Marriage Retreats
Enrich Your Relationship
Experience romance, renewal, and refreshment to build a stronger God-focused relationship.
Friday 5:00 p.m. to Sunday 11:00 a.m.
Couples in all seasons of marriage — from the heights of love to the depths of struggle – can spend an intentional, intimate weekend focusing on each other without interruptions or to-do lists! The weekend provides relaxing couple time, valuable speaker sessions, relationship-building activities, and five delicious meals including a romantic Saturday night dinner.
Enjoy upscale, private accommodations at The Lodge at Deer Run or at one of our other amazing facilities. All are nestled within our 150 wooded acres of beautiful rolling hills near historic downtown Franklin, Tennessee.
To create an intimate setting which helps you focus on your relationship, these weekend retreats are limited to 15 couples.
“I can’t wait to share Deer Run with my friends and family. I could feel God here. There was realness from the speakers as well as others. The staff was amazing! My husband and I have tools to take back to our home and share with our kids.”
“Getting away is great but Deer Run’s marriage weekend encourages you to refocus and reconnect in a way that a regular vacation cannot. We went to FL for 6 days…and are leaving Deer Run more rejuvenated in less than 24 hours than almost a week at the beach.”
“This weekend was definitely more than we expected. … I’m excited to watch God work even more in our lives than He already has. … Thank you all for being a vessel of His love.”
Meet Your Weekend Leaders
Fall Romance Weekend
November 22-24, 2024
Start the holiday season off by spending this weekend together so you can focus on each other.
Strategist Billy & Yolanda Jackson are a force to be reckoned with when it comes to “real life” marriage and family situations. They have a unique way they capture and engage their audiences to lead them in living a more peaceful life. They are truly passionate about changing the world one couple, one family at a time.
In 2016, Billy and Yolanda were inspired to share their marriage testimony in order to help other married couples who were seeking to strengthen and restore their marriage. As a result, they launched Live in Peace Ministries.
Together, they host seminars, workshops, conferences and retreats to equip and encourage married people on their journey. While inspiring them to believe that no matter where the broken pieces have fallen, you still can live in peace together and with God.
These two very different souls found God’s true love in 2004 and blended their families together in 2007. Together they have 4 beautiful children and 4 adorable grandchildren.
Throughout the weekend, they will be teaching about how to…Recharge Your Marriage.
Friday Night Session
How to Recharge the Love in a Chaotic World
Saturday Session 1
We’re in this together…Communication is Key!
Saturday Session 2
Effective Ways to Refill Your Love Tank
Sunday Session
Creating a Marriage Legacy
Valentine Romance Weekend
February 9-11, 2024
Give an amazing gift to each other — a weekend getaway filled with adventure and connection.
Bruce Martin, Invest Your Life Ministries
Bruce is an author, speaker, coach, Bible teacher, counselor, and adventure guide. He’s someone you immediately feel like you have known for years. He is a gifted communicator who is easy to relate to, humorous at times, and is genuine in presenting truth and inspiration. He has been married to Marlina for 38 years.
We are excited to have Bruce and Marlina back at Deer Run for the 8th year. At our March event, Bruce is teaching about:
Love That Lasts a Lifetime
- How Deep is Your Love? Communicating and Resolving Conflict in Healthy Ways
- Appreciating the Differences — Instead of Letting Them Drive You Crazy
- How to Understand and Meet Your Spouse’s Emotional Needs
- Love Never Fails — How to Get Through the Hardest Times and Still Love Each Other
Fall Romance Weekend
November 17-19, 2023
Start the holiday season off by spending this weekend together so you can focus on each other.
Aron Strong has a passion helping couples and individuals find the intimacy, joy, peace and purpose they long for. He has over 20 years combined experience of pastoral and professional counseling and has significant knowledge and experience in emotions, relationships, and other attachment issues.
Aron is the founder and director of Pathways Counseling and the creator of the therapy model Attuned Systemic Repair. He is also the co-founder of inRelationship, a company that provides workshops and resources to professional counselors and the general public on attachment and relationship issues.
