A Thrive Marriage Retreat
Come Back to Each Other
~ Four luxurious days in the apple orchards east of San Diego ~
A romantic getaway and a guided retreat for couples ready for more than “fine”
October 10-14, 2027 - Orchard Hill Resort in Julian, CA
Hosted by Chris & Beth Bruno and Tracy & Mark Johnson
There comes a time in every marriage when the same-old-same-old just gets old.
Date nights happen, but not often enough, and when they do, the conversation flits from topic to topic, rarely landing close to the heart. Vacations give your relationship some room to breathe, but Monday morning takes it back in minutes. You can both honestly say things are "fine," and still you wonder where the spark went and whether it will ever return.
Whether you've been married one year or forty, you know the garden you tend is the one that grows. Rather than wait for relational rain, it's time to invest in more than another vacation. It's time to get away with your beloved and intentionally reignite the love and intimacy you both long for.
~IS IT TIME?~
The Invitation
More Than a Few Days at the Beach
After seven years of guiding couples through the Thrive Marriage Lab, and decades of one-on-one work with marriages, we invite you to the Thrive Marriage Retreat.
This four-night luxury retreat is for couples ready to break the script of relational doldrums. You'll get both a romantic getaway and a curated experience guided by marriage professionals.
Guided by Thrive founders Chris Bruno and Tracy Johnson, and hosted by their spouses, Beth Bruno and Mark Johnson, join us in the mountain town of Julian, California for this boutique experience that will invite you back to one another in ways a few days at the beach never could.
Since 2020 · Hundreds of Couples · Decades of Marriage Work
~ THE PLAN ~
What’s Included
We Handle the Details. You Show Up.
Four nights at Orchard Hill Resort in Julian, California, with meals, sessions, and open space built in, so the only thing on your agenda is each other.
Four Nights @ Orchard Hill
Your choice of Lodge room, Hillside Cottage, or Lux Cottage, set among oaks and apple orchards.
Four Breakfasts
A basket at your door the first morning, then breakfast at the Lodge.
Two Picnic Lunches
Packed and ready for a free afternoon, wherever the two of you care to wander.
Two Al Fresco Dinners
Two catered, candlelit dinners under the open sky, plus optional dessert gatherings.
Five Guided Sessions
Morning sessions led by Chris and Tracy from opening night to closing morning.
Afternoon Yoga
Optional sessions at 4:30 to slow down and come back to your body.
Mornings for the Work. Afternoons for the Two of You.
~ THE WEEK ~
Sunday, October 10
3:00 pm — Check In
5:00pm — Opening Session
6:30pm — Catered Dinner Al Fresco
Evening — S'mores by the Fire Pit
Monday, October 11
Morning — Breakfast Baskets at Your Door
9:30 am – 12:00 pm — Session
Afternoon — Picnic Lunch & Free Time
4:30 pm — Optional Yoga
Evening — Dinner on Your Own in Julian
Tuesday, October 12
Morning — Breakfast in the Lodge
9:30 am – 12:00 pm — Session
Afternoon — Picnic Lunch & Free Time
4:30 pm — Optional Yoga
Evening — Dinner on Your Own in Julian
Wednesday, October 13
Morning — Breakfast in the Lodge
9:30 am–12:00 pm — Session
Afternoon — Lunch on Your Own
6:30 pm — Catered Dinner al Fresco
8:30 pm — Ice Cream Bar in the Lodge
Thursday, October 14
Morning — Breakfast in the Lodge
9:30 am — Closing Session
11:00 am — Checkout
A craftsman-style lodge and hillside cottages set among oaks and apple orchards, 4,226 feet up in the mountains east of San Diego. In October the air is crisp, the orchards are heavy with fruit, and historic Julian is just down the hill.
The Lodge is the heart of the property, with a fireplace, a bar, and cozy rooms where we'll share breakfasts and gather in the evenings. The hillside cottages offer more privacy and quiet among the trees. Meals draw from Orchard Hill's own garden and the surrounding land.
~ ON YOUR FREE AFTERNOONS ~
(optional, booked separately)
Horseback riding · Contrast therapy on the Wellness Deck · Massages · Apple picking · Hiking · Exploring Old Town Julian
~ THE PLACE ~
Orchard Hill - Julian, CA
Your Thrive Marriage Hosts
~ RETREAT GUIDES ~
Two Couples Who Know the Road
We're not experts who have figured marriage out. We're two couples who have lived its seasons, both the drift and the return, and have spent years walking with couples who want more.
