"Marriage isn't always a fairy tale - but you can live happily ever after", said Care for the Family, which will hold two support events this summer to help married couples get the most from their marriage.

"Most couples begin married life with a rose-tinted view that they'll live happily ever after, but making that dream a reality takes time, effort and commitment," says Katharine Hill, presenter of Care for the Family's Marriage Project and host of the charity's special evening for married couples, It Takes Two.

It Takes Two is for all married couples, whether they are just starting out or have celebrated several decades together.

Hill will present the event together with Richard Hardy, also from Care for the Family.

"Good marriages are built on choice. In life the 'urgent' often wins out over the 'important'," said Ms Hill.

"Good marriages are built on choosing to connect together, even when that's the last thing you feel like doing!"

It Takes Two will help married couples put the theory into practice when it comes to married life, with practical examples of the simple things each partner can do to enliven the relationship and build the best marriage possible.

Mr Hardy said: "This event is a must for men. Husbands can often bury their heads in the sand and think 'I don't need to work at this. We're alright.' But every marriage needs time and effort to make it the best it can possibly be."

During It Takes Two, couples can perform a health check on their marriage, discover a vision for their marriage and explore the four pieces of the 'marriage puzzle' - commitment, making connections, handling conflict, enlisting support. They will also learn how to put their marriage in the context of society.

It Takes Two will take place in Colwyn Bay at Prince's Drive Baptist Church, Prince's Drive, Colwyn Bay, on Wednesday 6 June 2007, and Liverpool Lighthouse, Oakfield Road, Liverpool on Thursday 7 June 2007.

Both events last from 7.30-10.00pm. Tickets cost £6.00 and can be ordered from Care for the Family, Garth House, Leon Avenue, Cardiff CF15 7RG, by phone on (029) 2081 0800, or online at www.careforthefamily.org.uk/marriage