Lindsey Castleman is passionate about transformation in relationships and because of this she very much leans in to the ‘why’ behind the way we show up in relationships. Uncovering the why is essential to transformation, otherwise it is just behavior change and that only lasts for so long. Lindsey has also experienced the benefits of therapy in her own life and marriage and wants to pass that experience along to others. Lindsey has been married to her high school sweetheart for 17 years and are incredibly blessed with a 7-year-old son and their Shepherd mix, Chief.
Throughout the weekend, they will focus on…The Secret to Being/With
Friday Night Session
How We Lose Connection
There is a reason that we start to feel disconnected in our own marriage. Oftentimes we avoid looking at this pattern of disconnection and it can take us over. In this session we slow down this pattern and start to engage our disconnection in a new and different way.
Saturday Sessions
Being
Once we recognize what keeps us apart, we need to engage in how God designed us to reconnect with each other and with Him. In this time we will learn the art of emotions and empathy and how they work towards restoration.
Being/With My Spouse
Knowing how to properly tend to each other’s places of hurt is what we long for. Yet, knowing how to do this is not taught. In this session, we will show how the repair process works in order to bring our loved one closer and strengthen our marital bond.
Sunday Session
Being Us
Our last session speaks to the deeper emotional places we get to experience with our spouse when we have done the work of creating safety within ourselves and the relationship. We will learn how to build a stronger story of love together.
Springtime Romance Weekend
March 22-24, 2024
Spring is a perfect season for getting away and renewing your commitment to each other. Our speakers for this event will be announced soon.
We are Robby and Christy Ryan. We have been married for 30+ years and have three adult children and 2 little grandsons (ages 1 and 3). We love spending time with our family and eating family lunch together every Sunday after church. (If you feed them, they WILL come.)
In 2008, we were called into marriage ministry after God saved our own marriage from years of alcoholism, drug use, gambling, pornography, and affairs. God led us from hopelessness and near divorce to forgiveness and total restoration. For the last 12 years we have walked alongside many couples, led small groups, and spoken at several churches, retreats, and conferences. (Deer Run is one of our “favorite” ones!) We know the Lord heals broken marriages and strengthens all marriages and families because He has healed and strengthened ours, and we believe He desires to do the same in yours. We look forward to sharing our hearts with you.
Throughout the weekend we will focus on how to have a LOVE THAT NEVER FAILS marriage.
Friday Night Session
Finding Forgiveness: We will openly share our story and you’ll hear the good news of how God got ahold of our hearts and brought restoration to our family.
Saturday Sessions
What’s the Secret to Connecting and Communicating?: We lived the first 16 years like “roommates” and communicated like that too. We’ll share what we have learned about keeping our communication on a level that keeps our hearts truly connected and growing closer together.
Love Never Fails: Have you “Lost that Loving Feeling?” Have you ever thought, “I just don’t feel much passion for my spouse anymore.” We sure did. We learned from the blueprint in 1 Corinthians 13 how God loves us and how we are to love each other. And when we practice love like this, love never fails!
Sunday Session
‘Til Death Do Us Part … How can your marriage leave a legacy that lasts and really matters? We will discuss the legacy you inherited, and how what you do now (with your family and with Jesus) will determine the legacy you leave. Learn what it looks like to put the “gospel on display” for the world to see.
Accommodations
Pricing is based on your choice of a private room or no overnight accommodations. Your weekend package includes meals (Friday night to Sunday morning), sessions, couples relationship-building activities, and a couple gift. Lodging options and pricing are listed below. There is a $4.95 registration fee added per person.*
Riversong Suite at The Lodge
2024 Pricing: $679 Per Couple
- Private second-floor suite with king bed and two sets of bunks — all with Pendleton blankets, plus a full size futon.
- A floor-to-ceiling stone gas fireplace is the focal point in the suite.
- The large bathroom has two private showers with changing areas and a double vanity with granite top.
- Amenities included.
- The suite has an exterior door to the upper deck on the back porch with chairs for a relaxing view of the woods. Exterior stairs lead to the lower back porch.
Treehouse Suite at The Lodge
2024 Pricing: $629 Per Couple
- This unique private third-floor suite is comprised of two rooms with spruce tongue-and-groove walls which have the feel of a private cabin in the woods.
