happy marriage. To that end, Larimore and Crocker have given engaged couples a rare and invaluable gift.