FAQs

Our program is especially designed to address the unique communication issues specifically experienced in a male-female marriage relationship. We encourage dating couples, unmarried couples, and same-sex couples to explore/attend relationship programs specific to their situations and needs. We are happy to direct these couples to programs of which we are aware that might be of interest to them.

Virtual/Online Experience: Breaks and mealtime breaks are intentionally built into the virtual/online experience, thus each couple has the opportunity to eat as many meals and snacks as desired.

In-Person Experience: Because the experience is totally inclusive, it is important that you both be present to participate in each session from start to finish because the concepts learned in each session are then used in subsequent sessions. Thus it is important that couples are present for the entirety of each session of the program as scheduled in order to receive the full benefits of the program.

Guided conversations during meals also help couples reach a fuller understanding of the concepts already covered – and special diets are accommodated along with a lower group meal rate that we negotiate with the venue.

Sleeping and eating at the venue also helps reduce stress and promotes a relaxing environment for the couples during the program in order to avoid the distractions of everyday life.

Any legally married heterosexual (man and woman) couple can attend.

The Marriage Encounter experience is about you and your couple marital relationship. As we are a Christian organization, you will hear presenting team couples share their faith as well as Bible verses specific to the marriage relationship. However, no one will try to convert you.

All the more reason for you to attend! With the many demands placed upon you as a couple, you and your spouse need to take the time to nurture the health and happiness of your own marriage relationship in order to continue to feed the members of your congregation.

Marriage Encounter is a marriage enrichment experience designed for each individual couple to enjoy private time together learning how to use a new set of communication tools. Although sessions include the entire group of married couples attending, no couple is ever required to share openly about their relationship with the group. After each session, each couple is encouraged to privately share their thoughts and feelings with each other.

Marriage Encounter is not a marriage boot camp, retreat, Bible Study, group counseling, social weekend, or sensitivity clinic where you are required to openly discuss your couple relationship with the group of attendees. Nor are couples ever separated during the event for “he” and “she” lectures.

The entire experience is presented for and to you together as a couple, and your privacy as a couple is respected at all times.

All materials you need to help you learn how to use your new set of communication tools are provided during the experience.

Special FREE online and offline resources – including enrichment videos – are available for you to use after your experience as well.

You are not required to purchase supplemental materials in order to receive the benefits of your experience or to continue enjoying its benefits after your experience.

VIRTUAL EXPERIENCE: A Marriage Encounter virtual experience is held using the Zoom conferencing software and accessed by your computer in your home, a hotel, or anywhere you choose that will give you the wifi access as well as privacy you need to practice the communication skills being taught. The $75 cost of this program format covers program materials and mailing to your snail mail address prior to the experience.

IN-PERSON EXPERIENCE: A Marriage Encounter in-person experience is held at a venue such as a hotel where you and your spouse can have the privacy you need to practice the communication skills being taught in your own room for two days. Five sit-down meals also are supplied where the two of you can relax and discuss the concepts being taught with other couples attending the experience. The cost of your lodging and meals is arranged with the venue prior to the experience. These costs are billed to Lutheran Marriage Encounter, and we pay the venue from the payments made by couples when they register. Each of these in-person experiences in 2023 are available to couples for $275 per couple.

If you have the means to pay the full cost of the experience, we are very grateful for your ability to pay. If you are experiencing financial hardship, however, assistance is available from Lutheran Marriage Encounter’s “Dream Fund“. Please contact us about the experience you would like to attend and how we can help.

Although it is possible for a couple to see improvement in their overall communication if only one spouse attends a relationship program, it is far more successful for their relationship for both the husband and wife to learn the communication tools we teach and practice during a Marriage Encounter experience. Thus we highly recommend both spouses attend to receive the full benefits of the experience.