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Getting married is consistently ranked among the top 10 of life’s most stressful experiences, according to mental-health experts. It’s not surprising, with all the decisions that need to be made leading up to the big day. So many choices! Just nailing them down can do you in. And every bride knows that tension mounts in direct proportion to the number of people involved in “helping” you plan.
The best remedy for prewedding stress? Grab a couple of BFFs . . . and get away from it all. You don’t have to go far or stay long. But you do need to select your traveling companions carefully. (As a rule, mothers of the bride and groom should be gently left behind to discuss the relative merits of buttercream versus fondant frosting.)
Whether your idea of chilling involves a tranquil spa treatment or a raucous night at the roulette table, there’s a weekend getaway with your name engraved on it.
Escape to the Quiet Corner
With its pastoral landscapes and country charm, there’s hardly a more peaceful place to hide away than Connecticut’s Quiet Corner. Drive up at your leisure and go antiquing along the way. We love Putnam, both for its variety of shops and 85 Main (85main.com), a great lunch destination. Stay at the Cottage House in Thompson (ltmcottagehouse.com). This lovely B&B is sure to relax—from the moment you set foot inside its all-white rooms and settle into its overstuffed, slipcovered sofas. The innkeeper, Kelly, is the most gracious of hostesses (you can even chill your wine in her fridge). Old-fashioned spa services offered on the enclosed back porch are extra, but well worth it, thanks to the talents of KISS Spa director Priscilla Mawson. Last (but so not least) make time to dine at the Still River Café in Eastford (stillrivercafe.com), recently voted the state’s top restaurant by Connecticut Magazine readers. If nothing else takes the edge off wedding stress this weekend, we swear that Still River’s “Tasting of Chocolate” will.
Take a Gamble
If your idea of an anti-anxiety treatment includes fun and games, then hurry over to Mohegan Sun in Uncasville. Much more than a casino, everything happens under one roof here—so pull in to the hotel entrance and hand your keys to the valet, because you won’t need your car until it’s time to head home. You will never be bored at “The Sun” —from gaming to entertainment, fine dining to shopping, there’s something for everyone, so tell your girls to pack for a good time. The hotel rooms are spacious and well-appointed, with multiple mirrors (a must); the restaurants and bars offer an incredible array of choices—from light bistro fare to juicy steaks. Worlds away, the Elemis Spa on the third floor offers classic services in an environment as tranquil as the casino floor is crazy. Check the entertainment schedule online if you want to catch a show, and watch your wedding worries melt away while you get your game on.
Shop and Spa
It hardly needs to be said that retail therapy is a real tension tamer for most of us. And what better way to escape the push-pull of wedding planning than to hit the outlets? Store after store, sale after sale, you’ll feel yourself perk up noticeably when you visit Clinton Crossing in Clinton (premiumoutlets.com/clinton) and Tanger Outlets in Westbrook (tangeroutlet.com/westbrook), both on the shoreline, within minutes of each other. There are more than 130 stores between the two (some of our faves: Ralph Lauren Home and Dooney & Bourke at Clinton Crossing; J. Crew and Nine West at Tanger), so you’ll want to stay over one night at least. We recommend the Water’s Edge Resort and Spa (watersedgeresortandspa.com), a delightful destination with great food and a fabulous spa (the hot-stone massage and pumpkin pedicure are not to be missed!). After a long day of hunting and gathering, this place is tailor-made for recharging your batteries.
