With venues, photographers, dresses, cakes, cars, food and so much more to organise, planning a wedding can switch from blissful matrimony to a total nightmare in a matter of seconds. And whilst some brides choose to release all the tension by painting the town red in a flurry of feather boas, phallic straws, L-plates, sashes and tutus, others prefer to relieve stress in a slightly more sophisticated way.

Spa weekends have become the ultimate in hen party celebrations, offering a chance for groups of friends to be pampered together before the bride gets whisked away to become a missus. It’s also a good way for the bride-to-be to have a fix of beauty treatments ahead of the big day to ensure she’s rested, relaxed and glowing.

Here in Manchester there’s a whole host of spa weekends catering for hen parties, with city centre spas alongside alternatives nestled within the neighbouring countryside to offer the best of both worlds.

Get Out of Town

If you do want to escape to the country, make your way to Rookery Hall Hotel and Spa in nearby Cheshire – which is incidentally is where Posh and Becks got engaged in the late 90s. Celebrity name-dropping aside, they also offer a well-priced hen package from £85 per person, including express treatment, cream tea and full use of the facilities. Alternatively, you can upgrade this to £185 per person to incorporate accommodation, dinner, champagne and canapés and a 50-minute treatment. Among the facilities you’ll find a 17 metre, glass-roofed swimming pool, a stream room and traditional sauna, but one of the main pulls for Rookery Hall is the grand building itself, built in 1816 and set within 38 acres of beautiful countryside.

Cover Image Credit: Rookery Hall Hotel and Spa

City Retreat Weekend Spas

Of course not everyone wants to escape the hubbub of central Manchester, whilst others simply may not have the luxury of being able to get out of the city. Sienna Spa at the Radisson Blu manages to keep things sophisticated with their hen party packages, and their best deal is the luxury pamper day, which costs £79 per person and includes a facial, manicure or pedicure of your choice, use of the health club facilities, lunch and a glass of champagne. It’s also housed conveniently just a stone’s throw from the action of Deansgate, meaning the celebrations can continue into the night if you’ve got the stamina.

Tailor Made Experience

Another good spa for hen parties is the Urban Oasis Spa. Located in Debenhams, this gem is often overlooked, but is great for parties due to the flexibility it offers. Rather than making everyone commit to a particular package, guests are able to tailor-make an experience that suits them – and their respective budgets – and if you spend over £500, the bride goes free. With a champagne nail bar, pedicure area and six luxury treatment rooms, there’s plenty to choose from, as well as a hair salon should you need preening you for a big night out afterwards.

Image Credit: Urban Oasis Spa

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