Things to consider for wedding seminars and workshops in the Philippines

Fit and Legitimacy

• What specific “Seminars” do you offer for engaged couples?
• Are your seminars designed for civil weddings, church weddings, or both?
• What outcomes should we expect after attending your seminar(s)?
• Are you registered as a business or parish/organization, and can you issue an official receipt (OR)?
• Do you have recent accreditations or recognitions relevant to marriage preparation?

Compliance (Civil Wedding)

• Do you conduct the Pre-Marriage Orientation and Counseling (PMOC) required before a marriage license application?
• Will your PMOC certificate be accepted by our Local Civil Registrar (LCR) where we’ll apply?
• Do you coordinate directly with LGUs/LCRs, or will we submit the certificate ourselves?
• What is the validity period of the PMOC certificate, if any?
• Is there a cap or standard fee for the PMOC, and what is your current rate?

Compliance (Church Wedding)

• Do you offer or facilitate the Pre-Cana (marriage preparation) seminar?
• Are your Pre-Cana certificates recognized by our target parish or diocese?
• Can you help verify with our parish that your seminar will be accepted before we book?
• What additional church requirements (e.g., canonical interview, retreats) should we plan around, and how does your seminar fit in?
• If we’re marrying outside our home parish/diocese, will your certificate still be honored?

Schedules and Lead Times

• How far in advance should we book to secure our preferred date?
• How often do you run sessions (weekly, biweekly, monthly)?
• What are the typical start/end times and total duration?
• Is there a waiting list, and how does it work?
• Do you offer express or rush schedules for time-sensitive cases?

Delivery Formats

• Do you offer in-person, online, or hybrid sessions?
• For online sessions, which platform do you use and what are the tech requirements?
• Is attendance live (synchronous), or can parts be on-demand (asynchronous)?
• If hybrid, which components are online vs. onsite?
• Can we switch formats after booking (e.g., from onsite to online) if needed?

Capacity and Experience

• What is your typical class size?
• Do you offer small-group or private sessions?
• How many couples have you handled in the past year?
• Can you share success stories or anonymized feedback highlights?
• What’s your completion rate for couples who start the course?

Facilitators and Content Owners

• Who are the facilitators (priests, counselors, social workers, therapists, educators)?
• What training or credentials do your facilitators have?
• Do the same facilitators run all batches, or does it vary by schedule/location?
• How do you vet and onboard new facilitators?
• Can we request a facilitator who speaks our preferred language/dialect?

Curriculum and Topics

• What modules or topics are covered (e.g., communication, conflict resolution, finances, family planning, roles/expectations)?
• Do you include Philippines-specific legal responsibilities and rights in marriage?
• Will you cover practical planning (budgeting, timelines) and post-wedding life skills?
• Is faith formation included (for church-focused programs)? How is it integrated?
• Can you tailor parts of the curriculum to our situation (e.g., long-distance, OFW, blended families)?

Learning Materials

• Do you provide handouts, workbooks, or slides we can keep?
• Are materials available in Filipino/English or other local languages?
• Do you include exercises or worksheets we should complete together?
• Will we receive digital copies after the session?
• Are there recommended readings or resources for continued learning?

Engagement and Assessment

• Is there any pre-work we must do before attending?
• How interactive are the sessions (Q&A, breakouts, role-plays)?
• Do you use quizzes or assessments to track learning?
• How do you confirm attendance and participation for certificate issuance?
• What happens if we miss a portion due to connectivity or emergencies?

Certificates and Documentation

• What certificate(s) do you issue and what exact details appear on them (names, date, venue, signatures)?
• When and how are certificates released (same day, next business day, courier, pickup, email)?
• If the LGU/parish requests re-issuance, can you provide duplicates? Any fees?
• Do you require valid IDs or other documents before issuing a certificate?
• Can you address name discrepancies (e.g., middle names, suffixes) to match our IDs?

Acceptance and Verification

• Will you help us verify certificate acceptance with our specific parish/LCR before we enroll?
• If an LGU/parish declines the certificate, what support or alternatives can you provide?
• Do you maintain a current list of LGUs/parishes that regularly accept your certificates?
• Can you provide a contact person whom the LGU/parish can call to confirm authenticity?
• Do your certificates have security features (QR code, serial number, dry seal)?

Pricing and Inclusions

• What is the total fee per couple and what’s included (seminar, materials, certificate, notarization if any)?
• Are there add-on costs (rush processing, delivery, reprints, rescheduling)?
• Do you offer packages (e.g., seminar + counseling session, seminar + retreat)?
• What are your payment methods (bank transfer, credit card, e-wallets like GCash/PayMaya)?
• Do you issue an official receipt (OR) and under what registered name/TIN?

Booking, Changes, and Cancellations

• What is your booking process (online form, email, phone, in-person)?
• What documents do we need to reserve a slot?
• What is your rescheduling policy and cut-off time?
• What is your cancellation/refund policy?
• If a session is canceled on your end, how do you compensate or rebook couples?

Special Cases and Scenarios

• Do you accommodate couples where one or both partners are abroad (OFWs/expats)?
• Can one partner attend online and the other onsite if needed?
• What if one partner is a foreign national—any special steps we should take?
• Do you cater to interfaith or mixed-denomination couples?
• How do you handle previously married/annulled/widowed individuals who may have unique documentation needs?

Accessibility and Inclusivity

• Is the venue accessible for seniors and persons with disabilities (PWDs)?
• Do you offer sign-language interpreters or captioning for online sessions?
• Are there options for neurodiverse participants or those needing a slower pace?
• Can you provide sessions in Filipino, English, or specific local dialects?
• Do you maintain an inclusive, non-discriminatory environment and policy?

Privacy and Data Protection

• What personal information will you collect and why?
• How do you store and protect our IDs and documents?
• Who has access to our data and for how long do you retain it?
• Will any part of the session be recorded? If yes, how is the recording secured?
• How can we request data deletion or corrections?

Location and Logistics (Onsite)

• Where is the seminar held and what are nearby transport options?
• Is parking available and are there fees?
• What should we wear—any dress code?
• Are meals or snacks included, or should we bring our own?
• What should we bring on the day (IDs, pens, printed forms)?

Technical Setup (Online)

• What are the minimum internet and device requirements?
• Do you require cameras on for attendance validation?
• How do you troubleshoot audio/video issues during the session?
• Do you provide a hotline/chat support during the seminar?
• What is your backup plan if the platform experiences downtime?

After-Seminar Support

• Do you offer post-seminar counseling or mentoring sessions?
• Can we book one-on-one follow-ups for sensitive topics (finances, in-laws, intimacy, parenting)?
• Do you provide referrals to licensed counselors, therapists, or family life centers?
• Is there a community group or newsletter for ongoing tips and resources?
• Do you have alumni discounts for future workshops (e.g., parenting, financial planning)?

Quality Assurance

• How do you gather participant feedback and improve the program?
• Do you publish recent satisfaction ratings or testimonials?
• How often do you update your curriculum?
• Can we review a sample module or agenda before enrolling?
• Do you benchmark your program against LGU/diocesan standards?

Risk Management and Contingencies

• What happens if a typhoon or power o