Back to Weddings Main A Day At The Spa Relaxes The Bride And Her Entourage Perfect hair, flawless makeup, polished hands and feet — the beauty “must haves” of modern brides amuse Mereta Landes. “We didn’t worry about that when I got married” 70 years ago, said Landes, 91, of Broadway. “There wasn’t a beauty salon in Sangerville then!” she recalled. Yet, even Landes conceded that today’s bride wants to feel good about herself on her special day. After all, the bride is the focal point of the occasion, as she walks down the aisle, poses for photos and greets guests at the reception. But, many brides don’t just want to look good; they also want to feel calm, relaxed and radiant. And, they often want their bridal party to look and feel as wonderful as they do. Brides have enough to do to have the wedding of their dreams; achieving beauty and serenity shouldn’t become just another burdensome task. Fortunately, it’s as easy as making an appointment at a local day spa. With services ranging from the usual pampering — manicures and pedicures, facials and updos, massages and makeup — to the entertaining — brunches, music and socializing — spas offer the bride-to-be and her friends the chance to relax and have fun while preparing for the Big Day. A trip to the spa — for the bride alone, or with her attendants — is now as vital to wedding day preparations as are dress fittings and gift registries, say area day spa owners. A spa day, whether taken a week before or the day of the wedding, provides a break from the whirlwind of planning and worry, said Dana Lackovitch, co-owner of O.D. and Company Salon and Day Spa in Elkton. “Letting someone else take care of you is pampering, and one less stress you have to deal with,” Lackovitch said. O.D. and Company Salon and Day Spa offers a variety of pampering treatments, including manicures and pedicures, facials, massages, hair styling, massages, body polishes and waxing. Barbara Fultz, owner of Tranquility Spa in Broadway, agreed. “People want to have ‘the whole nine yards’ done” for the special day, said Fultz. “The whole nine yards” at Tranquility Spa include hair styling, deluxe manicures and pedicures, facials and several types of massage. Frances Botkin, owner of Le Bella Salon and Day Spa in McGaheysville, said day spas provide convenient “one-stop” beauty for the bride and her friends, plus the peace of mind that comes from allowing professionals to sweat the details for you. Le Bella also offers manicures and pedicures, hair styling and makeup services and massage. Savvy scheduling is key to enjoying a day of beauty to its fullest, the spa owners say. Lackovitch suggests scheduling spa appointments as soon as you set the wedding date, especially if you’ll require a lot of services or have a large number of bridal attendants. Both Fultz and Botkin recommend setting up appointments at least one, and preferably two, months ahead to ensure you’ll have enough time to relax and enjoy the experience. While manicures, pedicures, massages, hair and makeup may be done the day of the wedding, Lackovitch recommended scheduling a “trial run” day to experiment with hairstyles and makeup colors. Just don’t plan to schedule a facial less than a week before the wedding; though the products are designed to be safe for all skin types, there’s always a chance of allergic reaction, redness and splotchy skin, she said. As if the pampering beauty services aren’t enough, the day spa owners say they go out of their way to create an upscale party atmosphere for the bride and her attendants. Lackovitch, Fultz and Botkin say they allow brides to choose to bring in breakfast or brunch items to kick off the spa day, or will arrange to have wine and cheese, brunch or light lunch fare catered. “You get to watch each other get made up, and have fun,” Lackovitch said. Fortunately for the budget-conscious bride, peace and pampering come at a manageable price. Most day spas offer packages that combine several services, like the Bridal Package offered by Le Bella Salon and Day Spa. Botkin said for $295, the bride and up to three attendants receive basic manicures and pedicures, updos and makeup; extra attendants may be added at $75 per person. Botkin said the price of the package reflect her belief that every bride deserves to look and feel her best. “It’s her special day and she needs to be relaxed,” she said. For more information about the services these salons offer: Tranquility Spa, Broadway, 896-5534 O.D. and Company Salon and Day Spa, Elkton, 298-8225 Le Bella Salon and Day Spa will host a Bridal Night March 12. For more information, call 289-7090 Contact Rachel Bowman at 574-6280 or rbowman@dnronline.com Back to Weddings Main