While many bachelorette parties involve dancing and carousing from dusk to dawn, more and more brides are opting for low-key activities to celebrate their last weekend of singlehood.
The purpose of a bachelorette party is for the bride, her bridesmaids and other close friends to get together, relax and have fun. It can be as simple as a potluck dinner at someone’s house or as extravagant as a weekend cruise.
Bachelorette parties are usually held the weekend before the wedding, often the same night as the bachelor party. The party is typically hosted by a close friend (often the maid of honor), although sometimes the bridesmaids will plan the event.
In most cases, everyone chips in and pays her own way, whether it’s dinner out or a weekend getaway. Depending on the activity, it’s often nice to include the mother of the bride and groom.
There are no hard-and-fast rules about bachelorette parties, other than to make it memorable for the bride and her friends.
One new trend in bachelorette parties is a day of pampering. With most brides and attendants holding full-time jobs, the local spa has become a popular place to escape from pre-wedding stress.
Many day spas offer special group packages for bridal parties. You can choose from a range of services, including massages, facials, scalp treatments, French manicures, reflexology foot treatments, hydrotherapy, and other rejuvenating treatments.
Many upscale spas offer extra services, such as transportation to and from the spa in a chauffeured limousine, a spa lunch and take-home gift bag packed with exfoliating soap, body lotion, eye gel and other beauty boosters.
Day spa services take anywhere from a half-hour to a full day. If you’re short on time or money, you can still get revitalized with a 30-minute ma sage, herbal bath, mud masque or reflexology treatment.
Spas understand time is of the essence, particularly for the working bride, and can ofte schedule two or three spa treatments at the same time. You may be able to get a pedicure while you’re having a scalp treatment or body wrap.
However, don’t try to cram too much into your spa experience or you defeat the whole purpose. Your visit to a spa should be relaxing, not hurried.
Many brides like the idea of getting away for the weekend for a mini spa vacation. There are hundreds of spas to choose from, ranging from spas focusing on fitness to New Age retreats specializing in meditation, yoga and holistic health.
Most spas strive to balance activity and relaxation. The morning may be spent doing aerobics or weight training, while the afternoon is devoted to therapeutic body treatments. Workshops in nutrition and stress management are frequently included in the package.
When planning a spa vacation for a bachelorette party, look for a spa that offers something for everyone and is affordably priced. For help finding a day spa near you or booking a spa vacation, call Spa-Finders at (888) ALL-SPAS. Spa-Finders represents hundreds of spas in the United States and abroad. Their Web site can be reached at www.spafinders.com
Also popular is the bachelorette sleepover. Remember those slumber parties of your youth when you played games and gossiped until morning? Grown-up slumber parties can be just as fun and a good way for out-of-town guests to get to know each other. Slumber parties can be held at a house or rented hotel suite. Order a pizza, rent a movie or play games.
In the morning, gather the group and go out for breakfast or brunch. If time permits, plan an activity you enjoyed as a kid, such as roller-skating or hanging out at the local amusement park.