We had the privilege of being part of some amazing retreats and events this spring.
Here are a few fresh ideas to help you spruce up your spring retreat and make it even more spectacular:
1. Create inspiring signage for participants as they drive in.
Along the popular road to your retreat center, sprinkle signs like “We can’t wait for you!” and “You’re going to have an amazing weekend!” This simple practice can create excitement in the participants even before they pull onto the property.
2. Offer a snack and beverage at check-in.
Fancy resorts often provide fruity water and snack at check-in. Upgrade your event by offering ice-cold water bottles and homemade cupcakes to everyone as they check-in.
3. Boldly display your giveaways.
Retreat attendees love prizes and giveaways, but they don’t always know what they’re getting. Instead of keeping the bags and baskets of goodies behind the stage display them on a table to create anticipation. At the ReNEWal Conference outside of Dayton, Ohio, each church who attended was asked to bring at least one basket of goodies worth $20-$50. The creator of the best basket won a free registration to next year’s event. The baskets were themed and spectacular.
4. Use white lights to create magic in a room.
A few strands of white Christmas lights can turn an ordinary room into a magical place. Use these lights to change the ambiance and create someplace enchanting and beautiful.
5. Give each person retreat dollars.
These allow attendees to use the money (along with real dollars) to make purchases. The easy-to-print retreat dollars can be used toward a massage, latte, books, gifts, audio duplication, or even used to make a donation during a collection for something the retreat center may need. Whether you give each person $2, $3, $5 or more retreat dollars, it’s a great way for participants to bring something from the retreat home with them. This can be particularly helpful and meaningful for those who have received scholarships to attend.
6. Host a candy bar.
Instead of serving dessert one night, create a candy bar. Use large glass canisters to hold all kinds of M&Ms, gummy bears, sour candies, gumballs, Dove chocolates, and more. Provide small bags and spoons for people to serve themselves. Attendees will love it!
7. Bring in a massage therapist or two.
Invite them to charge $1 per minute of massage and provide sign-ups for attendees. The therapists will be popular and busy throughout the retreat. Also, consider inviting others who can offer spa services—footbaths, nail paint, etc. to allow participants to pamper themselves.
8. Make as many announcements as you can at the beginning of each session.
This will allow the impact of the main message to linger rather than being undermined by a long-list of announcements. Remember that by the time your speaker is done, your audience is, too. They’re ready to be dismissed.
For more than 100 fresh ideas for your next event or retreat, check out our “How To Host An Unforgettable Retreat: 101 Tips and Tricks to Host the Best Retreat Ever” eBook, available this week for only $14.99 (regularly $29.99).
This week, were giving away 3 copies of The Nesting Place by Myquillyn Smith.
For the past five years Myquillyn Smith, “The Nester,” has been encouraging women to embrace the home they are in. She writes a blog called “Nesting Place,” a site from which she wants readers to leave with hope, motivation, and inspiration for their homes. She lives in North Carolina with her husband and three boys, their hockey paraphernalia, and plenty of brown dog hair. Everything in their house is washable, destroyable, and imperfect.
In The Nesting Place, Myquillyn shares the secrets of decorating for real people—and it has nothing to do with creating a flawless look to wow your guests. It has everything to do with embracing the natural imperfection and chaos of daily living.
To win, leave a comment on the original blog post at MargaretFeinberg.com. The three winners will be selected and announced on Friday.
Congratulations to the winners: Joy, Paulette, Claudia Schneider
What fun ideas have worked at retreats and events you’ve attended?
What a great post. Not only was it exciting to see several pics and ideas from our ReNEWal retreat, I also learned a few great ideas to try in the future. I’ve read through hundreds of this year’s surveys and the comments are unanimous…”Our best event ever!” Thank you Margaret for three very engaging and impactful messages. #2014Renewal was AMAZING!!!! – – Blessings to you, Leif and Hershey – we miss you!
we made our small groups into ‘picnic groups’ hosted by the small group leader…. they chose their table decor & food, decided on how to encourage conversation & connection & intimacy in their group, and made the beginning of our retreat beautiful!
As a Women’s Ministries Events Coordinator, I LOVED finding all these ideas!! Several we already do, but I know the “candy bar” will be a great hit at a future event. Who doesn’t enjoy a sweet treat!!
In the way of “Door Prizes”, for our last large event, we asked our Women’s Bible Study ladies if any of the groups were interested in putting together a basket to donate. Oh my goodness…I think each study group was trying to “out-do” the next!!! Not only did we receive the most door prizes ever donated, (I think we had at least 25), but they were AMAZING!!! Some included gift certificates to restaurants, hair salons, spa, etc…as well as wonderfully themed baskets of goodies. EVERYONE wanted a door prize!
I also love “The Nester”, but didn’t realize she had a book published. How wonderful!!
Blessings,
Joy
Thanks for the tips and ideas. The Nesting sounds interesting! I’ll check out the blog.
I have to agree with Judy wholeheartedly, Margaret! Your sweet spirit brought just that extra level of AWESOMENESS to our retreat this year — thank you so much for all your time and effort and prayer!! And thanks again for the encouragement and great ideas for #15renewal next year!!
Been looking for a resource like The Nesting Place. Don’t need a home ready to photograph for a magazine cover, but one that is a sanctuary from the ravages of a materialistic culture.
One retreat I was at had ridiculously good food – prepared by a group of volunteer ladies. They provided both leftovers and the recipes at the end of the retreat – which was a great way to bring home a “taste” for my husband.
I also love it when there is some kind of little take home reminder of a key concept, whether it is a small print you can hang up or just a rock with a word written on it.
