Why You Should Have a Bachelorette Party at a Spa

Having a bachelorette party is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, so you want to make sure you and your friends spend it right. Some brides-to-be may want to do a destination trip like going to Las Vegas or Miami, others may want to stay in town with a fancy dinner at a restaurant or prepared at home, while others may want to go wine tasting. There are many different options available, but these activities have been done many times. If you want to do something truly unique and special that will make the bond between you and your bridesmaids stronger, then a day at the spa is for you. Continue reading to learn more about the history of bachelorette parties, the benefits of having one at a spa, and different packages that you and your guests can receive.

The history of bachelorette parties

Long before bachelorette parties were a common pre-wedding festivity, there was actually only the male version, known today as bachelor parties, until the mid-20th century. Sociologist Beth Montemurro discusses that bachelor parties trace back to the Spartan ritual of toasting to a soldier the night before his wedding day in ancient Greece during the 5th century. Then, during the 7th and 8th centuries, ancient pre-wedding rituals began to focus on the bride, but they still were not a party or a gathering with her friends. Many of the events that took place back then put a major emphasis on the cleanliness or purity of the bride. During the proaulia (the first of the three days of nuptials) ceremony for example, this was an ancient Greek tradition where women spent the eve of their wedding day making offerings and sacrifices to the gods.

In 1897, women started having their own parties. Before the party for women became officially known as a pre-wedding party, the term for the event was called a “hen party” in the United States as a general word for an all-female gathering. What took place included tea, gossiping, chatting, and fancy hats. However, the term hen party did not just cover marriage-related festivities but really any party where it had only women present. This is evident as in 1940, Eleanor Roosevelt was described as hosting a Christmas-time hen party for cabinet wives and “ladies of the press.”

The only wedding-related event close to an actual party that women had for their bride-to-be was a bridal shower, until some started having a second shower in the 1950s and 1960s where they could drink with their girlfriends and open presents that they would not want to open in front of their families and family friends. The unmarried women at these parties were known as “bachelor girls” as opposed to “bachelorettes,” as the term referred to those who did not have any intention of marrying anytime soon. The name “bachelorette party” was not the official name until 1980–Montemurro says this came about through the women’s liberation movement and the sexual revolution as more women began to wonder why men got to have fun bachelor parties while women could only do “boring showers.” 

So how did bachelorette parties go from drinks and presents to elaborate weekend getaways that cost hundreds or thousands of dollars? In 1981, after 750 million people watched the marriage of Princess Diana and Prince Charles, which was coined “the wedding of the century,” both weddings and the pre-wedding events became much larger and more decadent affairs. With this, along with the rise of the internet, the booming economy, and eventually social media in the 2000s which made the sharing of wedding planning information and moodboards easy, these parties became a “rite of passage” among brides and their girlfriends. Many women also see this as a way to emulate what the rich and famous are doing, and are thus having such extravagant bachelorette parties and weddings to live more like them. While not all women opt for the wild and elaborate bachelorette party type event, the style of events have definitely become way more popular and practiced than in the past decades.

The benefits of having your bachelorette party at a spa

As discussed in the previous paragraph, bachelorette parties have become very extravagant, but that does not mean they have to be wild. In fact, going to a spa is a lovely combination of extravagant and refined, especially if you prefer self-care over drinking until the sun comes up. If you want to feel like a pampered celebrity without conforming to the stereotypical “wild night out” bachelorette party, visiting a day spa may be the thing for you and your girlfriends. A luxurious spa day is a time for relaxation, renewal, and complete indulgence–a morning or afternoon at the spa will not only be for your bachelorette party, but it will also serve as an investment to the well-being of you and your group. It provides a chance to get away from the responsibilities of the outer world. A luxurious spa is not only about the treatments that are being offered–it is about immersing yourself in a world full of comfort and luxury.

There are a myriad of other benefits to having your special day at a spa, as they lower stress and anxiety, improve complexion, make your bond stronger with your relationships, and relax you. Plus, higher end spa centers know how to make each guest’s experience unique and tailored to their specific tastes, needs and preferences, such as with the cuisine and spa services. The staff is there to help make sure your experience is ideal, regardless of any particular requests, dietary requirements, or skincare issues you may have. Every person’s experience is not the same, and the top spas recognize that.

Planning a wedding can be extremely stressful. You have to book a venue, make invitations, send them out, get photographers, find your dress, and much more. While this is all leading up to a wonderful wedding day experience, all of the planning does not make it any less stressful. By prioritizing self care and choosing to have your bachelorette party at a spa, this will provide a much-needed reset and day for relaxation. Your friends may be stressed too, especially your maid-of-honor, so they will be sure to love this idea too. Getting a facial can also help improve your complexion and get rid of any impurities, so if you have been breaking out over stress, then a facial, as well as a soothing massage, will calm you. Getting pampered at a spa with your bridesmaids will give you a happy shared memory that you can all reflect on years later. Whether it is from the champagne you sipped, the tropical oasis within the spa you enjoyed, or the happiness you had in knowing you were with your friends, you will all come out of the experience closer than before. A day at the spa is something everyone can agree on.