Chris and Beth Bruno
Chris is a licensed professional counselor, author, and co-leader of the Thrive Marriage Lab. Beth is an author and leads the Lost Women pilgrimages. Together they co-own ReStory Counseling in Fort Collins, Colorado, where they've spent years helping couples tell a truer story together. Married 31 wild and adventurous years!
Founders, ReStory
Tracy and Mark Johnson
Storywork Expert, Pastor
Tracy is a Storywork Supervisor at ReStory and co-leads the Thrive Marriage Lab alongside Chris. Mark has decades of experience as a pastor and shepherd of the human heart. Together they have 5 adult children, live in Tempe, Arizona, and have walked with couples for decades. Married 37 glorious and tumultuous years!
~ RETREAT PACKAGES ~
Reserve Your Retreat
Each package includes the full guided retreat: five sessions led by Thrive Marriage Lab facilitators, Chris Bruno and Tracy Johnson, four nights at Orchard Hill, four breakfasts, two picnic lunches, two catered al fresco dinners, yoga, and every evening gathering. The only difference between packages is where you stay.
Prices are per couple.
Lodge Retreat
$3,250/couple
At the center of it all, providing simple, welcoming accommodations inside the main lodge, blending comfort with Orchard Hill’s signature warmth.
Cozy • Central • Fireside • Close to Gatherings
~ 8 Rooms Available ~
Cottage Retreat
$3,800/couple
Capturing the timeless charm and heritage of the property, each with vintage details that has made Orchard Hill beloved for generations.
Private • Quiet • Tucked Among the Oaks • Hillside
~ 12 Rooms Available ~
Lux Retreat
$4,300/couple
Bringing a more elevated stay, offering refined comfort and peaceful settings while still feeling connected to the orchard’s natural beauty.
**INCLUDES**
Bottle of Wine & Gourmet Chocolate at Check-in
PLUS 2 One-Hour Pre-Retreat Marriage Sessions with Chris or Tracy
~ 3 Rooms Available ~
Is this for us?
Designed for Couples Who Are Not in Crisis, But For Those Who Are Just Ready for More.
~THE QUESTION~
This retreat is for couples who:
Want their marriage to feel more connected, more honest, more alive.
Are tired of drifting into the same old patterns.
Want more than a vacation. They want time that actually changes something.
Value formation over quick fixes.
Want care rooted in both faith and psychology.
This retreat isn’t the right fit if:
Your marriage is in crisis and needs focused care. A ReStory Marriage Intensive is a better first step.
You’re looking for a quick fix, or a last attempt before divorce.
Only one of you wants to be there.
You want a vacation without the inner work. The afternoons are free, but the mornings ask something of you.
~ GOOD TO KNOW ~
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
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Everything on the schedule: four nights at Orchard Hill, five guided sessions, four breakfasts, two picnic lunches, two catered al fresco dinners with guided conversation prompts, afternoon yoga, s'mores by the fire pit, and the ice cream bar. Luxe Cottage packages also include wine and gourmet chocolate at check-in, plus two virtual marriage sessions with Chris or Tracy before the retreat.
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Travel to Julian, two dinners on your own in town, Wednesday lunch, and optional activities like horseback riding, massages, and the Wellness Deck.
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No. Like the Thrive Marriage Lab, the retreat offers formation-based guidance for couples, not clinical therapy.
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No. You'll need to make your own way to Orchard Hill, about 1.5 hour drive from San Diego.
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Mornings are guided sessions; afternoons and most evenings are yours to spend however you'd like.
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No, those are optional and booked separately. You can add them based on your personal interests. These are booked directly with Orchard Hill.
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No. This Thrive Marriage Retreat is open to all couples.
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No. Each session combines teaching with private time for the two of you to talk through what you're hearing. Sharing with the larger group is always optional. What you share, and with whom, is always your choice.
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The retreat is faith-informed and grounded in Christian spiritual formation, woven together with narrative and trauma-informed wisdom. It is not a Bible study.
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Payment due in full at time of registration and non-refundable after August 10th, 2027.
If you need to discuss a partial payment plan, we have limited available. Please indicate your need in the application form.
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You are free to reach out to Orchard Hill directly for availability and prices. Additionally, you may want to look into the surrounding area of Southern California to extend your vacation.
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You can expect accommodation for the most common needs such as gluten, dairy, and vegetarian. Please indicate your needs in the registration form. Prior to the retreat, you will receive an email with details and dietary questions.
~ OCTOBER 10-14, 2027 • ORCHARD HILL • JULIAN, CA ~
The Garden You Tend is the One That Grows
Four nights in the orchards. One invitation back to each other.