Do you want to rekindle the love and affection you felt for your spouse when you first married? Join us for The Marriage Experience at beautiful Sonlit Retreats in Waterloo, NE on Saturday, July 19, 2025!
The Marriage Experience is designed to be a one-day (Saturday) retreat with options to add on a Friday night and/or Saturday night stay. This retreat is specifically designed for married (and pre-married) couples looking to make their good relationship great and for those seeking healing and renewal. Invest in your most important relationship and rediscover the joy of doing life together!
Venue: Sonlit Retreats is a beautiful 25-acre property along the Platte River in Waterloo. This comfortable, relaxing space enables couples to be present with God and one another.
Retreat Options: Join us for the day (Saturday, July 19, 2025) and feel free to add on a Friday stay, a Saturday stay, or both. Friday night features an Ice Breaker Session and Dance Lessons. Saturday features a Self-guided Adventure.
Add On:
Friday Night Guest Room with Friday Evening Ice Breaker Session - June 13, 2025
Saturday Night Guest Room with Sunday Self-Guided Adventure Day - June 15, 2025
Friday and Sunday without Guest Room
Guest Rooms: Sonlit has 9 guest rooms available on a first come, first served basis. Rooms go fast, so book your reservation early!
*If Sonlit guest rooms are no longer available and you would like to get away for the entire weekend, simply book the Saturday Retreat plus the Friday/Saturday Without Guest Room add on and book a room at Comfort Suites West Omaha. This hotel is located at 2500 S. 192nd and is only 7 miles to the East of Sonlit Acres.
NEW Couples Massages (for an additional charge): Call Sonlit at (402)769-2200 to inquire about the availability and costs of couples massages. You will book your massage directly with Sonlit.
Facilitators: Meet Mike and Sharon Harris. Mike and Sharon have a ministry called Hearts Set Free. Mike and Sharon Harris were married in June 1970. They have a diverse background and have lived in four states.
Sharon has a B.A. degree from the University of New Mexico. She directed a private preschool with over one hundred students and a staff of eight ladies for several years. She has written curriculum for both preschool and Sunday School and has enjoyed facilitating ladies' Bible and book studies. She has taught a Bible study to incarcerated young men and has ministered weekly at the local rescue mission. And as a pastor's wife she has been very involved with various church activities.
Mike has a B.A. degree in Bible from Friends University. Mike was in retail management for eleven years and was a small business owner. While in ministry, Mike was an associate pastor in a large inter denominational church for twelve years and then planted a church and served as its pastor for almost seventeen years. Mike has also written various curriculum and taught children's and adult classes. Mike and Sharon have also written devotions that have been published in the devotional book, "A Little God Time For Couples".
Curriculum: Vertical Marriage: A more vibrant marriage is possible when it's built on a foundation of active faith. Join Dave and Ann Wilson on this journey with humor-filled and relatable video sessions, dynamic group discussion, and intentional couple's connection. Brought to you by FamilyLife, a leader in biblical marriage content for more than 40 years, Vertical Marriage will help you learn the secret to a healthy marriage - if the vertical relationship with God is put first, the horizontal relationship between spouses will follow. Watch the trailer!
Agenda:
Friday:
Check-In @ 6:30 PM
Opening Session @ 7:00 PM
Dance Lessons / Cash Bar @ 8:30 PM
Saturday:
Breakfast Available @ 8:30 AM
Morning Sessions @ 9:00 AM
Picnic Lunch @ Noon
Afternoon Sessions @ 1:30 PM
Special Presentation @ 5:00 PM
Outdoor Catered Dinner with Live Music @ 6 PM
Chris "Shoof" Scheufele Comedian @ 8 PM
Bonfire
Sunday:
Breakfast Available @ 8:30 AM
Self-Guided Adventure (instructions to be provided)
Open Access to the Property (kayaks, paddle boats, beach, sauna, couples massage (for an extra charge) and more
Departure by 5 PM
Date Night Dinner Menu: Dinner will be served on the spacious outdoor patio by Abraham's Catering and will be followed by live praise and worship. In the event of inclement weather, dinner and worship will be moved to a tent.
Tuscany Chicken with spinach, mushrooms, sun-dried tomatoes in a creamy parmesan sauce (GF)
Couples Massages are available for an additional charge! Call Sonlit at (402) 769-2200 to inquire about the availability and costs of couples massages. You will book your massage directly with Sonlit.
Help a Couple in Need!
Do you know a married couple who can benefit from attending The Marriage Experience? If so, consider making a reservation on their behalf. Simply click the link above to make a reservation on their behalf and cover the cost of their retreat.
Watch The Highlight Video
"Thank you for your extravagant love. We were so blessed. Lots of take away and reminders."
"The Marriage Experience is a great way to spend time with your spouse, meet other couples, and learn about ways you can improve your relationship even if things are going great in your marriage."
"My Fiance and I attended this retreat before we got married and absolutely loved it. It started conversations that we never would have been able to start on our own in such a healthy way. We were also able to tell each other what we needed from the other in order to improve our communication, and our overall relationship with each other and God. I would highly recommend this retreat to all premarried and married couples!"
"My husband and I have been married for 54 years and still learned things at the Marriage Experience to help us grow! We had such a fun time with the activities and the interaction with other couples. Our evening under the stars with the Bistro tables and catered, delicious meal was unbeatable and worth the whole price of the event! We had a memorable time that I hope many others will have the opportunity to experience as well! Thank you The House Experience Team!!"