Marriage Encounter is a weekend away from home, family, and responsibilities. Here, in a comfortable, secluded environment, a married man and woman are guided through the discovery of a new way of communicating that will help them to know each other better. The Encounter is designed to give couples an opportunity to examine their lives together and develop useful tools to enhance their communication.
The Marriage Encounter journey began in Spain in 1952 as a tool to enable married couples to enrich the quality of their lives. In fact, the name Marriage Encounter is a direct translation from Spanish, where the words take on the beautiful connotation of discovering, or finding one another. In 1966, Marriage Encounter came to America. Today, there are over a million couples who have attended Marriage Encounter weekends. Are you next?
"Rest, relax, laugh, cry, eat, refocus, and refresh."
- Jason Gehman | Marriage Encounter Team
- Jason Gehman | Marriage Encounter Team
DAN + COLLEEN KRISE
host COUPLE
MARRIED SINCE: 2003
ERIC & REVA BALDWIN
presenting COUPLE
MARRIED SINCE: 1993
BRETT + LORI KENNEDY
PASTORAL COUPLE | pRESENTING COUPLE
MARRIED SINCE: 1998
JARED + DANIELLE BARDEN
Administrative Couple | presenting COUPLE
MARRIED SINCE: 2004
MIKE + DEBBI STRONG
Administrative COuple | host COUPLE
MARRIED SINCE: 2O16
SINCE MARRIAGE ENCOUNTER BEGAN IN WELLSBORO IN 2017, OVER 120 LOCAL COUPLES HAVE EXPERIENCED THIS LIFE CHANGING AND LIFE GIVING WEEKEND. HERE IS WHAT A FEW OF THOSE COUPLES HAD TO SAY ABOUT THEIR TIME AT MARRIAGE ENCOUNTER.
"Sometimes you feel like you’re the only couple with issues. It was good to know that we’re not alone. We are infused with new hope. This weekend ... just WOW! That’s all we can say. Thank you so much for investing in us."
"This weekend was pivotal for us. It helped us deconstruct and reconstruct our marriage. We found that we have life to live and we have life to give."
"This weekend taught us how to address issues right away and gave us a great plan for good communication."
"This experience brought us so close. Some of the revelations it brought to our marriage were amazing."
Our Marriage Encounter team makes all the meal and lodging accomodations for the event. Currently this event is hosted at a hotel in the Painted Post/Corning/Elmira area of New York. Your entire stay from Friday night's opening session thru lunch on Sunday is hosted by Marriage Encounter.
Sessions begin at 7pm on Friday evening and run through 4pm on Sunday afternoon. At each session a husband and wife team and a Vineyard Pastoral couple give an informal talk on various aspects of marriage. Time is set aside following each presentation for couples to discuss privately, away from the group, their relationship as it relates to the topic presented. The weekend is structured, orderly and informative. Couples will spend the entire time at the hotel, allowing them to concentrate on each other, free from outside distractions.
No one is ever refused the opportunity to attend a Marriage Encounter weekend becuase of lack of funds. Please reach out to Wellsboro Vineyard for more information about available Marriage Encounter scholarships.
Marriage Encounter is not a typical marriage retreat, marriage clinic or a sensitivity group, nor is it a problem-solving workshop. Couples do not disclose their problems to the group or team couples for discussion or criticism.
Each Marriage Encounter weekend is conducted by three or four team couples, including a Vineyard Pastoral Couple, who are trained to present the weekend. Many couples are faced with challenges in everyday routines that take away from focusing on their marital relationships and it’s health. Marriage is a very significant and intimate relationship and deserves our attention.
Our next Marriage Encounter Weekend is scheduled for
March 2024.
If you are interested in attending or need additional details, please fill out the form below. Once you have submitted the form, someone from our Marriage Encounter Team will contact you. We can't wait to see you and your spouse at Marriage Encounter.
March 2024.
If you are interested in attending or need additional details, please fill out the form below. Once you have submitted the form, someone from our Marriage Encounter Team will contact you. We can't wait to see you and your spouse at Marriage Encounter.
If you are interested in attending or need additional details, please fill out the form below. Once you have submitted the form, someone from our Marriage Encounter Team will contact you. We can't wait to see you and your spouse at Marriage Encounter.
“A weekend of inspiration and encouragement. A time to be reconnected to your spouse. A time to renew your commitment to each other, your kids, and God.”