Veterans Trip: Miami, Florida | August 2025

The Veterans Session: Miami, Florida

In August of 2025, we hosted something we had been dreaming about for a long time: our very first Veterans Trip.

This weekend in Miami was created exclusively for the women who have come back again and again. The ones who didn’t just attend a session once, but chose to return. The ones who committed their time, their travel, and their hearts to this community. We wanted to give them a weekend that felt slower, softer, and deeply rooted in togetherness.

And judging by how quickly our 2026 Veterans Trip in Scottsdale sold out, it’s clear this space is just as meaningful to them as it is to us.

For Miami, our girls traveled in every way imaginable. Some flew across the country. Some drove for hours. Some commuted locally. We all stayed together in one house with a pool, tennis court, and outdoor lounge. While the Florida heat made anything beyond the pool ambitious, the pool itself became the heartbeat of the weekend. Floating, laughing, talking, resting. Exactly what we came for.

One of the most special parts of this trip was how quickly it began. Everyone arrived already knowing one another. There was no easing in, no awkward introductions. Just hugs, smiles, and the feeling of being reunited. For a few veterans, this was their first time meeting in person after years of knowing each other online, which made those first moments even sweeter.

The days unfolded gently. We dove for gems in the pool. Hosted an Oreo tasting that somehow became very serious. Filmed TikToks. Watched favorite chick flicks. Cooked meals together. Laughed late into the night. And thanks to Abbey, we were introduced to what quickly became the group’s favorite game: Flip 7, now forever tied to this weekend in our memories.

This trip also marked the return of a tradition close to our hearts: SSPs — Super Secret Projects.

SSPs go all the way back to the very first year of The Sessions. They’re never required, but many of our girls choose to participate, especially our gift-giving love-language girlies. An SSP can be anything: a gift, an experience, a craft, or a meaningful gesture made just for someone else.

This weekend, SSPs included friendship bracelets, poolside survival kits, a hot dog party, a guided girlhood exercise, and so many thoughtful touches that made the house feel layered with care.

And then there was ours.

Marissa and I planned a Scout-themed scavenger hunt, which became the main event of the weekend. Because this trip was intentionally light on structure, we wanted one moment that felt playful, immersive, and unforgettable.

We headed into Miami equipped with bejeweled clipboards, team shirts, and Girl Scout–style sashes in each team’s color. Each sash was adorned with badges representing past events the girls had attended, along with personal nods designed to make everyone feel individually seen. Teams were divided into Speak Now, 1989, and Lover eras to keep everything aligned with our Mirrorball Magic pastel palette.

The teams chose their own names:
The Foolish Ones
The New Romantics
The Miss Americanas

Miami greeted us with pouring rain — and not a single person let it slow them down.

The scavenger hunt was inspired entirely by Taylor Swift lyrics, and the effort, creativity, and laughter that unfolded exceeded anything we could have hoped for. Looking back at the photos still makes us smile. And yes, The Foolish Ones absolutely earned their first-place win.

After the scavenger hunt, we returned to the house for our “Prove It Bridge Ceremony.” This playful nod to a brownie graduation ceremony marked a moment of reflection and celebration. Each woman earned her golden Swiftie moment before changing into pajamas, ordering pizza, playing more games, and lingering together late into the night.

Because the hardest part of these weekends isn’t the countdown leading up to them.

It’s the leaving.

The quiet realization that you grew closer than you expected. That you laughed harder than you planned. That something meaningful happened in the ordinary moments. That’s why the Veterans Trip is here to stay.

This weekend wasn’t about doing more. It was about honoring what already exists. It was girlhood. A community built slowly, intentionally, and with so much care.

And we can’t wait to continue that story — together.

@oneswiftlover Girlhood is… whatever you make it. Sometimes it’s loud. Sometimes it’s quiet. Sometimes it’s showing up again and again for the same people. And sometimes it’s finding them later than you expected. @Magical by Marissa @Aubrey @Ashlyn🦦 @duchessofvoluptuous @Ashley @Janelle 🧡 @Karrin @SarahAnne13TS @abbey @Mo ❤️🔥 @nahubert22 ♬ invisible string - harp version - Hannah Stater