Pippa Middleton and James Matthews prepare for their married life, attend pre-marital counselling

Pippa Middleton, the younger sister of the Duchess of Cambridge, is set to marry hedge fund manager James Matthews in a few days. And while there have been several reports regarding the preparation of their wedding, the soon-to-be-wed couple is also ensuring that their married life will be a success.

According to Mail Online, Pippa and James are currently undergoing Christina pre-marital counselling sessions, which will continue in the days leading up to the wedding. The couple has had five meetings with the vicar of St Mark’s Church in Englefield, Berkshire, Reverend Nick Jones, and his wife, Harriet.

The sessions are not a requirement of the church, but Pippa decided to undergo the same with James under the advice of her mother, Carole Middleton. The meetings are meant to help brides and grooms understand the vows that they intend to make to one another. Some topics that are normally discussed include sex, children, communication and how the two might handle problems with finances and disagreements. Another big point of discussion are the expectations that each one has with regards to married life.

Theoretically, the sessions will help any couple prepare for their life beyond the wedding day. The two are pushed to think about and consider their lives beyond their walk down the aisle and the corresponding celebrations.

“Pippa was quite shy and James was very laid back,” a source told the publication about the couple’s initial meetings. “Starting a family is high on their list of priorities, and both were really engaging when Nick and Harriet’s grandchildren, who were at the house, interrupted them.” The sessions were conducted both at St Mark’s Church and at the reverend’s home.

Pippa and James are scheduled to marry on May 20, and several members of the royal family are expected to attend. It has long been speculated that Kate Middleton will not have a role in her sister’s wedding in order to not steal the spotlight. Nevertheless, she is expected to be in attendance with Prince William and their two children, Prince George and Princess Charlotte.

The reception will follow at the Middleton family home, which is just a few miles away from St Mark’s Church. A lavish marquee is likely to be put in place to keep the guests and the couple comfortable throughout the celebrations. Pippa and James’ wedding is expected to be one of the biggest and most-anticipated ones of the year.