A stronger marriage, a stronger youfamilycrewcareercommunity.
Check Eligibility →What’s Included
Free is just the beginning.
- Need childcare? We got that.
- Need a ride? We got that.
- Need a coach? We got that.
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Free childcare
Free childcare for couples who RSVP. Tell us how many and what ages when you sign up.
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Meals included
Every meal from Friday dinner to Sunday. You won’t open your wallet once.
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No ride? We’ve got you covered.
Transportation assistance if getting there is the problem. Tell us what you need.
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Personal coaching
A coach from the night you enroll, through the weekend, and after you get home.
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Date nite package
Gift cards, program swag, and a referral card to share with another couple who needs this.
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Two nights lodging
Your room for both nights. Nothing to book and nothing to pay.
You’ve heard marriage is hard…
It doesn’t have to be.
If you’re like us, no one ever sat you down and taught you how to do marriage. There was no class for it in school. No lesson on how to communicate in ways your spouse truly understands. You never learned how to break negative cycles and prevent small issues from becoming big ones. You were simply handed a marriage certificate and wished good luck.
That’s exactly why we’re here.
We give you real skills and coach you along the way. Focus on Relationships is free, in person, and built alongside neighbors who get it. Come as you are.
The Marriage Retreat
Three days, two nights away.
Ours is free.
Friday evening through Sunday afternoon. Your room, meals, childcare covered, and our full marriage curriculum — a weekend getaway built so the two of you can recharge and reconnect.
Nobody will ask you for money, and nobody will ask you to join anything. Certified facilitators teach the weekend. The rest of it is yours.
How do we get one?One Launch Night beforehand, and the whole weekend once you’re there. That’s it.
Your room, meals, childcare covered, and a ride if getting there is the problem. You’ll also have a personal coach from the night you enroll — call them about childcare, what to pack, or cold feet.
Married couples who live in Barry, Christian, Greene, Jasper, or Lawrence County, Missouri, and attend together — where at least one spouse is a Veteran, Active Duty service member, or First Responder, or the household receives government assistance such as SNAP, MO HealthNet, disability, or a foster care subsidy.
Every couple completes a short eligibility check before the retreat. It’s a requirement of the funding that makes this program free.
Not every couple will qualify — but the check is quick, and we’ll tell you either way.
What You’ll Learn
It’s fun, simple, and science-based.
We keep the science real and the delivery simple. You’ll leave with skills you actually use, whether you’re a busy couple who wants more time together, a strong couple who wants to grow even stronger, or a struggling couple who needs fresh tools and hope.
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Communicate so it lands.
Say what you mean so that your thoughts and feelings can be recognized and understood without causing your spouse to feel defensive, overwhelmed, manipulated or inadequate.
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Break the cycle before it grows.
Catch the pattern early, before a small spark turns into a blowup. Constructively resolve issues at hand and feel closer to your spouse through the process.
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Fight fair.
Disagree without the damage. Accept and express anger without destroying love. Real tools for the hard conversations.
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Grow closer.
Simple habits that rebuild closeness, even on your busiest weeks. Feel genuine empathy for your partner instead of secret resentment.
How the weekend runs
- Friday, late afternoon
Arrive and check inGet your room and settle in. No rush, and nothing scheduled until everyone is here.
- Friday evening
Dinner, then the first sessionEat together and meet the handful of other couples on the weekend with you. Then we start where every couple starts.
- Saturday morning
The heart of itThe bulk of the curriculum, with real breaks in between. Breakfast first.
- Saturday afternoon
Your free timeThe afternoon is yours. Nothing is scheduled and nothing is required.
- Saturday evening
Dinner and the third sessionBack together over a meal, then the third session.
- Sunday
Last session, then homeThe final session is about Monday. Then graduation, your date-night package, and your coach’s number in your phone.
Why this works
Built on lived experience.
Two decades of work alongside couples in our region. The curriculum we trust, taught by facilitators trained in this community. The people walking with you should know the road.
Adventures in Marriage (AIM)
The 12-hour, evidence-informed, trauma-aware core curriculum that anchors every workshop. Marriage & Relationship Education (MRES) at its center.
Marriage Enhancement
Tools to deepen connection and intimacy after the workshop. The work doesn’t stop on graduation night.
Marriage Mentoring
Newer couples paired with trained Skills Coaches who’ve walked the path. Long-term, peer-led, real-world support.
Backed by 218 + years of combined volunteer experience in marriage education, with a permanent network of 25 Certified AIM Facilitators and 60 Skills Coaches built directly inside the communities we serve.
What Couples Say
In their words.
Absolutely do it. Best marriage workshop I’ve taken and has helped our marriage the most.
Absolutely a wonderful experience. Marriage is flourishing. Thank you!
The Adventure
Take the first step.
You show up honest, we give you the playbook, you go home with tools you’ll actually use. Here’s what to expect from the moment you reach out.
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01
Launch Night.
Sign up to attend a Launch Night. Meet our team, ask questions, complete enrollment, and dive into an engaging first lesson designed for the two of you.
Launch Night attendance is mandatory for the retreat. Childcare and a meal provided.
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02
Before the retreat.
We’ll reach out for a one-time orientation. Meet your Lead Facilitator, finish your paperwork, and get matched into a cohort that fits your work and family schedule.
In person or over the phone. Your choice. Plan about 30 minutes.
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Retreat weekend.
Friday evening through Sunday afternoon. Lodging, meals, childcare, and our full marriage curriculum. Learn skills for communication, resolving conflict, and reconnection.
Free childcare and free meals every session. Gas or ride share available if transportation is a barrier.
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04
Graduate.
Celebrate with your spouse. Take home a date-night package with gift cards, program swag, and a referral card to share with another couple who needs this.
Referrals to community partners are part of the program if you need more than a curriculum can give or just want to keep growing.
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05
Celebrate completion at a real graduation ceremony with your cohort. Take home a date-night package with gift cards, program swag, and a referral card to share with another couple who needs this.
Not ready for a full weekend away?
Join us for a complimentary local Date Nite first — dinner, live entertainment and childcare on us, while you get a taste of what we do.
Ready when you are
Begin your
adventure.
Tell us a little about yourself. A Vanguard advocate will follow up within two business days. Submitting the form does not obligate you to participate.
No pressure, no script.