The average amount spent on weddings in the United States is $30,000. While this is undoubtedly one of the most special days for a couple, the planning for what comes next is what really sets the foundation for the rest of the relationship.
Anastacia Sams, a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, and LaTrease Nwosu, an International Relationship Consultant, are the co-founders of A Soulful Love, a program that offers expert-led education, workshops and guided sessions designed to equip engaged and newlywed couples to create marriages that thrive and endure. While research shows that Black couples who engage in premarital education often have longer marriages and are more satisfied, premarital preparation remains widely overlooked. A Soulful Love was created to address this critical gap.
Ana and LaTrease first connected in 2014 during their master’s program. From the outset, the two were deeply aligned not only in theory but also on values. This synergy became the catalyst for something much bigger. Four years ago, they began reflecting on a trend that they were seeing in couples, many of whom were on the brink of divorce, struggling to find their way back to love. What they noticed was that many couples were entering marriage with little to no premarital education. And when there was preparation done, it was often rooted in religion or basic compatibility, rather than addressing the structural, emotional, and cultural realities of marriage. Without adequate guidance, couples often face conflict unprepared, unsure how to communicate, repair or grow together. Driven by a genuine love for Black love and a desire to change the narrative, they leveraged their knowledge to create a more holistic program that would help couples cultivate a soulful love.
But what is a soulful love? Although the phrase itself seems simple enough to trigger a basic understanding, what do Ana and LaTrease mean when they speak about helping couples cultivate a “soulful love”? For LaTrease, a soulful love is unmistakable. It is a love that is so deep it resonates.
“You see [a couple’s] bond, connection, their deep desire to want to be together. When you witness two people who desire to be together you see how they want to take care of each other; you see their laughter [and] their affection. It is to their core.” - LaTrease Nwosu
For them, a soulful love is a love that has depth to it. It is not surface-level romance but something grounded and substantial. Ana points to older couples who share a connection within which they even have their own unspoken language. Despite the challenges that they have navigated as a couple, there is joy between them.
At the heart of A Soulful Love’s work is the 12-week Foundations for Forever program, which is built on the 10 Steps to Lasting Love Framework. This is a proactive, structured program that emphasizes growth, preparation, and shared vision before challenges arise. What sets this program apart though, is its focus on cultural responsiveness, which is an element that both Ana and LaTrease found missing in many premarital programs. As Ana explains, “this affects how you show love, how you experience it and how you define conflict.” To address this, their work begins with the idea of micro-cultures.
While society shapes us broadly, it is divided into subgroups, and within those subgroups is the family unit, which has its own practices. LaTrease, whose husband is Nigerian, speaks openly about navigating the cultural differences in her own marriage, explaining that she and her husband both grew up understanding the communication of love and the responsibility of marriage differently. But beyond this is an even deeper layer that defines who we are and influences how we show up and how we desire to show up. By acknowledging and working through these layers, couples gain the skills and self-awareness needed to build resilient marriages.
Today, two of the greatest challenges that couples face are communication and a fear of emotions. As society grows more individualistic, people have become more emotionally guarded, often uncomfortable with uncomfortable feelings; yet, it is in this vulnerability that connection either grows or falters. Social media has further complicated this, inundating couples with often unsolicited and misaligned opinions. “People forget that social media is a loud minority,” says Ana.
Still, amid the noise, there are some fundamental truths that remain unshakable. One is that conflict is unavoidable but on the other side of it is connection and bonding. LaTrease emphasizes that when you have chosen your partner with intention and discernment, then you should assume compassion and good intent. Equally important is turning inward and being honest about how you are showing up. Interrogating whether your actions align with the values you expect from your partner is critical.
Couples should also always protect what is sacred. This requires being mindful of whose voice you choose to listen to and setting boundaries to protect your relationship. Ana explains that part of protecting what is sacred extends beyond emotional boundaries into physical ones as well. She suggests that curating a home environment that feels safe, intentional and nurturing for both partners is essential, as the space we inhabit quietly shapes us and how we love.
Even as societal norms seemingly shift and cultural tides change, these truths hold steady. While the language and delivery may evolve, the essence of what creates lasting love does not. For Ana and LaTrease, ensuring that their program is culturally responsive means that it shifts with people – how they love and learn - and not society. This philosophy carries through not only in their work with couples but also in the training of educators and therapists pursuing a certification in premarital education. How they deliver the information may shift but the substance remains grounded because it is rooted in human experience.
Looking ahead, Ana and LaTrease envision A Soulful Love as a premier premarital education space that pioneers a shift in the narrative. Their hope is to collectively change the community’s mindset on the importance of being proactive and investing in one of life’s biggest decisions. They are also committed to increasing the number of therapists trained in this line of work so that there is broader reach.
For them, the wedding may be a single, celebrated moment, but the marriage is the enduring return on that investment. Creating a love that lasts beyond the wedding day begins long before vows are exchanged. When couples choose to invest in premarital education, they are intentionally cultivating a soulful love designed to last.
