BEACHSIDE WOMENS WIDOWS RETREAT | MAY 13-17th 2025
I don’t think I will ever stop sharing about how connection is the one thing that continues to save me time and time again in my grieving/widowhood journey…
Being in the right room is invaluable when it comes to widowhood, and after hosting TWO in person retreats last year, I knew I needed to continue to provide this type of support and experience in 2025 as well.
The comfort that is found when you are surrounded by the energy of your widow sisters, while having the opportunity to be in a space where you don’t have to explain yourself is indescribable… and this intimate retreat will provide us all with that indescribable comfort and ease we deserve.
This is an opportunity to embrace your grief, but to also find relaxation, community, and joy alongside women who can meet you where you are with a deep understanding and compassion.
It has been curated and thought out from a place of knowing that most of us don’t have the opportunity to be “taken care of” while navigating partner loss, and how important it is to allow ourselves the gift of support and a break from our day to day lives as well.
These 5 days will provide you with the gentle invitation to come laugh, breathe and be fully present. To explore connecting back to your body, to get into the kitchen with other women to bond over food and drinks, to find community in friends both new and old, all while soaking in the sunshine and the white sandy beaches of the gulf coast.
It’s a place where you can show up, no matter where you may be at in your journey, and be seen, held and understood in a time when you might feel isolated and alone.
What’s Included…
5 days/4 nights in a Ocean Front Beach house alongside 9 other widows
Options for a single room or two different shared bunk rooms**
Welcome gift bags for each women with curated gifts from the heart
Opening ceremony on night 1 with intention setting + story sharing to shake out the nerves
Daily morning movement + yoga, dips in the ocean or the private pool, optional bike rides and/or paddle boarding, walks in the state park, shopping in downtown Port St Joe and so much more
All meals + drinks included with the opportunity to cook or be served. *** dietary restrictions will be honored
Private Chef catered dinner on the last night to celebrate our time together + closing ceremony
Transportation to and from Northwest Florida Beaches International Airport (ECP) at coordinated times ***
A chance to be witnessed, held and tended to in a safe space as we all come together in a collective exhale to bear witness to our grief, but also find laughter, connection and ease. Plus, leaving with friends you will have for a lifetime
** there are only 3 single room priced at a higher price point + one bunk room holds 4 women (twin bed) and the other holds 2 (full bed).
*** there will be one pick up and one drop off time. If you arrive or leave outside of these time frames, you will be responsible for transportation. also, If you are wanting more freedom and flexibility, you of course can rent a car. there is plenty of space to park at the house and a few women preferred doing this at the retreats last year.
“The trip exceeded all of my expectations!”
The conversations and friendships made were so easy because of the relaxed setting. We truly got to just be together and flow around the needs of the group. The house was gorgeous & comfortable. Doing yoga by the pool, walking the beach at sunrise & sunset, making meals together and doing some fun shopping in town- all were such a great experience that built lasting bonds with the other women. I can't wait to attend another retreat!
Sarah
“Julia’s Gulf retreat was nothing short of amazing…”
From start to finish she made the trip very comfortable and safe. We connected with amazing group of women! It truly was a life changing experience I will never forget. Thank you Julia for the amazing trip and the work you do in the widow community
Julie
Explore Sweet Necessity…
FAQ’S
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Nope! You are allowed to do as much or as little as you feel called to. There will be no set schedule excepet the option to do morning yoga.
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Absolutely! Down time and relaxation are encouraged.
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At this time, this retreat is only for women.
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We will coordinate all airport pickup and drop off times. You are also welcome to rent a car as there is plenty of parking at the house.
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Besides your flight and your spot in the retreat, the only thing that would be an extra cost is whatever you may want to purchase in the area.
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You will want to pack for a beach vacation - So think swimsuits, comfortable, cool clothing, sandals, a pair of sneakers for walks and/or bike rides. You will want to bring sunscreen, all personal hygiene products and all comfort items you will need. We will chat about this further as we get closer to the date!
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I encourage you to come anyways! We will have 1 or 2 zoom meetings beforehand to shake out some of the nerves. You may leave with lifelong friends after this (at least this has been my experience with this!)
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You will want to fly into Northwest Florida Beaches International Airport (ECP) which is located in Panama City, FL
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Unfortunately, At this time I will not be able to offer refunds due to the upfront costs that come along with planning after spots are secured. If there is an extreme circumstance, we will discuss privately what can be done during that time. Thank you for understanding!
