Relax with a Pampering Massage

Once your perfect wedding-day hairstyle and makeup combination have been determined, the next step in pampering yourself is the massage. “Eighty-percent of disease is from stress,” says Mary Nye, owner of The Bodyworks Massage Center in Hagerstown. “Massage therapy helps reduce stress and heightens a person’s sense of well-being. It has a way of grounding you and helps you regain your perspective. This is perfect for the bride who is overwhelmed. It helps center her.” Eric Shands, owner of Warm Springs Day Spa & Salon in Chambersburg, Pa., agrees. “When you find yourself at wits end, take an hour to let loose. There’s nothing better than a massage to help find and keep your balance.”

Many massage therapists recommend massages be done every few weeks leading up to the wedding day. And most will say the day before or day of isn’t really the best time. “If a bride comes for a massage too close to her big event, it’s possible they won’t be able to relax because they’ll be going through their mental list,” says Frederick’s New York, New York Salon and Spa Manager and Wedding Coordinator Kris Fair. “On the day of the wedding, we have brides relax while their hair and make-up is done, help them go over their checklist one last time, and even provide the best route to and from the wedding venues.”

Planning and preparing for your wedding can be an all-consuming endeavor, but it’s important to remember that the time you spend relaxing is time well spent. “Our ultimate goal is to make a bride emotionally comfortable,” says Kris. “When a bride looks and feels good, she exudes confidence.”

by Jennifer Mellace

Originally published in Bliss 2010