TIME TO LET GO of cares and concerns and let the good news of your about-to-be marriage settle in. Lucky you chose bountiful Bermuda . . . earth central for pampering and playing and perpetual predictions of sun and fun.

Bermuda’s wealth of sensational spas await your wishes, whims and what ifs. Not only will they confi rm your inner faith that every detail will be handled splendidly, they will splendidly handle every single pampering you have ever dared to dream!

The Bermuda spas are committed to your relaxation, recreation, hair and beauty preparations for every last detail of your mind, body and spirit for your wedding day.

With thirty plus years of exquisite attention to bridal beauty, Bersalon Spas & Salons of Bermuda, with its three locations, offers every detail in wedding preparation, from luxury hair care to aromatherapy, hand, nail and foot treatments.

“We have recently introduced the Kerastase range of hair care treatments from L’Oreal, Paris, enabling us to offer customized, highperformance treatment rituals comprising of hair masques and treatment concentrates. Kerastase also offers a unique anti-aging treatment for reconstructing weakened hair,” tells Kerry Macrowan, Bersalon Director of Operations.

They have expanded their manicure and pedicure lounge for fl at out fabulous relaxation, including three manicure tables and four luxury pedicure chairs, which recline, heat up and massage, simultaneously. This exclusive room, with its Jessica Nails aromatherapy hand and foot treatments has become a veritable pampering parlor for wedding showers and pamper evenings. Brides and grooms will particularly enjoy Bersalon Inner Sanctum Urban Spa, Salon and Barber Shop in Hamilton, and Coolwaters Spa & Salon in St. Georges for their stress relieving wedding packages.

Imagine the Pre-Wedding Bliss package, including Swedish massage, Beauté Neuve Renewing facial, Upscale Nails manicure and Zen Spa pedicure, plus a hair conditioning treatment and consultation. Also, The Elbow Beach Hotel beauty salon specializes in wedding hair styling, make-up and other beauty services, often catering to over 90 weddings every year. What more can the bride request!

For both bride and groom, the newly introduced Bersalon Scandalous Candlelit Massage, with “Scandle” candles melted into a smooth warm essential oil, applied in a relaxing full body massage. Gift hint: the “Scandle” Body Massage Candles are available retail in little porcelain jugs for easy pouring! And for the groom: the Groom’s Escape! Swedish massage, manicure and a facial will totally exhilarate. Gone will be that nervous edge!

At Willow Stream, the gracious spa at the Fairmont Southampton, Christina Judd tells that brides “truly appreciate their makeup trials, because they then know exactly how it will go on their special wedding day. We can give the bride and bridesmaids the exact perfection they wish.”

They also provide a bridal shower menu so that the bridal group can arrange to celebrate together while they have facials, pedicures, massage, and other choices from the marvelous hair, make-up and body offerings at Willow Stream. Sometimes more than a dozen guests partake of these events, including the wedding party and relatives. “It certainly relaxes them a bit!” adds Christina.

Often times the wedding party brings gifts, to open while they partake of champagne and chocolate covered strawberries!

Special Bermuda aromatherapy choices of signature scents are available, including the revitalizing scent for renewal, an energizing aroma for inspiration and soothing scents for relaxation.

Fabulous facial treatments include the “Ultimate,” an instant lifting facial from the Caviar signature line. Energizing marine ampules, intensive antioxidants, are applied to deeply nourish and fi rm the skin, while warm lavender is massaged into the scalp. Besides all of these heavenly options, they offer the complete line of any beauty salon possibilities, which the bride may desire, including, of course, specialties for the groom.

Owner Adlia Davy at Prestige Beauty Salon in Hamilton, offers complete bridal services from tip to toe. They offer everything from traditional to unique hairstyling, including barbering services for the groom and his cadre of groomsmen. And they make house calls.

Keesha Trott explains that they also offer a complete variety of manicures and pedicures, which can be so refreshing and relaxing for anxious bridal party members. Acrylic nails are also available.

What heaven to book an appointment with their massage therapist! Imagine fading off, into a deep relaxation, with all-of-the wedding lists of things to do, far, far away. Another great stress reliever is their foot massage, especially if you’re planning stylishly high, open-toed wedding heels. Or perhaps you’ll consider submitting to lower, more comfortable shoes, and have the foot massage anyway. It’s got to perk you up, and perhaps even everyone in the wedding party!

After the foot massage and parafi n wax treatment, consider the possibility of acrylic nails for your two larger toes, quite a completion to your exciting bridal look, as well as completing your total body care at Prestige Beauty Salon. Add to that a special discount for bridal groups, or perhaps consider a special treatment as a gift for a bride-to-be spinning with must-do’s!

Working in film and TV production have fi ne-tuned the artistry of make-up artist, Natasha Rosdol, who has been doing wedding make-up for many years. She gives consultations on make-up possibilities, as well as a trial run-through on wedding makeup for the bride. She also provides make-up and hair services for the bride and her maids, as well as family, or whoever is interested.

Achieving a look that remains consistent in person, in monochrome and color photographs and on fi lm are paramount — visual memories of your wedding should never be a disappointment.

Natasha will work out an effi cient schedule with her clients, will arrive for hair and make up as early as necessary, and can remain for touch ups.

Her involvement in professional fi lm and TV led to her knowledge of airbrushing as a make-up technique, which she often employs. Not exclusively, of course, but will do a trial if the bride is interested. “It’s nice and light, and gives a natural dewy complexion, since it is water-based, not oil. Brides should take a couple of hours for hair and make-up, get it done, and r-e-l-a-x.”

Hanifah Smith of Glow Make-Up Artistry offers a completely mobile service, around the clock if necessary. “You want personal attention on your wedding day,” no matter what time.

She trusts the Bobbi Brown Bridal Line of makeup, “designed to highlight your own beautiful features, not to make you look different. You’ll get compliments, often on ‘How pretty YOU look!’ It’s a dewy natural fi nish, not that matte dry, powder puff look! I used to only wear lip balm and mascara, until Bobbi Brown cosmetics were applied to my face, I couldn’t believe it was make-up, so pretty and natural. I use it and know how it feels.”

A bride was so astonished with her makeup artistry that she cried, thanking Hanifah over and over. “When completed, I handed her one of my candles, and told her to breathe and relax. I sent her lots of love and light.” And she gives the wedding party lip balms and glosses.

Hanifah tells that her name means “true, and it is the true you whom I create” with her brushes. She suggests adding temporary lashes, or waterproof false eyelashes, which last three days to two weeks, even in the shower.”

Hanifah works full time as the lead beauty therapist at Serenity Spa at the Pompano Beach Club, providing massages, facial aesthetics, body treatments and manicure pedicures. Brides can schedule appointments around her “book, based on availability.” Hanifah is presently creating a signature scent “called Glow, because you will simply glow. The name just came to me while I was doing my luminous make up artistry — just Glow! Once you’ve had your make-up service with me, you will just be glowing!”

So plan way ahead of that magical day of “I Do,” and meet the challenge of your wedding day beauty, head on. Get appointments for beauty luxuries set up as soon as you have a ring on your fi nger, and a date on your calendar. Your heart, psyche, family and friends all deserve this early bird blessing! —Jani Gardner