Wedding Path NewsWire
Spa horizons 996 views
Spa horizons
Everybody needs a break from the stresses of everyday life – especially when that life is dominated by church bookings, flower arrangements and trying to cater your wedding breakfast to 13 vegetarians, a vegan and a couple who only eat uncooked and unprocessed legumes.
A less destructive way to remedy these ordeals than biting the nails you’ve been growing for five months is, luckily, close at hand. Hotels everywhere offer a multitude of enticing spa treatments, and when better to take advantage of them than in the lead-up to your wedding day? Manicures, pedicures, facials, body wraps, head massages, facials, exfoliations, top-to-toe massages – you name your perfect pampering package, and it’s there. With so many glorious grooming techniques, how do you choose? Rebecca Priddle provides some ideas.
Facials
Is it a trick of the light or are the lines on your face deepening by the day? Either way, it’s reassuring to think there’s something you can do about them. As well as being relaxing, a facial is the perfect way to enjoy the type of deep cleansing that is difficult to achieve at home. Non-surgical facelifts, natural eye-lifting treatments and facial-hydration therapies are just some of the options available from well-established brands such as Guinot, Dermalogica and Clarins. Have one in your lunch hour, or squeeze it between meeting priests and planners. The Spa Hotel in Tunbridge Wells, Kent, offers a huge range of Guinot facials, including the 30-minute Vitality, which uses blended essential oils.
Massages
When it comes to stress-busting treatments, a professional massage is second to none. There are infinite variations on the theme so you should always check what they include before you sign up. Some claim to help firm up those problem areas like thighs and tummies – the icing on the wedding cake when it comes to feeling fantastic in your dress! If it’s a deluxe, no-holds-barred experience you’re after, the Garden Spa at the stunning Bath Priory offers a blissful Decleor Aromassage that works on your whole body, including your scalp and face. The techniques, pressure and massage balms used will be tailored to your needs.
Inspiration from the East
Not just for the hippies among us, spa treatments that take inspiration from the East are becoming increasingly popular. You might be surprised how something as simple as an Indian head massage can relieve the niggling pain in your neck that sets in after a session poring over your seating plan! For the ultimate in eastern therapies, the Sakura Spa at Roganstown Golf and Country Club, Co. Dublin, offers a range inspired by Japanese herbal stress remedies. Named after the Japanese word for cherry blossom, the spa works on the theory that ‘cherry blossoms are a metaphor for life, encompassed by Yin and Yang – symbols that indicate balance and harmony’, and all their treatments aim to achieve this for their clients. Just the thought of it makes me relaxed!
Hands and feet
Manicures, French polishes and nail extensions are a well-established part of a bride’s preparations. Feet, however, are one of the more neglected body parts. You’ll want them looking good enough to eat if your honeymoon is taking you to sunnier climes, so make sure they’re not left out. The acclaimed Jessica Nail Care brand is available at many salons and spas, including the plush Gleneagles Hotel in Perthshire, Scotland, whose Jessica ZenSpa Deluxe Pedicure includes a relaxing foot massage on a luxury heated couch!
Packages
If one treatment is not enough, most spas offer great combination packages, usually on a half-day, full-day or overnight basis. In addition to treatments, these often include use of the other facilities on the premises, namely the gym, swimming pool, sauna and steam rooms. One or more meals are sometimes also part of the deal. The ‘getaway’ aspect of this type of package can make it a much more beneficial experience than an isolated treatment – and there are bargains to be had if you shop around. The spa at the Wild Pheasant Hotel in Denbighshire, Wales, has some fantastic overnight-stay deals. Check their website for the latest details.
So are you convinced? Has the worry about the colour of the bridemaids’ dresses faded into the ether? I thought so. Being pampered in idyllic surroundings, where even the most persistent wedding woes cannot trouble you, is a necessity when you’re planning the most important day of your life – especially if you want to keep a level head when you speak to your mother-in-law about those embarrassing relatives she is insisting you invite…
Rebecca Priddle is a freelance journalist and can be contacted on beccipriddle@hotmail.com
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