“I cannot express enough, how impactful this in person widows retreat was my healing journey…”
Julia’s meticulous planning and execution created a welcoming, safe, and purposeful environment. Although each of our love and lost stories were different, the commonality between us was that when her husband died, we lost our home—our sense of security, our sense of belonging, and our best friends. Nothing can ever replace or fill that massive emptiness left by our men however, this retreat allowed each of us to find a piece of home, security, belonging, and lifelong friendships. I loved the grounding exercise at the beginning and circling back to another grounding exercise at the end. The fluidity of the schedule was perfect, it had just enough structure so that we had options but also allowed for flexibility and how everyone was feeling at the time. The structure of the retreat lent itself so well to whole group interactions but also smaller group as well without feeling like, anyone was left out. This retreat was truly one of the most powerful experiences I’ve had on my grief journey.
Stacey
“This retreat provided everything I was looking for and also everything I didn’t know I needed…”
Being in the presence of women and being able to bond with others who have similar experiences is essential to widowhood and healing. Julia created an environment that was a judgement free zone and not feeling that someone else’s experience is worse or better than yours. It was obvious we were all in on learning how to survive our new paths and gaining inspiration from our peers.
Diana
Join Us Here
Single Room
The final room remaining has queen sized bed in the room itself and shares a bathroom down the hall. (the home has 5 bathrooms in total and plenty of space for all of us to use as needed)
All pricing includes food, drinks, your accommodations, all activities + plus transportation from the airport at coordinated times .
Join Us Here
Bunk Room - 2 Full Beds
Share this room with one other amazing widow sister. It’s on the bottom floor (so you can walk right out to the pool!) and has it’s own private bathroom down the hall.
All pricing includes food, drinks, your accommodations, all activities + plus transportation from the airport at coordinated times.
Bunk Room - 4 Twin Beds
Share the room with 3 other women for the best sleepover ever. This room shares a bathroom with another single room down the hall. (this picture was taken before the safety rails were installed. They are in place now, so do not stress about falling out of the bunk!)
All pricing also includes food, drinks, your accommodations, all activities + transportation from the airport at coordinated times.
“I am beyond grateful that I was able to attend this retreat. It truly helped me in ways that I could never put into words…”
I think one of the most impactful things for me is being able to go to a retreat where you really don’t know anyone else, but you get there and feel instantly understood and connected. Being able to just show up as you are, where you are in your journey and being accepted with open arms and being able to do the same for the other women creates a bond like no other. There is nothing like being with other widows in person. You can share your stories, struggles, memories of your person all without judgement and with an unspoken understanding. There’s no having to try to explain yourself. We all just get it. And you can go from crying to laughing to crying again and no one bats an eye. It has been one of the most helpful things in my grief journey, being with those who truly get it. Being able to share stories of our person , not just what happened, but who they are, how we met, first date and proposal stories. Memories that I haven’t shared with someone in so long and brought a smile to my face. And connecting on things we’ve struggled with personally and ways that we have learned to cope and heal. I was inspired so much by these women and have created bonds that go well beyond the weekend. Truly one of the best things I’ve done for myself and can’t recommend enough no matter where you are in your journey.
Caitlin
“I am so glad I took part in this retreat!"
The location was wonderful and felt like being with friends I' known for years. We had so much fun mixed in with beautiful healing conversations and experiences. It was the exact thing I needed and I wish I could relive it again & again! Julia’s beach trip was the most relaxed and “at home” I’ve felt since losing my husband. It was truly one of the best experiences of my life!
Anonymous
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Julia Warren
RETREAT HOST
Julia became a widow on September 1, 2021 when her husband, Doug, succumbed to his lifelong battle with addiction and died of an accidental overdose. This left her a solo mom of two young boys, with a deeply unregulated nervous system, a burning desire to live life fully in his absence, and a passion to help many women just like her along the way by sharing her truth and their story.
She is deeply passionate about speaking out about the intricate layers that come along with losing someone to addiction to help educate others and to soften the stigma, while providing a safe landing for those looking for support as they navigate stigmatized loss and widowhood.
As a 500-hour trauma informed yoga teacher with extensive training in guided meditation, energy work, yogic philosophy, as well as nervous system support + somatics, she helps her clients find healing by teaching them how to get in touch with their bodies, their emotions and the felt sense that lives inside all of us through gentle somatic work and support.