Chris Pratt has shared insight into the effort he and his wife Katherine Schwarzenegger invested in strengthening their marriage through premarital counseling. Since marrying in 2019, the couple, who live in California, have built a blended family that includes four children and credits this preparation for helping them navigate their relationship.
How Chris Pratt and Katherine Schwarzenegger Prepared for Marriage
Following his 2018 divorce from actress Anna Faris, Chris Pratt began dating Katherine Schwarzenegger, reportedly introduced by her mother, Maria Shriver. They married in 2019 with a ceremony at San Ysidro Ranch in Montecito, California, and another at St. Monica’s Church in Santa Monica. It was during this church ceremony that they completed premarital counseling as part of their wedding process.
Pratt explained during a recent episode of his friend Rob Lowe’s SiriusXM podcast, Literally! With Rob Lowe, that participating in premarital counseling was a requirement from St. Monica Catholic Church. He recalled:
“Part of getting married at St. Monica’s church is doing premarital counseling,”
and added,
“We did like, six sessions with this guy who was, by the way, the best thing in the world.”
St. Monica Catholic Church follows a program known as Pre-Cana, a Catholic marriage preparation initiative named after the biblical wedding at Cana. This mandatory course emphasizes agreement on various aspects of married life before tying the knot.
Topics Covered During Their Premarital Counseling Sessions
Chris Pratt described how their counseling included detailed discussions about everyday life traditions, such as establishing clear guidelines for their holiday celebrations. One example he shared was agreeing on the timing for Christmas festivities. He explained:
“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.”
He emphasized how these conversations helped prevent future conflicts by addressing potential areas of disagreement early on. Pratt said:
“We talked about it beforehand, so now we’re on board,”
and elaborated on the benefit of this preparation:
“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.”
Pratt also reflected on the role of their counselor in guiding these discussions without sparking arguments, noting:
“This therapist who’s basically diffusing a bomb, but in a way that’s not gonna cause an argument or a fight. ‘Cause a lot of this stuff can make you angry or upset or triggered or whatever. So I definitely recommend [it] for anybody,”
he maintained.
He further described the counseling dynamic by saying:
“If you agree on it, you move on. But if there’s things you disagree on, you hash it out and you do the work to figure out why are you coming from this [belief]?”
Parenting and Step-Parenting Insights from Katherine Schwarzenegger
Katherine Schwarzenegger has also spoken publicly about the preparation she undertook before marrying Pratt, which included support from a step-parenting coach. During a July episode of the Parenting & You With Dr. Shefali podcast, she highlighted the challenges of her dual role as a parent and step-parent:
“It’s been incredibly helpful for me and also just understanding my role as a step-parent,”
she said.
She described step-parenting as a complex role without a clear guide, stating:
“Step-parenting, like parenting, has no handbook. Because I have the benefit of being in both roles. Step-parenting is extra confusing because you aren’t a parent, you’re not a nanny, you’re not an assistant. You have responsibilities in all of those areas but you’re not either of them,”
elaborating on the unique responsibilities she manages.
The Family Life of Chris Pratt and Katherine Schwarzenegger
Chris Pratt and Katherine Schwarzenegger’s blended family includes their three children together—daughters Lyla, five, and Eloise, three, as well as their son Ford, one. Pratt also is father to Jack, 12, from his previous marriage to Anna Faris. The family lives in California where they balance their private lives alongside their public profiles.
The couple’s approach to marriage preparation and parenting reveals their dedication to building a united and functional household. Their openness about premarital counseling and step-parent coaching offers a candid look at the work involved behind the scenes of high-profile relationships.
Why Their Premarital Counseling Experience Matters
Chris Pratt’s discussion of his premarital counseling underscores the importance of proactive communication and conflict prevention in marriage, especially when blending families. By addressing potential disagreements in advance, the couple aims to create a stronger partnership with clear mutual understanding.
Such preparation shines a light on a less often discussed but essential aspect of celebrity marriages, where the pressures of public life can amplify common relationship challenges. Chris and Katherine’s honest sharing of their journey may encourage others, celebrity or not, to consider similar counseling as a valuable tool for navigating marriage and family dynamics.
