Beyond the Budget
Couples Retreat 2026
Build a richer relationship - not just a better budget
Mt. Mitchell, North Carolina
November 5-8, 2026
Many couples struggle to feel like a team when it comes to financial decisions and priorities, leading to a sense of disconnection and separation with creating a shared life vision. Beyond the Budget is a couples retreat designed for people who want to understand each other more deeply around money, communication, and the life they’re building together.
It’s not a finance course. And it’s not couples therapy.
It’s not about spreadsheets or strict budgeting systems (though we’ll talk about systems we use to create our shared financial vision)
And it’s not about getting couples to agree on everything.
Instead, it’s an immersive, interactive and peaceful space where couples can step out of daily life and explore the emotional patterns that often show up around money. This retreat aims to empower couples to communicate more effectively, team up, and enjoy a more connected partnership.
What you can expect
Every detail of this retreat has been intentionally designed—from the locally sourced, seasonal cuisine to the overall guest experience—so you can set aside the demands of everyday life and feel genuinely cared for. We want you to arrive, exhale, and have the space to relax, reconnect, and focus on what matters most: your relationship.
❋ Retreat Specifics
4 days and 3 nights (Thurs. afternoon to Sun. Morning) in private cabins with private bathrooms at a completely private retreat center located at Mt. Mitchell, North Carolina including ADA rooms. We will be the only residents of the retreat center over the weekend
All meals including 3 dinners, two lunches and 3 breakfasts (dietary restrictions will be respected and catered to)
Snacks and beverages will be available throughout the retreat, including water, soft drinks, other non-alcoholic beverages, and beer and wine. Liquor will not be provided per retreat center policies.
Access to retreat amenities including views of Mt. Mitchell, space for play and walking around such as a private pond, game area for ping pong, corn hole
WiFi (there is no cell coverage due to the mountain location)
A community lodge with all day access to water, coffee and tea
Fire pits for late night cozy gatherings with fellow attendees (those who play guitar or other instruments for these environments are welcome to bring them)
Access to hiking trails within a short drive of retreat center
Possible leaf peeping opportunities (weather permitting)
❋ Across the retreat, you’ll have space for:
Guided conversations as a couple
Facilitated exercises to explore money stories and patterns
Activities to help with nervous system regulation such as an optional sound bath, yoga and massages
Time to reflect individually, together with your partner, and collectively with other couples
Tools drawn from attachment-based relationship work
Conversations about values, priorities, and shared vision
Connection with yourself and your partner away from the daily stressors of work, life, children, parents and other emotional demands
❋ Most importantly, you’ll leave the retreat with:
A clearer understanding of what money represents for each of you
Increased awareness of where your patterns come from
Strategies for how to stay connected when you see things differently
An increased feeling of relaxation and connection with your partner
Action steps for creating a shared rich life together
A digital swag bag at the end of the retreat including tools learned from the weekend
Retreat Schedule
(tentative and subject to change)
Thursday, November 5Arrive & Meet
3pm Check-in
Arrive and get settled in your private cabin and take in your surroundings
7pm
Welcome dinner for retreat attendees and orientation to the weekend. Time to connect with retreat hosts and retreat attendees
Friday, November 6“Relationship Attunement and Connection”
Friday is devoted to helping you slow down and reconnect with one another. Through guided conversations, restorative experiences, and evidence-based relationship practices, you'll strengthen emotional attunement, regulate your nervous systems, and create the space to be fully present with each other. As stress gives way to connection, you'll rediscover what it feels like to truly see, hear, and understand one another.
The day starts with breakfast followed by some morning programming and an afternoon with spaciousness to relax, unwind, enjoy the retreat center, go for a hike, do some yoga, or get a massage and let the morning sink in. We’ll finish with dinner and an evening of optional activities including social time, games, music fire pits, or quiet time in your mountainside cabin.
Saturday, November 7“Your Money Stories and Shared Financial Vision”
Money is about far more than dollars and cents—it's shaped by our experiences, values, family history, and beliefs. On Saturday, you'll explore the money stories that have influenced each of you and discover how those stories come together within your relationship. Using the communication and attunement skills developed on Friday, you'll learn to recognize both the strengths and challenges your different perspectives bring. Together, you'll begin to create a shared vision for your future and building the foundation for a financial life that reflects your values, strengthens your partnership, and supports the life you want to create together.
