Pre-marriage Counselling Retreat
Prepare for marriage, and what you need for your relationship to last, not just your wedding day.
Pre-marriage Counselling Retreat
A pre-marriage counselling retreat enables you to spend a day together before you get married so you have the opportunity to dive deep, better understand yourself, your partner and your relationship.
BOOK A RETREAT
Pre-marriage Counselling Retreats can help you:
- Understand your coping style and how it might influence relationship connection
- Recognise your relationship dance, the pattern of interaction that might create connection or disconnection in the relationship
- Identify deeper needs, longings and vulnerabilities, that need to be cared for as you navigate the challenges and transitions you will face as you move into married life.
MAKE AN ENQUIRY
“A great marriage is not when the ‘perfect couple’ comes together. It is when an imperfect couple learns to enjoy their differences.”
– Dave Meurer
Pre-marriage retreats at landscape of life, are informed by the science of love and adult relationships and integrate the principles of Emotionally Focused Couples Therapy (EFTC), that provides a map to guide us in create loving relationships that last. Intensive relationship retreats allow you to really focus on your relationship before your wedding day. The retreat day can be a gift to each other.
Jo Gniel is a certified Emotionally Focused Therapist. She will help you go deeper into understanding yourself and your partner and what happens between you for your marriage to last.
Pre-Marriage Counselling Retreats · In Person and Online
IN PERSON (Glen Iris, Melbourne)
IN PERSON retreats are held in Glen Iris, Melbourne. If you're located in Camberwell, Malvern, Malvern East, Chadstone, Carnegie, Canterbury, Hawthorn, Surrey Hills or surrounding suburbs, we’re close to the High Street exit of the Monash Freeway.
Online
ONLINE retreats are offered via Zoom and are available Australia-wide. All you need is a private, comfortable space and a stable internet connection to connect meaningfully with your partner.
Book a Retreat
RETREATS can be held in a setting of your choice—at home, in nature, or somewhere meaningful to you as a couple. Whether it's the Grampians, Gippsland, Sydney, or a local getaway, Jo is happy to help you plan a retreat format and location that suits you both. Sessions include 2 couples sessions, 1 individual session each, plus reflective exercises and videos.
MAKE AN ENQUIRY
Frequently Asked Questions About Pre-marriage Counselling
While not required, pre-marriage counselling can be incredibly valuable. It helps couples explore key areas of their relationship, understand each other’s values and expectations, and build skills to navigate challenges as they arise in married life.
Pre-marriage retreats are typically held as a full-day intensive, but can also be structured as two half-day sessions if preferred. This flexible format gives you and your partner the dedicated time and space to explore your relationship more deeply—beyond everyday conversations—so you can build a stronger foundation for your future together.
You’ll explore how you each approach conflict, emotional needs, values, and expectations. The retreat uses Emotionally Focused Therapy to strengthen your bond, enhance communication, and ensure you both feel understood and supported.
Pre-marital retreats are available both in-person in Melbourne and online anywhere in Australia. You can choose a full-day format or tWhat formats are the pre-marital retreats available inwo half-day sessions—whatever suits your schedule and energy best.
All you need is a private, comfortable space with a stable internet connection. Some couples choose a retreat-style getaway in places like Gippsland or the Grampians. Others opt to stay at home or find a special place nearby, such as a favourite location in Sydney or regional NSW.
Each retreat includes:
- 4 sessions: 2 joint sessions and 1 individual session each
- Reflective exercises and supporting video resources
- Flexible scheduling across 1 or 2 days
- A setting that reflects your needs as a couple
Jo is happy to help you plan a retreat experience that works for you—whether it's a weekend escape or a quiet day at home. The goal is to create the space you need to reflect, reconnect, and prepare for the journey ahead.
Pre-marital retreats are available online across Australia or in person in Melbourne. All you need is a private, comfortable space and a stable internet connection.
Some couples choose to get away—destinations like Gippsland or the Grampians have been popular. Others prefer the comfort of home, or a local place they love, such as somewhere in Sydney, NSW, or another meaningful location. The most important thing is that it’s a space where you can both feel relaxed, connected, and present.
Resource library
To help you navigate the landscape of life we've carefully curated a resource library and invite you to explore some of the leading voices in the field of relationships and wellbeing. Each resource provides the opportunity to deepen your understanding, nurture self-awareness, and connect more fully with yourself and others. Should you choose to wander through these resources, please know that some links are affiliate-based. If you make a purchase, we may receive a small commission—at no extra cost to you. It's a simple way to support our work while you nourish your own growth.
Relationship journals
Explore our relationship counselling services to create deeper connection and wellbeing
Relationship Counselling | Couples Counselling | Marriage Counselling ·
Psycho-sexual Therapy | Relationship Counselling for individuals
Relationship Discernment Counselling | Couples Counselling Intensives and Retreats |