When should premarital counseling start and how often should you have the consultation?

Why would you need premarital counseling unless you weren't mature enough to be married? And if that's the case then you shouldn't be getting married in the first place.

A lot of people get into Counseling before they get married, so there is no shame in that. Obviously, it is called premarital so...when both of you commit to it, whenever you decide is the best time to go.

Until the church dude says we have done the required amount of sit time and that he'll marry us.

Premarital counseling should happen at least 3 to 6 months before marriage and the one giving the counseling will tell you how often you should have it ...... I feel that pre marriage counseling is very important and that every couple should go through it before marrying. You will learn fast if this is the right person for you or not through pre marital counseling. Pre marital counseling also helps you learn what to look for in marriage and it also helps you learn if you are really ready for this marriage or not it also tells and teaches you some things you might face in marriage... It kinda prepares you for what you are heading into with marriage... It is a good thing:)

pre - before
marital - marriage

thus - before marriage. If you and your beau is considering marriage, that is the good time. You don't want to jump into this if you can't be prepared, financially, emotionally, socially and physically.
If kids are in the future, this needs to be addressed, even if this isn't for a few years.
make sure BOTH are ready. If one isn't, one will be overworked and stressed trying to make it successful.

I think it is best to start premarital counseling as soon as you can. the way i see it is the more you invest in working out things like communication, goals, desires, etc, the more your marriage will benefit down the road. :-)
my husband and I had our meeting bi-weekly for a few months.