How to create a retreat registration form

by Sarah McCunn • Apr 23, 2024

Woman sits in a yoga posevbetween stone pillars in front of a tree

Retreats are on the rise! More and more, businesses, small companies and individuals are choosing to organize corporate, wellness and creative retreats for their employees and audiences — giving guests the chance to take time out of their everyday schedule and to-do lists in order to connect, bond, learn and recharge.

Organizing a successful retreat takes careful thought and consideration, and one of the very first steps in the process for potential attendees will be completing a retreat registration form.

In this article we’ll tell you why a retreat registration form is so important and some do’s and don’ts to remember when creating your form.

We provide a step-by-step guide to using Checkout Page as a tool to create an attractive registration form with ease, and we’ll even throw in some tips for promoting your retreat!

A person wearing a hat sits with their back to the camera on a rock, overlooking a valley below.

What is a retreat registration form

A retreat registration form is a tool used by retreat organizers to collect important information from participants who wish to attend — such as contact information, accommodation preferences, dietary restrictions, emergency contacts, and any other special requirements.

It’s also a great way to capture why the registrant is excited about attending your retreat and what they are hoping to gain from the experience.

This information is crucial for logistical planning, ensuring the comfort and safety of retreat participants, making sure they are a good fit for the retreat and customizing the experience to meet the needs of attendees.

Example Checkout Page registration form for a 7 day retreat

Best practices for retreat registration forms

Your retreat registration form sets the first impression of your retreat to potential attendees, so ensure that you design it following some best practice advice.

The form is not simply an information gathering exercise, but also a way of communicating your retreat theme with thoughtfulness and professionalism.

Aim to get people excited and to give them a flavor of what your retreat is going to offer them.

✅ Keep the form as simple as possible whilst capturing what’s important

✅ Make it clear what people are signing up for (such as including retreat images)

✅ Incorporate organizer info (i.e., logo, company, or brand)

✅ Display trust symbols (e.g., we use Stripe, a secure payment processor)

✅ Confirm registrations with a friendly ‘Thank You page’ or email explaining what’s next

✅ Ensure the form is mobile-friendly

Don’t

❌ Copy online registration form templates without customizing them to your retreat

❌ Don’t collect unnecessary info (e.g., attendees’ mailing addresses if not relevant)

❌ Force users to create accounts to sign up for the event

❌ Neglect privacy concerns (e.g., GDPR)

❌ Hide branding or contact information

How to create a retreat registration form in Checkout Page

At Checkout Page we like to make things simple for you, and our registration forms are no exception.

Our intuitive user-friendly form builder enables you to create retreat registration forms that you can embed on your website or link to as a standalone page from your social media accounts, newsletters, blogs and more.

If you’d like a lightning fast registration form setup, you can look at our retreat registration form template which will get you up and running in a few clicks!To show you how to build your own customized form, let’s take a step-by-step:

Step 1. Select ‘Form’ and add title

From the options you see, choose ‘Form’ and add a title for your registration page:

Checkout Page form enabling you to create and name your page

Step 2. Choose your page type and layout

Choose from either a hosted page option, or embed code to add to a website. There are three different form layout options to pick from:

Form enabling you to choose your page type and page layout

Step 3. Add details such as title and images

Add or edit the title of your form, and add images to show registrants what your event is about, or to give a feel for the theme of your retreat:

Form enabling you to add an image for your event

Step 4. Add a description

Add a description which will sit at the top of your form and let people know what you are offering to them, when, where and the cost:

Checkout Page form enabling you to add a description to your page

Step 5. Add files to your form

If there is a free PDF or any other information in file format that you want your retreat registrants to receive, you can upload the files here:

Checkout Page form enabling you to add files for download, such as a PDF document

Step 6. Add custom fields

Select from a variety of custom field types such as free text, dropdown, and multiple choice, in order to capture the relevant information needed for your retreat registration process:

Checkout Page form enabling you to add custom form fields

Step 7. Customize the form’s appearance

Create a form that matches your branding by choosing the colors for background, buttons and button text. For those with additional branding requirements, our custom CSS option is at hand:

Checkout Page form enabling you to adjust the colors of your page, and CSS elements

Step 8. Preview your retreat registration form

You can review your progress the whole way along using the handy preview pane beside the form builder, and when you are done you can admire your work before sharing it!

Checkout Page preview of registration form you are creating

The share & embed popup provides you with either a URL to a hosted retreat registration page or embed code to add to a site. You can also generate a QR code which can be use on promotional materials such as posters:

Step 10. Set up your submission confirmation

Choose how you’d like your guests to receive their form submission confirmation, either as an ‘out of the box’ or custom page, redirect to URL on a website, or as an email:

Checkout Page form enabling you to customize the post submission experience for your registrants

Step 11. Create your confirmation email

Choose either a default email template or customize it yourself, and send a test email to yourself in a simple click!

Checkout Page form enabling you to customize your form confirmation email

Promoting and marketing your retreat

Depending on your budget, there are many options for ways to promote your retreat if you are offering it to followers and members of the public rather than in a corporate retreat context.

Here is a list of ways to start promoting your retreat today:

Social media: Utilize platforms like Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and LinkedIn to create event pages, share engaging content, run targeted ads, collaborate with peers and influencers, and encourage attendees to share their excitement.
Community events: Participate in relevant community events, fairs, or workshops to network with potential participants, distribute flyers and spread the word about your retreat.

Group of people bending down and touching their toes in a yoga class

Newsletters: Create a compelling email newsletter campaign to reach out to your existing audience and subscribers. Highlight the unique aspects of your retreat, share testimonials, and offer early bird discounts or promotional codes.
Blogs: Write guest posts on popular blogs or your own website to discuss topics related to personal growth, creativity, wellness, or travel. Include a call-to-action inviting readers to learn more about your retreat.
Collaborations: Partner with local businesses, influencers, or organizations that align with your retreat's theme to cross-promote each other's services or events.

Two women sit outside in a garden overlooking water, working on a laptop

Workshops and webinars: Conduct free workshops, webinars, or mini-events to offer a taste of what participants can expect at the retreat and encourage sign-ups.
SEO and Google Ads: Optimize your website with relevant keywords, create targeted Google Ads campaigns, and utilize SEO strategies to improve visibility and attract organic traffic.
Podcasts: Guest appearance on podcasts related to mindfulness, creativity, or wellness to share insights about your retreat, reach a new audience, and establish credibility.

Two women sitting together in discussion with microphones

Referral program: Implement a referral program where existing participants can earn discounts or incentives for referring friends or family to register for the retreat.
Offer early-bird discounts and payment plans: Give people an incentive to sign up early by offering an early-bird discount option, and reduce barriers to purchase by offering potential guests a payment plan option, to make it easier on their wallets!

Image of a hot tub steaming at dusk overlooking a forest

By incorporating a mix of these promotional strategies, you can effectively reach your target audience, build excitement around your retreat, and maximize the chance of attendance.

Conclusion

In this article we’ve looked at the importance of a good retreat registration tool, some best practices to keep in mind when creating a form, and a step-by-step guide to using Checkout Page as a retreat registration platform.

We’ve shared our wellness/creative retreat registration form template with you to get you off to a flying start and we took a look at some ways you can prompt your retreat to potential guests.

If you'd like to dive deeper into the world of planning, promoting and executing a retreat, our article How to plan a retreat: a step-by-step guide on hosting impactful retreats will give you the tools to get your vision off the ground!

How to create a retreat registration form

What is a retreat registration form

Best practices for retreat registration forms