Pampering Spas

It's the day before the wedding of Sara Buchdahl and Andrew Levine at the Topnotch at Stowe Resort and Spa in Stowe, Vt., and I'm relaxing in the men's hot tub chatting with two of the grooms, who clearly are enjoying the chance to relax between driving up from New York for the wedding, and the start of the festivities the next day.

Later, in the lobby of Topnotch's intimate spa, I notice a group of bridesmaids making appointments for massages and facials; the bride, I'm told, was in earlier for a manicure and to get her hair done. As the day went on, I would see many of the wedding guests trading volleys on the tennis courts, soaking in the pool, and enjoying dinner at Maxwell's, Topnotch's elegant restaurant. Spas make people feel pampered and special ... in other words, exactly how a couple wants to feel on their wedding day. "When you have a wedding at a spa it means that you're already setting the tone that this is a time for relaxation and calm," said mother-of-the-bride Carol Buchdahl, who helped plan the Buchdahl/Levine wedding at Topnotch. "Starting a new life together is creating a different space, which is also what a spa does. The whole energy there is of renewal and newness."

At destination spas like Topnotch, The Equinox in Vermont, and Canyon Ranch in the Berkshires of western Massachusetts and Tucson, Arizona, couples and wedding parties can enjoy a wide variety of treatments designed to improve health, enhance beauty, and promote relaxation-the latter especially welcome during the hectic days prior to a wedding. For sheer variety of spa, fitness, educational, and spiritual activities, from sessions on sports psychology to shiatsu massage therapy, Canyon Ranch is unmatched. The philosophy at Canyon Ranch is total immersion of mind, body, and spirit, and for brides looking for a pre-nuptial getaway with the girls, Canyon Ranch offers a luxurious, indulgent escape from the everyday.

Topnotch, on the other hand, is perfect for couples who want all of their wedding guests to enjoy a luxury spa weekend. Unlike Canyon Ranch, Topnotch is happy to host wedding receptions, going so far as to give complementary spa passes to all guests. The Topnotch staff includes wedding planners who can help plan ceremonies, choose a dinner menu, arrange for a band, and craft activities where the entire wedding party can bond and celebrate. The elegant Equinox resort is another destination property that plays host to upscale weddings and offers spa services to guests. This grand country inn sits at the heart of Manchester Center, VT, one of the prettiest villages in New England. The Equinox Fitness Spa-soon to be expanded-includes a good selection of spa treatments, fitness equipment, and indoor and outdoor pools, and the resort also can provide wedding parties with unique diversions at its Range Rover driving school and British School of Falconry. The Equinox's airy Colonnade Room can play host to the most elegant of affairs, but couples looking for a unique setting for their reception should explore the Pond Pavilion, a charming, rustic lodge caressed by the waters of peaceful, private Equinox Pond.

Facials, pedicures, and manicures are popular with wedding parties, and spas like those at Topnotch, Equinox, and Canyon Ranch can provide these services along with loofah treatments, aromatherapy, and a variety of massage-all designed to keep you refreshed and rejuvenated for the trip to the altar. Nor are spa services for ladies only: Topnotch's masculine Vermont Woodspice Treatment, for example, gives the groom, best man, and ushers a comfortable way to indulge in an herbal wrap, exfoliation, and full-body massage, as well.

Spa resorts also can make a wonderful honeymoon destination: The five-star Capri Palace Hotel in Anacapri is home of the world-famous Capri Beauty Farm, whose unique and diverse spa services draw upon the healing powers of the sea. People have been drawn to the island resort of Capri since the time of the Emperor Tiberius, and the Capri Beauty Farm continues this rich tradition with offerings like thallisotherapy (massage with essential, marine-based oils), electrostimulation, and thermal mud treatments. The spa at the Capri Palace also features an extensive fitness center, and guests also enjoy the many benefits of the hotel itself, including three excellent restaurants, a heated swimming pool, and an enchanted location on the slopes of Mount Solaro.