The moment you think bachelorette, you’re probably thinking alcohol-fuelled benders, cheeky games, and the customary phallic accoutrements that are characteristic of the pre-wedding party or getaway. Sure, these escapades can lead to some legendary memories, but by the end of it, they’ll likely leave your liver more overworked than the bartender who poured all your tequila shots.
So it’s no surprise that in an era where people between the ages of 25 and 40 prefer investing in health and wellness over buying their first home, the pre-wedding tradition is starting to look a little different. While bachelorette and bachelor parties have long been hailed as the ultimate last hurrah, there’s a growing trend of to-be-weds ditching the drunken debauchery in favour of experiences grounded in wellness therapies and healing practices.
With most of her friends scattered around the globe, Mumbai-based language teacher Maria Kurkova had given up all hope of bringing her closest ones together for a bachelorette getaway, until her friend Rachita surprised her with a four-night stay at Ananda Spa, a luxury wellness retreat nestled in the Himalayan foothills, in October this year. “I couldn’t have imagined a more fitting bachelorette retreat,” Kurkova says. After four days immersed in therapies including Ayurvedic massages, aromatherapy, sound meditation, yoga, and mindful walks in the tranquillity of the mountains, Kurkova returned feeling more recharged than ever. “I didn’t need the traditional party vibe; this retreat helped me reset mentally and physically. I felt grounded and more present leading up to the wedding.” The trip left her feeling more centred and prepared for her wedding day than a wild weekend could.
With wellness travel solidifying its status as one of the biggest trends of 2024, it’s no wonder that our growing obsession with this mindful movement is seeping into the way we celebrate this major milestone. Whether they’re whisking their inner circle away for a luxury spa weekend at the Six Senses Fort Barwara in Ranthambore or indulging in Ayurvedic detox therapies at Kerala’s Amal Tamara wellness resort, an increasing number of brides in India’s US$130 billion wedding industry are now opting for experiences that ease the stress of wedding planning or help them lose weight without resorting to crash diets and extreme exercise routines.
“Earlier, [Indian] weddings were more ritualistic, but now, people know that they’re going to have late nights and crazy parties during the wedding, so they want to take that time out for themselves before,” points out Sharmilee Kapur, co-founder and director at Atmantan Wellness, a luxury retreat that offers a curated pre-wedding wellness package including Ayurvedic massages, acupuncture, and guided meditations for to-be-weds.
Kapur also notes that many young couples now recognise that building healthy lifestyle routines isn’t a quick band-aid fix—it takes time, effort, and real commitment. Through a rigorous regimen that might involve an organic, grain-free diet, exercises ranging from aqua aerobics to Bollywood dancing, and daily medical consultations, Kapur notes, couples choose their pre-wedding retreat to build healthier eating and sleeping habits ahead of their big day. “They want to enter this new chapter of their lives feeling like the best versions of themselves.”
While some brides opt for retreats lasting anywhere between four and 21 days, complete with strict schedules tailored to help them absorb the maximum benefits, others are finding ways to weave wellness therapies into their power-packed bridal getaway schedules.
Delhi-based lifestyle content creator Nishta Gandhi Malik chose Seoul for her bachelorette destination this May to squeeze in some unique skin and haircare treatments she wouldn’t have been able to access otherwise. The two-week trip with her friends included a Korean hair spa, a colour analysis to determine the hues that best suit their skin’s undertones, and a jimjilbang, a traditional wellness facility offering a variety of hot baths, saunas, and therapeutic treatments. “My favourite was the Korean bath experience, which really helped us break free of all our inhibitions together as a group while engaging in a whole host of beauty rituals.”
But a wellness-focused bachelorette doesn’t have to extend for days on end, especially for those who cannot take much time off between work and wedding planning. Many people are also opting for day-long pampering sessions, which sometimes even involves hooking themselves up to an IV drip with their closest crew for that extra glow and energy boost. Mumbai-based IV drip clinic REVIV India, for instance, has reported a 25 per cent surge in demand for its wedding packages, which offer a Vitaglow glutathione drip for radiant skin and Slimboost, a metabolism-boosting weight-loss shot. “Usually, the bride and her friends will get the IV therapies in a high tea [setting], which becomes a bonding session for them,” says Krysh Bajaj, REVIV India’s co-founder.
So whether you see it as a step to cultivating healthier lifestyle habits in the long term or a quick dose of self-care to power through the elaborate Indian wedding, a wellness-focused bachelorette might be just what the doctor ordered.