The day starts with breakfast followed by some morning programming and an afternoon with spaciousness to relax, unwind, enjoy the retreat center, go for a hike, do some yoga, or get a massage and let the morning sink in. We’ll finish with dinner and an evening of optional activities including social time, games, music, fire pits, or quiet time in your mountainside cabin.
Sunday, November 8Integration, Reflection and Farewell
8:30am
We’ll close with a farewell breakfast and send off- leaving you rested, reconnected, and ready to take what you’ve built here back home
11am
Room checkout
12pm
Lodge closes
But Wait! There’s More
BEFORE the retreat experience even begins each couple will schedule a 30 minute Zoom call with Angela and Lisa upon registering for the retreat. This will be an opportunity for us to get to know you and your partner and learn more about what you two hope to get out of the retreat. We also want to make sure you show up to the retreat already knowing someone (us!). We know how hard it can be to enter spaces like these, especially as a couple, so this is an opportunity to ease some of that anxiety. We hope these pre-retreat meetings will help you get the most out of the event. Bring your questions if you have any!
…and, AFTER the retreat, we plan to follow up with every couple to see how it went, what was gained, and follow up on any intentions you made while at the retreat to see how things are going. We believe that money is just one resource to support a rich life, and community can be an even bigger one. We are in your corner and want this experience to be nourishing, relaxing, recharging and connecting in every way possible.
Who this retreat is for
While we think all couples could benefit from this retreat, Beyond the Budget Couples Retreat is particularly suited for couples who (not an inclusive list):
Want a stronger relationship with their partners around shared financial goals and are looking for strategies on how to team up better
Care about their relationship and want to strengthen it
Are doing “fine” financially, but sense there’s more to talk about
Maintain separate finances with either a desire to join together or make more intentional shared decisions
Notice recurring patterns or tension around money decisions
Want better ways to communicate during stress or disagreement around things like budgeting, big life decisions, making changes that impact the relationship
Are open to slowing down and having deeper conversations together
Want to spend quality time with their partners with focused workshops and relationship activities
Are curious and interested to learn more about what is underneath their and their partner’s beliefs, decisions and values as it related to money (and want help with these conversations)
Who might not be ready for this retreat:
Our retreat is designed for couples who want to strengthen an already functioning relationship, deepen their connection, and have meaningful conversations about money and the life they're building together. While we believe every relationship can grow, this retreat may not be the best fit if:
You're experiencing ongoing high levels of conflict that make calm, productive conversations difficult.
One or both partners are actively considering separation or divorce.
Communication has broken down to the point that you're no longer able to engage with one another in meaningful ways.
You're seeking intensive couples therapy or crisis intervention. While our retreat is grounded in evidence-based relationship principles and facilitated by licensed mental health professionals, it is not a substitute for couples therapy. This is an educational space and no therapeutic treatment will be provided.
You're primarily looking for a relaxing vacation and aren't interested in participating in guided conversations, reflection, and relationship-building activities.
If you're unsure whether this retreat is a good fit for your relationship, we'd be happy to connect with you before you register.
Mt. Mitchell Eco Retreat Center
Set high in the Blue Ridge Mountains near Burnsville, North Carolina, Mount Mitchell Eco Retreat is our home for this exclusive gathering. The property is bordered on two sides by Pisgah National Forest and unfolds across 25 private acres, with uninterrupted views of Mount Mitchell—the tallest peak east of the Mississippi—and the surrounding Black Mountain range. Here, luxury is quiet: a crackling fire in the Main Lodge, mornings on the porch overlooking the mountains, and the kind of stillness that only comes from being truly away. It's a rare, secluded setting—designed to hold space for deep rest, real transformation, and the kind of connection that doesn't happen in the everyday.
**Private cabins are chosen on a first-come, first-served basis at check-out. Each private accommodation includes its own bathroom, full size refrigerator, microwave, closet, and table with chairs, with some rooms also featuring a dresser. Accommodations include a variety of cozy king rooms and queen suites, many offering peaceful views of the mountains, creek, or surrounding forest. While some cabins include additional bunk spaces, these will not be used during the retreat. This retreat is designed exclusively for participating couples, and children or additional guests are not permitted.
Getting here.
