While your wedding day is supposed to be one of the happiest days of your life, it can also be one of the most stressful. You have to make sure the flowers are delivered and the DJ knows where to set up the equipment. You have to keep reminding the flower girl to throw the flower petals and not to eat them. You have to keep your liberal cousin away from your future spouse’s conservative uncle, lest they break out into a “spirited” debate about the country’s current state of affairs. You run from one potential fire to the next, putting them out before they can begin. You are so busy making sure this day is perfect that you forget to take the time to focus on yourself.

That is where a spa day comes in handy. Going to a spa, whether for facials or massages, is an easy way to calm your mind, relax your body, and restore yourself mentally and emotionally. Visiting a spa a day or two before your wedding offers those same benefits when you need them most. It gives you the time to unwind, center yourself, and remember that this day is meant to be a celebration of the love you and your spouse share.

Take your spa day as an opportunity to bond with your friends, mother, or future mother-in-law. After the wedding, you’ll be swept away by your spouse for the honeymoon and then you’ll get busy planning the rest of your life together. This may be the last chance you have for several weeks to spend quality time with your friends or mother. And making nice with your future mother-in-law will surely make your life easier in the long run.

Take your spa day as an opportunity to pamper yourself for all the hard work you did in preparation for the wedding. You have been going and doing and moving nonstop for the past several months planning this one day. Treat yourself by slowing down and thinking only of yourself for a few hours. After all, this is one of the last time’s you will be able to think “me” instead of “we.”

Take your spa day as an opportunity to prepare yourself for the ceremony and reception. You will be on your feet for several hours walking, dancing, and taking pictures. A body or foot massage beforehand can help to lessen muscle fatigue. Speaking of pictures, you know there will be close-ups of your face and of the ring on your finger. A facial and a hand massage can help you look your best in person and in the photos that will last the rest of your life.

A trip to the spa is often viewed as a luxury, an event that occurs rarely because it is deemed as self-indulgent and nonessential. This could not be further from the truth. Taking time for yourself is vital to good physical and mental health. With all the distractions and responsibilities life has to offer, people forget to observe “me time.” This could not be truer than on your wedding day, when stress and exhaustion is at an all-time high. Do yourself a favor: Slow down. Relax. Treat yourself.

Treat Yourself: A Spa Day Before the Big Day

Written by Anna Limoges

September 2016 | Health&Life