Mission

To promote better marriages by providing enrichment opportunities and resources to strengthen couple relationships, increase intimacy, and enhance personal growth, mutual fulfillment, and family wellness.

Vision

To create a network of couples building healthy marriages by providing marriage education and enrichment opportunities in partnership with other public, private, and faith-based organizations.

In September of 1967, and at the age of 60, David Mace moved to Winston-Salem, NC to become a Professor of Sociology with the Bowman Gray School of Medicine at Wake Forest University. Previously David and his spouse Vera had jointly served as executive directors of the American Association of Marriage Counselors from 1960-1967, and even earlier during the 1940’s as joint directors of the Marriage Guidance Council in England. They would both move to the United States in 1949 when David would begin his first decade of professorship at Drew University in New Jersey, before finally making their last move to North Carolina.

Following a lifetime of “working for better marriages”, David and Vera would establish the Association for Couples in Marriage Enrichment (ACME) on their fortieth wedding anniversary in July of 1973. Following their slogan for ACME, “to work for better marriages, beginning with our own”, David and Vera would create an organization that married couples could join to express their support of marriage and grow in their marriage relationship. This emphasis would significantly differ from their earlier focus on counseling and intervention, and instead focus on enrichment and education. According to David Mace:

“Our hope was that it might be quite natural (with no direct religious, political or professional connections of any kind) and might, therefore, become a coordinating agency for other organizations that were developing programs in this new field; that it might undertake the task of setting standards for leadership; that it might encourage the development of local chapters which could promote in their communities the cause of better marriage.” (Mace, Close Companions, 1982).

Following the lead of David and Vera, a small group of North Carolina couples, many from the Winston-Salem area, soon joined to establish the Association for Couples in Marriage Enrichment North Carolina Council. With a focus on marriage support groups and education, the North Carolina Council has grown to include local chapters and marriage enrichment groups from Asheville to Wilmington.

Additionally, the North Carolina Council has presented an annual marriage enrichment conference for three decades, historically during the month of February. Most recently, following the lead of the national organization (Better Marriages), our state council has undergone a name change, becoming known as Better Marriages NC, and has continued to operate with one of the largest state memberships nationally. Additionally, North Carolina is the home of the Better Marriages national office, located in Winston-Salem, NC. 

Make sure you save the date for March 6-7, 2015 -- it is the perfect time for a marriage enrichment event!! Better Marriages North Carolina is planning another great marriage enrichment retreat for March 6-7, 2015. We want you to join us! The retreat will focus on "Unplug to Reconnect: Disconnecting From Distractors to Enhance our Relationships." The retreat will be held at the Embassy Suites in Cary, North Carolina. Registration and program details will follow. Be sure to put this gathering on your calendar now!

A great group of couples escaped to a romantic mountain inn for a weekend filled with education, connections and experiences focused on enriching their marriages! We gathered on April 4-6, 2014, at the Lake Lure Inn, where scenes from the iconic movie Dirty Dancing was filmed. A highlight of the wonderful weekend was the program facilitated by expert leaders Clay and Jane Turner, who guided couples to help everyone discover the full potential in their marriages. You can check out the print brochure here.

Couples had a wonderful time at the Better Marriages NC's annual conference on February 8-9, 2013, in Clemmons, NC. Using the theme of "Keep It Simple Sweetie," we offered quality sessions designed to help couples look at their relevant issues.  Presenters were local experienced favorites who present marriage enrichment in very entertaining and meaningful ways, and married couples had the opportunity to hear and dance to your favorite love songs during the conference! This was a great time to connect with other couples committed to their marriages and it was definitely a weekend to remember. Check out the brochure here.

Thank you to everyone who joined us for a fantastic marriage enrichment experience in western North Carolina on Friday, April 20 to Sunday, April 22, 2012. From quality sessions designed to help couples look at their relevant issues, to fantastic local mountain music, dancing and dining where couples connected with others committed to their marriages, to exclusive time to enjoy the area's beautiful offerings, this was certainly a weekend to remember. To see more about the program, take a look at the brochure here.

If you are interested in learning about marriage enrichment groups or education opportunities in your area, please contact us by email.

NC COUNCIL PRESIDENT COUPLE Jim and Kathy Weidner Charlotte, NC
NC COUNCIL SECRETARY/TREASURER COUPLE Chris and Ron Musgrave Winston-Salem, NC
NC COUNCIL PAST PRESIDENT COUPLE Carl and Nancy Terry Raleigh, NC 919-845-4825 nmterry@nc.rr.com
NC COUNCIL DIRECTOR COUPLES
Jim and Leslie Rhodes Burlington, NC 336-229-6335 JRLLRHODES@aol.com
Joel and Joyce Goodwin Salisbury, NC
Cranford and Othella Johnson Winston-Salem, NC
Elaine and William Matthews Garner, NC 919-229-4456 pastorwmwm@gmail.com
Wayne and Turner Tamberelli Rocky Mount, NC
If you are interesting in serving on the board, please contact Kathy and Jim Weidner

Nathan and Anne Johnson
Asheville, NC

Ann and Dennis Wooten Burlington, NC
Jim and Kathy Weidner Charlotte, NC
David Salman and Nancy Mayer Durham, NC
Nancy and Carl Terry Fayetteville, NC
J’Metria & Arthur Anderson Garner and Clayton area, NC
Doug Burns and Janet Doughty Raleigh, NC
Joel and Joyce Goodwin Salisbury, NC
Turner and Wayne Tamberelli Wilson/Rocky Mount/Greenville areas, NC
Skip and Jean Larson Winston-Salem, NC
Nancy and Carl Terry Other Areas in NC