Annual Planning for Couples (Pilot #2!)

A practical, half-day for couples to align on values, time, finances, and goals for the year ahead.

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Why this exists:

We believe most couples want to feel aligned on a level deeper than logistics, but… life moves too fast.

  • 89% of couples operate on a surface level, where they talk mostly about logistics and managing day-to-day life*

  • 24% of couples are “somewhat comfortable” discussing difficult topics (like finances)

  • 3% of people write down their goals

Kids, work, friendships, travel, and finances become issues to react to and manage instead of integrated into life in a meaningful way.

This pilot brings that process (a light version!) to you in a structured, guided, and encouraging format.

We’ve done this on our own for 10 years. It helps us actually be intentional about where our time and energy is spent throughout the year and forces us to go beyond day-to-day logistics.

Whether it happens on January 1 or June 1 doesn’t matter. It’s dedicated time that keeps us aligned, intentional, and on the same team.

What You’ll Walk Away With

By the end of the session, you and your spouse will have:

  • A shared set of family values

  • Clarity on your “family season” and the boundaries you need

  • A map of your key relationships and where to invest

  • A draft plan for time, vacations, and big commitments

  • A simplified view of your financial priorities

  • Individual and shared goals for 2026

This is not marriage counseling or conflict resolution training, nor is it really about emotional health.

It is structured reflection and planning with your real life in mind. All those daily, weekly decisions you make with your spouse? Getting aligned in a cohesive way can make those regular decisions feel lighter.

About Us

We’re Mike & Bri Semmel, married 10 years in the DC area with 3 kids under 5.

Our marriage theme has always been #TeamSemmel. We each have a lot of energy, a lot of personal goals and interests, and it’s important to us that we remain a team in the midst of a busy, full life with a lot of moving pieces.

Our commitment to annual planning has paid off over the past 10 years in so many ways! It helps us root for each other, makes space for us to voice hopes and concerns, gives us language for what’s important, and is an anchor when we disagree on what’s best.

We believe planning is important for singles and couples! The vision for this initial pilot is to test tools, templates, and flow. Our hope is to build a more robust offering and begin to offer that in the Fall of 2026 with feedback from this pilot incorporated.

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What We’ve Heard So Far

  • "We do a weekly family meeting but we don’t get much time to zoom out as a couple. This event helped give us dedicated space to talk together about the year ahead in a way we’ve never prioritized."

  • "Mike and Bri made us feel comfortable and we heard new ideas that have worked for them to help us brainstorm what might work for us. "

  • "Planning felt a bit easier with dedicated space to have the right conversations."

The Particulars

  • Pilot Format

    Saturday, March 21st | 9AM - 1PM | Falls Church, VA

    Pre-work for both spouses is shared in advance, especially helpful for those who prefer to be prepared!

    In person, we’ll walk through guided discussion and exercises, where we’ll share some personal stories and invite you to do the same.

  • Pricing

    This is pilot #2 and payment isn’t required to attend. We’re primarily excited about supporting you and hearing your feedback!

    While this type of event could range from $200-800, our suggested donation is $100 per couple.

Register to be with us!

Use the form below to complete your registration. Include any questions you have and we’ll respond within 24 hours. No payment is required to register.

FAQs

  • Maybe…and maybe not. We invite you to test this with us. Planning 12 months in advance any time of the year can be a helpful thing. And we know the name implies this should happen in January… so we’re considering changing the name. Help us with that!

  • You and your spouse have the liberty to choose what role faith plays in your planning. For us, faith is an integral part of our values & beliefs, but the tools we use are not aligned with a particular faith.

  • Potentially! The modules are designed for couples but depending on interest, we’d love to have you participate. Please contact us using the registration form if this is of interest to you.

  • We estimate it’s anywhere from 1-3 hours, depending on how thorough you choose to be. We think it’s useful to complete ahead of time, but it’s not a dealbreaker if you don’t.