Countdownto the big day
The reason, as anyone planning a wedding (or any big event) knows, is obvious: "The stress levels associated with planning, finances, minute details, and perfection of that one big fairy tale day are astronomical," says Shannon Haas, co-owner of Cloud 9 Spa Salon.
Jasmine Bragg, creative designer for Veda Salon and Spa, agrees. "Brides can be very uptight. The number one thing is to relax. a full spa day is great, but even 30 minutes is relaxing."
and for brides who can block out some extra time for R & R, bridal spa parties are an increasingly popular option. Floating Lotus Spa, for example, books such rejuvenating private parties on Sunday, when the spa is closed, says public relations manager Nell Page Rainsburger.
"Brides are hyper about the day; this is a wonderful chance to connect with people important to them." (And atFloating Lotus, they can nibble on chocolates and fruit and sip champagne between treatments.)
a popular option at Cloud 9, in addition to spa packages for bridal parties, is a day of mom/daughter pre-wedding relaxing.
"It's very special for the two of them, and they spend the entire day together with massages, facials, body treatments, manicures, pedicures, and more," Haas says.
With the array of choices, are there specific treatments local spas recommend for brides?
"Body treatments are terrific for gently exfoliating away dead, dry, dull and flaky skin," Haas explains. The reason: The scrubs and buff treatments allow the skin to fully receive moisture and hydration.other treatments recommended by area spas and suggested timetables for best results include the following:
A few monthsbefore the wedding
Deep conditioning hair treatments to restore damaged hair. for best results, start early and continue regularly up to a week before the wedding.
Facials (including neck and shoulders if the bride is wearing a strapless dress). if a bride isn't regularly getting facials, spas recommend starting early and continuing up to the week before the wedding. Especially if a bride is prone to breakouts, it's important to start early and work with an aesthetician.
A monthbefore the wedding
Brow waxing. Then a follow-up three or four days before the wedding. Brow waxing is NEVER recommended the day before or on the wedding day because redness can occur.
Cellulite diminishing contour wraps, recently introduced from European salons.
A weekbefore the wedding
Professional custom spray tanning, twice during the week before the wedding. The tanning gives skin a bronze glow, evens out tan lines, and helps to camouflage freckles and uneven skin tones.
The weekendbefore the wedding
a massage and/or reflexology treatment the weekend before or a day or two before the wedding. Hot stone messages are popular for stress relief and muscle relaxation.
A day or twobefore the wedding
Body waxing, including final bikini zone, legs and underarm waxing. for the longest-lasting results, consider a series of three waxing hair removals, each three weeks apart. (Facial hair waxing should be scheduled three or four days prior to the wedding.)
Paraffin hand and feet treatments, which are often combined with pedicures and manicures. a trend in manicures is gel-type overlays—for no chipping — which include the popular French polish look.
Combined with spa treatments and services, self-care is an important component of bridal beauty.
"The mainstays of looking great are still plenty of rest, moderate exercise, stretching, massage and other effective stress relief techniques, avoidance of salty foods and alcohol, and staying hydrated by drinking the equivalent of half of your body weight (in ounces) of water per day," Shannon Haas of Cloud 9 says.
and when a little extra help is needed, area spas have those services, too, depending on their focus.Nell Page Rainsburger of the Floating Lotus notes that brides are all ages today. and while the spa's organic skin care products and contour wraps appeal to all ages, mature brides find special treatment options such as the nonsurgical facelift.
other popular extras include eyelash extensions and temporary clip-in hair pieces/extensions. The eyelash extensions, which eliminate the need for mascara, are individually attached to each eyelash and normally last for several weeks. The hair extensions, which are simply clipped in place, are an easy way brides (and their attendants and the mothers) can fight the effects of Florida humidity.
With all the excitement of the wedding day, Veda's Jasmine Bragg adds one final spa tip for brides: Don't forget to pack the essential basic products such as moisturizer, toner, makeup — and sunscreen."So many people go the Caribbean and forget the sunscreen."