FYI - typically, the maid of honor plans the bachelorette party, but should get approval from the bride and the bridal party before making any accommodations. If the bridal party wants to pitch in to treat the bride, then the maid of honor should still be the one to coordinate payments and schedule the service. With all of this planning, a day at the spa will be an enjoyable and relaxing reward.

Many people often believe that once the spa treatments are over, your experience is abruptly over. However, this is not true. First, you do not need to leave immediately after your services. You have the luxury of time to relax in a designated space where you can meditate, enjoy the post-treatment effects of your pampering, indulge in chocolates and champagne, or just soak in the calmness of your surroundings. You also receive a special farewell at the end of your spa day, which may include a gift or a mark of appreciation. It serves as a last reminder that your trip to the spa was more than just a service–it was an unforgettable experience of luxury and well-being together with your squad.

Different bachelorette packages to choose from at ZZ Day Spa

ZZ Day Spa offers many different packages for bachelorette parties. A bachelorette spa party is a once in a lifetime event for the bride-to-be, so we go to great lengths to make sure it is an unforgettable experience with memorable moments and beautiful memories. We have hundreds of 5 Star Reviews from our bachelorette spa party guests on Google and Yelp. To make the party even more fun, we have incredible selfie stations for taking photos, complimentary champagne and mimosas, Ferrero Rocher chocolates, and an hors d'oeuvres platter. See our packages and pricing below.

My Lady Package (per person)

This package costs $189 per person on weekdays (Monday through Thursday) and $209 per person on weekends (Friday through Sunday), and takes around 1-1.5 hours total. It includes a 50 minute Swedish massage OR a 50 minute Aromatherapy massage OR a 50 minute European facial. It also includes champagne or mimosa, an hors d'oeuvres platter and chocolates. If you want a special bridal party treat but do not want to break the bank, then this package is a great option. It includes the same benefits of the other packages, which is a strengthened bond with your friends and a new refreshed and relaxed outlook going into the days or weeks before the wedding.

Duchess Package (per person)

This package costs $299 per person on weekdays (Monday through Thursday) and $329 per person on weekends (Friday through Sunday), and takes around 2 hours total. It includes a 50 minute Swedish massage OR a 50 minute European facial, AND a spa mani and pedi treatment. It also includes champagne or mimosa, an hors d'oeuvres platter and chocolates. If you would like a little more pampering and a longer experience for you and your bridesmaids, then this package is the right choice because it gives you a massage or a facial plus a mani and pedi treatment.

Princess Package (per person)

This package costs $359 per person on weekdays (Monday through Thursday) and $379 per person on weekends (Friday through Sunday), and takes around 2-2.5 hours total. It includes a 50 minute Swedish OR a 50 minute Aromatherapy massage, PLUS a 50 minute custom facial with microdermabrasion. It also includes champagne or mimosa, an hors d'oeuvres platter and chocolates. In this package, you can receive both a massage and a facial, specifically a facial with microdermabrasion (MDA). MDA, according to the National Library of Medicine, is a minimally invasive epidermal resurfacing procedure used to treat uneven skin tone/texture, photoaging, and scars, including acne scars. It is widely available and is one of the most common nonsurgical cosmetic procedures performed in the United States. If you and your girlfriends would like an extra glow, then this is the right package for you.

Empress Package (per person)

This package costs $529 per person on weekdays (Monday through Thursday) and $559 per person on weekends (Friday through Sunday), and takes around 5 hours total. It includes an 80 minute Hot Stone OR Deep Tissue massage, PLUS a 50 minute world famous 4-in-1 Hydra Facial (four facials in one), AND a spa mani and pedi treatment. It also includes champagne or mimosa, an hors d'oeuvres platter and chocolates. Plus, as an added bonus, all Empress Package treatments and services are performed by Master Techs. If you really want to splurge and feel like royalty, then this is the package to choose. You get five hours of pampering with a massage, a 4-in-1 facial, and a spa mani and pedi treatment with food and drinks afterwards. This is surely the package to receive if you want to enjoy the ultimate experience with your friends. 

Conclusion

There are many exciting options to choose from when deciding what to do for your bachelorette party. Going to a spa day together with your bridesmaids is a wonderful idea as it improves your complexion, reduces anxiety and stress, and makes your bond with each other stronger. Book your appointment today for a guaranteed great time in order to relax before the wedding day.