Thanks for the great ideas, Margaret ! Great to see some of ours in the mix, woo Hoo!
These are simple but great ideas. I will be pinning to my retreat Pinterest page. Thanks so much!
They are so fun! Best of luck planning your next retreat!
We loved our time at Renewal, Pat!
Huge hug, Judy!
About #6 on the list… the Candy Bar. Maybe it would be a good idea to offer an alternative to those who might be trying to loose weight, those who know this is not a healthy idea and those who are diabetics. With obesity being fairly rampant in the United States, it would be nice to have an alternative that others might like. It doesn’t have to be raw vegetables with some healthy dip like hummus. There are other things to offer.
Love,love, love these ideas. I am hoping my bible study group will decide to host another retreat next year and we can use many of these ideas!! Margaret, I am just learning of you and your studies and am hoping to do one or two this summer – Echo & Wonderstruck – looking forward to hearing God’s voice through both!
After seeing your post, I immediately forwarded it to my group’s admin team. Very helpful, doable ideas, even for a group that is trying to simplify. We try to plan early, but always get pushed at the end. I want to add the lights to our next event instead of the usual candles.
Nesting Place is one of three blogs that I check every day (yours too), but I haven’t purchased the book yet. Now I could win one. Thank you!
I love that idea, Christine! Definitely add some sugar-free pick-me-ups to the collection. Maybe some trail mix or unsalted almonds, too.
Nest -my home
Rest -my health
West -my coast
Guest -my Jesus
Best -my always
Test -my faith
Pest, really, -my clutter
All these things I love, plus I have room for one more book!
We have a small group f women at our retreat every year and we are so amazed at the kind of prizes we are able to get from our community. For the past 3 years every women has not only gotten a goodie bag full, but has won a great doorprizes too.
Has for the candy bar idea, we switch it around every year. One year we did ice cream Sunday bar (with fresh fruit); another year we did fruit, cheese and cracker, and a few cookies; this year we did foundue with all kinds of things to either eat alone or dip in chocolate. All have gone over well because it gives a variety to choose from.
We also have a late night game night for throes who want to stay up late. We usually play Bingo but this year we did karaoke, which was a blast.
Great ideas! I lead women’s Bible study and could use these even for a kick off evening.
I read the Nesting Place blog all the time. Would love to win her newest book
All great ideas; especially love the signs leading up to the retreat! One of the coolest things that happened at our spring retreat this year, was that the men from our Men’s Ministry all pitched in and purchased red carnations to be delivered to our event. One for each lady who attended, received during check-in! Our ladies were amazed and felt so special!
Wonderful ideas for retreats, any time of year! Definitely bookmarking them!
I love the idea of decorating for real people that live in a home…rather than guests! My son and I are learning to live in our home full of memories of my husband who we lost in December. Many days I am overcome by the memories, and it makes me sad. Getting new ideas to cozy up the house would be wonderful!!
Thanks for the great Women’s retreat ideas. I will pass them on to those involved at our church.
I’d love to win the Nesting Place book – sounds like it’s full of inspiration!
How fantastic! As the retreat planner for our Women’s Ministry… I thought I had researched and seen it all… but the retreat dollars is something I had not come across yet. Such a great idea!
Loved the retreat ideas–especially the candy bar! I love chocolate! I would also love a copy of The Nesting Place–looks like a very inspirational book for those of us who don’t have much talent in the design department.
What great ideas for a retreat! We will incorporate several of them this fall. We often do silly gift exchanges with our retreat attendees, bringing from home a “special something” to gift to someone else. I can always use some inspiration for my home decorating.so this book sounds great.
Great retreat ideas and great book that I’d love to win and read!
Love, love, love the white string light idea!! Working on a new nest in Dubai and need to try it at home too!!!
Love, love, love string lighting idea!! It transforms a space so beautifully!! Good for a ” nest ” too!!!
Great ideas for retreats and love the Nester.
Love the candy bar idea! Plus, it’s a pun. Two, two, two treats in one! 🙂
One year for a small, one-day silent retreat, we regathered at the end of the day to share our experiences. It was fascinating to see how they interconnected. Love the creative ideas shared here!
Great ideas for a retreat! Would love to win “The Nesting Place.” Looks like a great read and a beautiful book.
These are all fantastic ideas! We just got our women’s ministry started at my church, and my team and I are looking forward to planning a retreat!
Love these ideas!
Congratulations, Joy! You’ve been selected as a winner! Please send your mailing address to carrie@margaretfeinberg.com.
Congratulations, Paulette! You’ve been selected as a winner! Please send your mailing address to carrie@margaretfeinberg.com.
Congratulations, Claudia! You’ve been selected as a winner! Please send your mailing address to carrie@margaretfeinberg.com.
Just wanted to let you know my book arrived in the mail today!!! The Lord orchestrated it’s arrival on the perfect evening. My “boys” are out at a beach volleyball event and I have a couple of quiet hours at home…ssshh…don’t tell anyone *smile*. Looking forward to enjoying this book with a cup of tea. Thank you again. Such a lovely delight to receive this. Blessings, love and prayers. (I’m currently doing the “Sacred Echo” study as well. Doing it with “hardcover book only”, but knowing God can speak between the lines and fill-in His echoes in other ways as well.)
What a GREAT list! I love the idea of placing welcome signs along the drive into the retreat center (or even your church grounds)!
When we stayed at The Cove they offered snacks every evening. It was a nice treat and encouraged our women to stay and chat after the last session. I like the idea of offering a treat at check-in too.
Love the morning snack idea, Cyndee! Thanks for adding it to the list.