Located in the mountains near Burnsville, NC driving is required no matter where you are coming from. Due to Hurricane Helene in 2024 some roads are still closed but there are a variety of options to reach the retreat center.
Retreat Center Address: 430 Otter Rock Rd, Burnsville, NC 28714
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If coming from the East (Raleigh/Durham) I-40W to 221 S is necessary to avoid the Blue Ridge Mountain Closures (Roughly 3-4 hours from the Triangle Area). If coming from the West (Asheville) US-19 N will take you about an hour to the retreat center. From Charlotte 321 to 40 W will take you about 2.5 hours by car.
It is North Carolina so some roads are winding.
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Two airports service the surrounding area of the Mt. Mitchell Eco Retreat Center: Asheville Regional Airport (1 hour away) and Charlotte Douglas International Airport (2 hours and 30 min. away)
Car Rental Options include all major brands
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Upon registering for the retreat we will be asking attendees if they are interested in sharing transportation and will provide those interested with emails/phone of other attendees to arrange car pools.
We are looking into renting a larger transportation vehicle depending on how many attendees might be flying in for the event.
Your Investment
$3500/Couple
All Inclusive - 4 days, 3 nights
Private Mountain Side Cabin, Chef prepared Meals, Relationship and Financial Oriented Workshops, Sound Bath, Hiking, Yoga, Massages, Fire Pits, Relaxation, Community and Connection
Payment Plans Available
Don’t Miss Out! There’s Only Space for 15 Couples
(Room Selection is First Come First Serve)
Registration Opens Soon!
If you have previously signed up for Early Access you do not need to join the Waitlist. You’re already on the list!
Your Questions, Answered
As our retreat planning evolves so will your questions and our answers. Information here will likely be updated but we are collecting questions and will provide answers as we learn them.
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This retreat is designed for couples who want to strengthen their connection, improve communication, and be more intentional about the life they're building together. No specific relationship challenge is required to benefit.
Couples of all backgrounds, identities, and stages of relationship are encouraged to join us.
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No. While the retreat is informed by Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT), you do not need any prior therapy experience to participate or benefit.
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No. This is a a purely educational and experiential retreat, not therapy. While there will be guided workshops and exercises, you will not be required to share personal details with the group and no “treatment” will be provided to any of the participants.
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Yes. The schedule is designed to balance learning, connection, and rest, with plenty of unstructured time to relax, explore the property, and enjoy your partner’s company.
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Your registration includes accommodations, all meals and snacks, retreat programming, workshop materials, and full access to the retreat property during your stay.
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Transportation to and from the retreat center and any personal expenses are not included.
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Yes. We strive to create a welcoming, inclusive space for all couples . If you have specific accessibility, dietary, or other needs, we’ll work with you to support your experience whenever possible.
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We will collect dietary preferences in advance and work with our chef to accommodate a wide range of needs whenever possible.
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This is a small-group retreat, intentionally limited to 15 couples to maintain an intimate and supportive environment.
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Comfortable, casual clothing is perfect. We’ll share a suggested packing list before the retreat.
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Yes. Every couple has a private bedroom and private bathroom.
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Yes. Some parts of the retreat include conversations and exercises around shared financial goals, values, and decision-making as a couple. These are always approached in a supportive and non-judgmental way.
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Yes. We welcome committed couples in all forms of partnership.
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That’s common. Many couples come with different levels of enthusiasm, and the retreat is designed to meet both partners where they are.
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No. The retreat is secular and focused on relationship skills, emotional connection, and intentional partnership.
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You’re welcome to join our waitlist to receive updates and future opportunities.
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This retreat is designed as an adults-only space, allowing couples uninterrupted time to focus fully on each other.
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Great question! We recognize everyone can benefit from the material we will cover but this particular retreat is geared toward two-person couples in a committed and romantic relationship.
We hope to offer future retreats and expand our scope of attendees. Subscribe above to be notified of when these retreats might happen and to receive updates and information about all we have to share about relationships and money.
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As a same-sex, interracial and neurodiverse couple ourselves we are committed to making sure everyone feels welcome, valued, and seen. One of the reasons we created this retreat was because we have struggled to find spaces that offered the inclusivity we yearn for. If you have particular concerns, please do not hesitate to reach out!
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We love dogs! But similar to children, pets are not invited to this retreat. Ours will also be staying behind so we can focus our attention on you all and you can focus on each other.