A Bachelorette Party…Without the Hangover

Whether you’re the maid of honor, a bridesmaid, or a close relative of a bride-to-be, consider an excellent alternative to a night of bachelorette debauchery – throw a spa bachelorette party!

Spas are a wonderful place for female bonding and the party flows seamlessly.   If you want to combine pampering with bachelorette partying get started with these tips on HOW TO throw a Spa Bachelorette.

Have a plan. Decisions, decisions!  As the organizer, decide if this will be a single-day affair or a weekend getaway.   Based on this decision, look into either a Day Spa or a Getaway Spa for your bachelorette party.  You may even want to visit a few local spas and find out if they can accommodate groups, in particular a bachelorette party.

Investigate. Great deals are out there. Location is key since you want to make it easy for your guests to get there.  Think about the atmosphere you want and search for spas with that offer something special, such as spas in wine country, beach settings, affordable spas, or spas that can cater specifically to bridal parties.  If you don’t see group deals, ask about specials for bachelorette or bridal groups. Many spas will offer group discounts of 10 to 15% for groups larger than 4 or 6.  Some day spas are even open to hosting parties where you have the entire place to yourselves.

Have you set a date? It’s one of the first questions brides-to-be hear upon getting engaged.  Now it’s your turn, so have a few potential dates that work for you, the organizer, the bride, and the guests. Next, check the availability.  Invite the guests by email since you might have to get a dialogue going and everyone will have some follow-up questions.  Unless the party is a surprise (which can be tough!), get the bride’s input on whom to invite.  She may wish to extend the bachelorette party beyond the bridal party to close family and some out-of-towners.  (It’s wiser to be inclusive rather than exclusive.)  Consider planning the party the same weekend as the guys’ bachelor party. One word of caution in setting a date: don’t plan the spa bachelorette party too close to the wedding date, because certain cosmetic treatments and facials may leave redness or bring out blemishes.  As soon as your date is set, the next step is to book your treatments right away because spa parties are a hot trend!  You don’t want the spa to get booked!

Get Quality Time. It’s a huge bonus if you’ve chosen a spa that has a common space for everyone to hang out, whether it’s a large spa suite, a relaxation area off the locker room, or a pool area.  You’ll hang out together there between treatments, or perhaps you can all have pedicures at the same time.  If the spa has a hot tub, sauna, or steam room, you can spend group time there as well.  You can still play silly bachelorette games. Don’t get rowdy, though!  Always remember to display good spa etiquette.

Relax and enjoy! You may want the bride to salute her last days as a single lady with a toast.  Inquire if the spa you are visiting has champagne available for your celebration.  If not, consider bringing your own!  If you do make a day of it, many spas offer pre-spa pampering (in the form of teas, water, or mini-appetizers).  Some spas have full menus with delicious and healthy spa cuisine.

Brides rule! It’s all about her.  So maybe she’s been a bridezilla – help her decompress and ease her prewedding jitters and tensions.  Don’t add to her stress with the planning of the spa bachelorette party.  It’s tough enough to plan a wedding.  Figure out who will be attending and chipping in for the cost of the bachelorette party.  Bridesmaids usually share costs and pay for the bride’s treatment(s). A great idea is to purchase spa gift certificates so you won’t have to worry about money at the spa.

Imagine how much the bride will appreciate having all her girls together for a day of pampering before her big day. Let her be a lady of leisure!