Why the IMI

The Intermarriage Inventory (IMI) is a specialized relationship assessment tool published by Intercommunications Publishing (IPI). It is designed specifically for couples entering an interfaith, intercultural, or interracial marriage to help them navigate unique relationship dynamics before or during their marriage. [1, 2, 3]

Rather than a pass/fail test, the inventory acts as a comprehensive diagnostic tool to celebrate relationship strengths and uncover hidden areas of friction. [1, 2]

Core Focus Areas of the IMI

Couples answer a series of individual questions covering critical aspects of their blended lives, which are then analyzed to map out areas needing discussion: [1, 2]

  • Religious Differences: Navigating differing faith traditions, deciding on a place of worship, and managing expectations around holiday celebrations.

  • Family of Origin & Culture: Managing different cultural traditions, communication styles, and boundary-setting with extended in-laws.

  • Parenting Expectations: Agreeing on how future children will be raised, including their religious education and cultural identity.

  • Fundamental Relational Dynamics: Assessing standard marriage pillars like finances, conflict resolution, intimacy, and daily household roles. [1, 2, 3]

How the Inventory Process Works

  1. Independent Completion: Both partners complete the questionnaire separately—either online or on paper—to ensure their answers remain completely honest and unaffected by the other person. [1, 2]

  2. Profile Generation: The answers are compiled into a comprehensive report highlighting where the couple aligns perfectly and where their expectations mismatch.