- Room 1 has a king bed with a Pendleton blanket and room 2 has a twin size bed with a Pendleton blanket and full size futon.
- Private bathroom in room 1.
- Amenities included.
- Room 1 has an exterior door to a small, private deck on the back of the lodge with chairs for a relaxing view of the woods. Stairs lead down to both the upper and lower back porches of The Lodge.
- In room 2, french doors provide a view of the first floor and the surrounding woods.
Woodland at The Lodge
2024 Pricing: $629 Per Couple
- This spacious private second-floor suite has a queen bed, set of bunks, and a twin-size loft bed — all with Pendleton blankets.
- Private bathroom with amenities included.
- The suite features a large picturesque window which has a breathtaking view of the woods on the back side of The Lodge. The suite has an exterior door to the upper deck on the back porch with chairs for a relaxing view of the woods.
Mountain Dreams
at The Lodge
2024 Pricing: $629 Per Couple
- A private second-floor room with queen bed and one set of bunks — all with Pendleton blankets.
- Private bathroom with amenities included.
- The room features french doors which open onto an indoor balcony (seating for two) with a view of first floor and the surrounding woods.
Fawn Meadow Suite
at The Lodge
2024 Pricing: $629 Per Couple
- Private set of two second-floor rooms joined by a Jack and Jill bathroom.
- Queen bed in room 1 with Pendleton blanket. Additional private bath with shower in this guest room.
- Two sets of bunks in room 2 — all with Pendleton blankets.
- Amenities included.
- An exterior door in room 1 opens to the upper deck on the back porch with chairs for a relaxing view of the woods. Exterior stairs lead to the lower back porch.
Cabin Hideaway
at The Lodge
2024 Pricing: $589 Per Couple
- This private centrally located first-floor room has spruce tongue-and-groove walls which gives a warm welcome to anyone who loves a cabin-like atmosphere.
- The room has a full size bed and a set of bunks — all with Pendleton blankets.
- Private bathroom with amenities included.
Eagles Rest at Eagles Nest
2024 Pricing: $629 Per Couple
- Private guest room at Eagles Nest
- King Bed with Pendleton blanket
- Private bath
- All amenities provided.
Eagles Wing at Eagles Nest
2024 Pricing: $629 Per Couple
- Private guest room at Eagles Nest
- Queen Bed with Pendleton blanket
- Private bath
- All amenities provided.
Lakeview Cabin
2024 Pricing: $689 Per Couple
- Spacious interior
- Queen bed with Pendleton blanket
- A bathroom nook provides 2 private showers, 2 private toilet areas, and a double sink area with large countertop.
- Dining table and chairs, kitchenette with sink, small refrigerator, microwave, and coffee maker
- Thermostat controlled heat/air and ceiling fans
Fox Run at Valley View
Lodge
2024 Pricing: $629 Per Couple
- This private centrally located room has a full size bed and a set of bunks- all with Pendleton blankets.
- Located directly across the hall from full bath with amenities included.
Sunrise Peak at Valley View Lodge
2024 Pricing: $629 Per Couple
- This private room located on the upper floor has a scenic view, sitting space, and queen size bed with Pendleton blanket.
- Private bath.
- All amenities provided.
Hilltop Haven at Valley View Lodge
2024 Pricing: $629 Per Couple
- Private room located on the upper floor with queen size bed and two sets of bunk beds, all with Pendleton blankets.
- Spacious interior
- Private full bath with spacious shower and amenities provided.
Hillsong Hideaway Suite at Valley View Lodge
2024 Pricing: $629 Per Couple
- Full private suite located on bottom floor
- Private Entrance
- Spacious living space with refrigerator and kitchenette.
- King size bed and two sets of bunk beds, all with Pendleton blankets.
- Full private bathroom with amenities included.
Scenic Solitude Suite at Valley View Lodge
2024 Pricing: $629 Per Couple
- Full private suite located on bottom floor
- Private Entrance
- Spacious living space with refrigerator and kitchenette.
- Full size bed and two sets of bunk beds, all with Pendleton blankets.
- Full private bathroom with amenities included.
No Overnight
Accomodations
2024 Pricing: $329 Per Couple
- Includes everything for the entire weekend — sessions, activities and meals — except for accommodations.
