Melting the Stress Away A Trip to the spa right before the big day can do wonders By Laurie Squire Hunky Chippendale dancers…male strippers…a night on the town… That’s so last century! Today’s bride-to-be is more likely to be found with her attendants on a pre-wedding visit to her local spa, where they can be pampered, prettied and pacified right before the big day. Much like the experiences of these recent brides: “It all started with a limo ride to the spa and only got better and better---a totally pampering experience,” says Wendy Walworth of Andover, Conn., about her bridal party’s visit to The Village Spa, a cozy New England inn-like location in Roslyn. Walworth happily recalls, “there was champagne and chocolates (Ghirardelli), an incredible dinner prepared by a personal chef and wonderfully decadent treatments that were as good as they sound---Winter Melon Massage, Peppermint Patty Rub, Chocolate Kiss Wrap.” All taking place in a private suite with all the comforts of home---a Jacuzzi steam shower, cable TV, even private phones and Internet Access. She add, “we hung around in our bathrobes and had the best time.” The basic spa packages (priced for two) range from $240 to $460; spa owner Rick Joseph will customize bachelorette parties according to budget and specific requests. He says, “The ladies can give us a time frame and we help them make the most out of their night with choices of skin and massage treatments. . . and other nice touches.” Amenities include the limousine service to and from the party, private suites as well as the executive chef who cooks and serves a gourmet meal. The women were so relaxed and lighthearted at Walworth’s party, that, well, she picks up the narrative: “After enjoying a melon massage and chocolate wrap, I was a real mess…so I went off to have a shower. My hands were so slippery I kept dropping the shower hose onto the floor---bang, bang, bang---the girls told me afterwards that they couldn’t stop laughing from all the noise! I felt like I was in an ‘I Love Lucy’ episode.” Joseph has observed that the bachelorette party can be a great bonding experience: “Typically, a bridal party includes some women who don’t know everybody else and a shared spa experience can produce some genuine camaraderie. It’s a camaraderie that is something like a grown-up slumber party.”