Ms. Polley

Spas, Health & Fitness

Blending Spa Offerings with Alternative Ceremonies at Destination Resorts

By Magnolia Polley, Partner, The Green Team Project

One day a person wakes up to realize they are either getting married or supporting their friends and family members who are getting married. We can all relate to the planning, the expense, and the conflicting vision of the couple, their friends and in-laws’ and what is the definition of a perfect wedding. The planning is exciting and then over-night it can turn into a daunting experience. Year after year, hungry lovers march to the altar to validate their love. By the time the honeymoon comes, a couple is often times so exhausted by their efforts of putting on the grandest most amazing show, that the honeymoon comes and goes too quickly, if at all, with our tight economic times, endeavoring careers, and pre-existing families.

Everyone has been a bridesmaid, but what would you do if you were the bride? Where will the ceremony be? Who would be invited? Who would perform it? Will you have a theme? And “why” are you having the ceremony? The most important thing for a couple to remember is that they are the ones getting married and that the memories created during that time should literally be referenced upon as, the best day of their lives. Coincidentally, the most important thing for a Hotel or Destination Resort to remember is that they have the honor to help a couple make their greatest wedding dream or fantasy, a reality. Just a few decades ago it was unheard of for a young American couple to marry anywhere outside of their or their partner’s home-town church, by their parent’s minister. Today, destination weddings and alternative ceremonies provide an atmosphere of celebration for the union, ideals, and dreams of the new blooming couple.

Hawaiian influenced wedding ceremony at the Grand Wailea Resort, Maui Hawaii

What does the phrase “Alternative Ceremony” refer to? An alternative ceremony is any sacred union or reverence given during the times of birth, marriage, and death, outside of the traditional church setting and conducted by a reverend, minister, or otherwise ordained individual to sanctify the intention of the blessing. This article will detail ideas that support the alternative ceremony for marriage.

What does a destination location based ceremony involve? This is the catch for many couples, a location is chosen based on where the couple would like to honeymoon typically, they invite their closest friends and family or sometimes no one at all, and then proceed to get married in the setting of their dreams. This is the exciting part.

Offering accommodations for alternative ceremonies at any establishment offers an opportunity for the hotel, resort, boutique inn, or B&B to facilitate an unforgettable experience to their guests, while boosting revenue. Unforgettable experiences include: specialty spa treatments, menu items, pre-established concierge services and offerings, indoor or outdoor facilities for the ceremony, catering, and over-all reputable relationships with local flower shops, cake decorators, photographers, qualified hair and make-up artists, child-care establishments, and any other local businesses that contribute to creating a wedding ceremony.

I interviewed a myriad of professionals that work to make a couple’s fantasy a reality. Opinions from wedding coordinators, specialty cake makers, and hospitality facility coordinators have offered some valuable tips to continue meeting service standards, boosting revenue, and making a couple’s dreams come true.

Spa facilities within destination resorts in destination locations have seen a rise in demand for spa services. I asked Mirayem Licht, lead massage therapist and employee of 17 years at the Spa Grande at the Grand Wailea in Maui how she interacts with newly weds and bridal parties and how this has changed over the past few years. “We have seen a real rise in couple’s directly involving spa services with their plans and preparations especially over the last five years. We offer multiple authentically Hawaiian influenced treatments that make our newly-weds feel pampered and give them a real sense that they are experiencing an expression of Aloha in Hawaii”.

The Grand Wailea is a prime example of a destination resort that has embraced couples and their wedding parties. Senior Social Catering Manager, Debbi Dunn believes the key to making an alternative wedding ceremony a blissful success is by, “establishing an ohana (the Hawaiian word for family), within the staff. We all work together here to make a couple’s greatest wishes and fantasies become their wedding day reality. I also treat our couple’s like family, supporting them and taking care of all the details. If a bride comes alone, I will certainly be there to help zip up her wedding dress and make the event flawless”.

Spa Director Cecelia Hercik, hand picks treatments and experiences for couples and has taken on the role of the romantic coordinator for many special events and holidays at the hotel. “I will often times close down the spa so that the couple can have the whole place to themselves or set up a private dinner by candlelight at the spa, so that the couple can get a real sense of privacy within our romantic décor.” All of this comes at a price of course and true professionals of hospitality know how to create magic and revenue without ever compromising the happiness of their guests or making them feel like their bank account is what matters most during the most special time of their lives.

Katie Plummer, an alternative cake maker from Washington States’ wine country sits with each of her couples and together they draw out the cake of the couple’s dreams. Within Katie’s arena of specialty, there are no limits to creating a cake that reflects a couple’s personal fantasy of what their wedding daydream looks and tastes like! Katie explains, “Many traditional cake-makers deal primarily with butter cream, but a couple looking for something more alternative and at the same time elegant, may be interested in other mediums that can be a lot more fun and dynamic to work with. I enjoy working with fondant, raw chocolate, natural essences, and items found in nature. No two cakes are alike even if I try, and they all present their own challenges and opportunities. That is a part of the art of cake making.”

Wedding Coordinator Libby Harrison, owner and founder of Sweet Bliss located in Lake Chelan, WA. makes this observation, “almost every bride that I have had up until this point has inquired about spa/massage in my location. I also recommend that they have a massage the day before the wedding just because it settles their mind from all that is going on around them.

Weddings can be a stressful event leading up to the big day because of family members and guests coming into town, etc. I think that this has become a big trend in the planning part of a wedding. Brides and bridesmaids love to get their mani's and pedi's before the big day and I think it is a very relaxing way to spend the day with your bridesmaids!”

A bride and groom have one opportunity at making their special day not only the most important day of their lives, but the most perfect time of their lives. When considering a ceremony that steps outside of the norm, whatever this means to the couple, it makes all of the difference in the world to have a professional staff on location at the destination hotel of their choosing. It is also mandatory that the hotel facility build a strong connection to the community around them to make an extraordinary event happen.

10 things a destination resort spa can do to compliment an alternative ceremony:

1. Offer a specific wedding or honeymoon spa treatment for the couple and add on 15 minute upgrades in honor of their ceremony and also in thanks for choosing to support your facility.
2. Give a complimentary spa gift, amenities, hors d'oeuvre tray, champagne, etc.
3. Offer local flowers and cuisine that reflect the location.
4. Treat your guests/clients like family.
5. Offer local maps with romantic activities and must see attractions for newly-weds.
6. Offer private meals with a romantic atmosphere on property.
7. Connect with dependable videographers and photographers to create pre-priced packages for couple’s to choose from.
8. Make sure your couple has the ability to find an officiate that is perfect and suitable to them. The Universal Life Church promotes non-denominational ministers all over the United States. These ministers come from all kinds of religious and spiritual backgrounds and are available to perform alternative ceremonies. For more information on a list of ministers in your area, contact: www.themonastery.org
9. Work closely with all hospitality departments to sync together the exceptional moments for your guests to create one great experience on your property.
10. Create ohana. Offer newly-weds discounts on anniversary stays, family reunions, or return visits to your property to create loyalty and return business.

Magnolia Polley comes from a creative background that includes elements of journalism, verse, and is the author of The Diamond Path: A Guide to the Art of Healing. She began writing for her local newspaper publication at the age of 15 years old; she was awarded and gained recognition through the Washington State Newspaper Association in 1994, being the youngest writer awarded from the association. Ms. Polley has been a student and professional of the healing arts and hospitality for over15 years. Her unique experience within the luxury spa industry offers a unique and cutting edge approach for progress and the incorporation of authentic healing into the forefront of public interest. Ms. Polley can be contacted at 509-393-1810 or polleynapa@aol.com Extended Bio...

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