Union Leader, The/New Hampshire Sunday News (Manchester, NH)
January 16, 2011 - By BARBARA LEECH
Special to the Sunday News
STRATHAM -- For the bride-to-be, coming up with ideas for a suitable pre-wedding party for her attendants and guests has gotten a little easier.Rather than a rowdy celebration, some brides are settling down to a little pampering instead. The Wingate Salon and Spa in Stratham has been a popular pick, serving as party headquarters for more than 45 bridal and bachelorette parties during the past year. The Wingate has been offering a private bridal and events suite since 2008, said Jennifer Woodside, marketing and events manager. She noted that the private spa party trend seems to be growing.
"It all started because we had so many bridal parties already coming to the spa that it made sense to renovate and create a private space for just that sort of celebration," Woodside said. "But, I think there is a huge emphasis on weddings and all that leads up to the event now. It just keeps getting bigger and better. Bachelorette parties have become more elaborate, and more family is getting involved in the pre-wedding preparations."
This means the stress of planning that perfect day for everyone involved has also stepped up a notch. With a handful of reality shows about planning the perfect wedding, finding the perfect dress and bridal beauty makeovers, the pressure for today's bride to make everything memorable and unique is greater than ever before. But some brides are finding that a spa party is a perfect way to take away the tension and make everyone happy.
"We are seeing groups of all sizes in our bridal and event suite. The trend seems to have brought more aunts and mothers into the party to make it a really nice family celebration," Woodside said. "The suite also allows us to provide the perfect setting for the wedding party to get ready in private, together before the ceremony or a bachelorette party to get pampered and celebrate."
In 2003 the renovated Wingate Tea room began offering tea and scones, fruit and cheese as an add-on option to spa groups looking for a little extra pampering. Woodside said so many bridal parties were booking group treatments and choosing time in the tea room that it was the logical next step to renovate yet again and create the bridal and event suite in 2006. The suite offers a lounge area with sofas and chairs and stations around the perimeter for hair and makeup with a separate changing room for brides to get dressed right at the spa if they choose. From pre-wedding day pampering, to bachelorette, to wedding-day beauty for everyone, the suite has served parties up to 22 people.
"We are seeing larger groups, and more and more brides get dressed here, which is so nice because we get to see them start to finish," Woodside said. "The photographer shows up and captures all the preparation, and we have beautiful grounds for photographs once everyone is ready."
The Wingate Spa offers several packages to choose from and a menu of services and food and beverage options to create a personalized party. Bachelorette party packages typically range from $130 to $162 per person and include a pedicure, French manicure, a 30-minute or classic massage and a brunch of tea, quiche, seasonal fruit salad and freshly baked scones. Other items on the menu include champagne and chocolate covered strawberries, mimosa and scones, an appetizer buffet and deli wrap sandwiches offered in partnership from "On the Vine," a fresh-food market in Exeter.
"Partnering up with 'On the Vine' lets us offer high-end deli selections catered by those who do it best," Woodside said. "We do scones very well, but we let professionals provide the rest."
As for the pampering, the spa has a staff of 45 to insure that the party experience moves at the speed that the bride and guests desire. Furniture in the bridal and events suite is movable to accommodate group hair, makeup and pedicures in one private setting. One of the offerings the Wingate is most proud of is its bridal hair styling, which twice won the spa a reader's poll at New Hampshire Magazine's Bride, naming them "Best Wedding Day Hair Stylists" for 2009 and 2010.
"Our staff receives continued training on all the latest in up-style trends," Woodside said. "We are very proud of the recognition this award brings and I think we are getting better known for what we offer as things like this get noticed."
Bridal up-styles start at $85, and bridal party up-styling starts at $65 per person. But Woodside said that along with all the packages the staff can work with the bride to create a package that is right for her budget and choices. Each package includes the popular Wingate Tea Time, which provides a wide selection of teas, fresh-baked scones with whipped butter and fruit and cheese. Basic prices and packages are available on the spa's website at www.wingatespa.com. Brides and bachelorette party planners need to be thinking ahead, according to Woodside. Most parties are booked months before an event though the spa will try to accommodate those who wait until the last minute.
"We go to bridal shows in January and February, and the results fill our scheduling book pretty quickly," she said. "We already have 10 weddings scheduled for 2011, so it looks like this will be a very busy year."
For more information or to book an event, contact the Wingate Spa at 772-8400 or visit online atwww.wingatespa.com.
Copyright, 2011, Union Leader Corp.
Record Number: mandc5-5xxd312f0l5125su9p38
