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It’s Botox for You, Dear Bridesmaids

By ABBY ELLIN
New York Times

After the band was chosen and the napkins color-coordinated to match her shoes, Kacey Knauer, a bride-to-be, had another critical matter to address: her skin, and the skin of the nine women in her bridal party.

So Ms. Knauer, the 35-year-old owner of TempTrends, a staffing agency in Manhattan, invited her nearest and dearest — including her mother and future mother-in-law — for a night out at the TriBeCa MedSpa, replete with mimosas and cupcakes. An aesthetician assessed each woman’s face and devised a treatment plan — a quick chemical peel, say, or an injection of a wrinkle-filler. Or maybe, for a bridesmaid with age spots, a series of Fraxel laser treatments over months, allowing for recovery time.

Camellia Zheng, right, performed skin evaluations for Kacey Knauer, center, and her bridesmaids at TriBeCa MedSpa in New York.

For Ms. Knauer, who will be married in December, cosmetic interventions for herself and her entourage are as vital as the centerpieces or food. “If I were 25 or 26 and getting married, a bracelet, necklace or matching earrings would be fine,” she said.

But at 35? “Giving them a bracelet isn’t as special as spending an evening together. Plus, as you get older, everyone is more conscientious about their skin and appearance,” she said. “Giving them something for themselves — as opposed to something that they’ll never wear again — is more meaningful.”

And let’s not forget the pictures of college roommates-turned-bridesmaids quickly posted to Facebook. It is no longer sufficient to hire a hairstylist and makeup artist to be on hand the day of. Instead, bridal parties are indulging in dermal fillers and tooth-whitening months before the Big Day.

Some brides pick up the tab for their attendants, replacing the pillbox inscribed with the wedding date with a well-earned squirt between the eyes. In other cases, bridesmaids — who may quietly seethe about unflattering dresses — are surprisingly willing to pay for cosmetic enhancements. “Most women, when they come in here, they want it,” said Camille Meyer, the owner of TriBeCa MedSpa. “They know they’re aging.”

For Karen Hohenstein, who held her party at the Tiffani Kim Institute Medical Wellness Spa in Chicago, convincing her friends was as smooth as a Botoxed forehead. “It wasn’t me saying, ‘Hey, we all could use a little something,’ ” she said. “It was, ‘I want to do this,’ and a couple of people said, ‘I do, too.’ ”

Karen Hohenstein, left, jokes with her attendants-to-be at a Botox party at the Tiffani Kim Institute Medical Wellness Spa in Chicago.

But for every accommodating pal, there’s another who feels going under the knife is beyond the duty of bridesmaid. Becky Lee, 39, a Manhattan photographer, declined when a friend asked her — and five other attendants — to have their breasts enhanced. “We’re all Asian and didn’t have a whole lot of cleavage, and she found a doctor in L.A. who was willing to do four for the price of two,” said Ms. Lee, who wore a push-up bra instead.

Not for nothing are some maids known as slaves of honor, but this kind of cajoling is a recent development on the wedding front.

Marie Scalogna-Watkinson, the founder of Spa Chicks on-the-Go, a mobile spa, said she receives five to seven calls a month from brides seeking Botox or Restylane for their bridesmaids. Five years ago, collective makeovers were unheard of, she said.

Dr. Fardad Forouzanpour, a cosmetic surgeon in Beverly Hills, Calif., said his business has increased more than 40 percent since he began offering what he calls Bridal Beauty Buffets in 2006.

In the last two years, bridal party tuneups have increased roughly 25 percent, estimated Susie Ellis, the president of SpaFinder.com, a site that lists 4,500 spas worldwide.

Just as timing matters when it comes to securing a hall, it’s best that brides-to-be don’t delay scheduling appointments, aestheticians and doctors say. “You wouldn’t get a cut and color the week before,” said Dr. Jessica Wu, a dermatologist in Beverly Hills who advises coming in three to six months before the big day. “We do a trial run of Botox about four months ahead of time. Then, two weeks before the wedding, we do that last treatment.”

Ms. Meyer of TriBeCa MedSpa suggests that a bride contact her the minute the question is popped. “Brides really appreciate the fact that we put everything in a regimented schedule for them,” she said. Since February 2007, she has staged more than 30 bridesmaid parties and has 18 planned so far this year. “If you have to do eight treatments, six weeks apart, that could take up to a year,” she said.

Fraxel laser could also set you back $1,200 a session, which even without the economic downturn, amounts to quite a bit. These days, Robyn Bomar, an event planner in Destin, Fla., overhears brides doing cost-benefit analyses. “They will never choose Botox over a great dress, but they will say ‘Maybe I’ll have a buffet over a sit-down at the rehearsal dinner,’ ” she said. Or: “I’ll spend the money on Botox rather than lunch.’ ”

In June, Jennifer Peterson, 31, a production director in Los Angeles, and eight friends indulged in Botox, Restylane, massages, facials and microdermabrasion at Infinity MedSpa in Valencia, Calif. Her friends chipped in for her treatments, but she is considering giving them each a $100 certificate to the spa — a gift she is sure they will appreciate. “Everybody does Botox out here,” she said.

The beauty procedure thank-you gift is becoming more common, said Ms. Bomar, who coordinates about three parties a month. Time was when the bride arranged for everyone to get manicures at the same time, followed by lunch. But today? “It’s much more likely that she is footing the bill for eyelash extensions, airbrush tanning and a bevy of other cosmetic procedures,” she said.

Five years ago, plastic surgeons, dermatologists and tooth-whitening centers “were virtually absent” from bridal expos, said William F. Heaton III, the president of the Great Bridal Expo Group, which produces events in 40 cities nationwide. “Now we’re getting a half dozen phone calls a week.”

This year alone, American Laser Centers, a chain, has participated in 830 bridal shows, said Amanda McInnes, a marketing director.

Two weeks ago, Health Travel Guides, a medical tourism company, exhibited at the Dallas Bridal Show for the first time. “We received 30 requests for quotes among the bridal show attendees — mostly for plastic surgery such as liposuction and breast augmentation,” said Sandra Miller, the company’s chief marketing officer. “But also many for cosmetic dentistry and inquiries for providing quotes for bachelorette getaways that will feature beauty treatments.”

A bride’s request that you whiten your grayish teeth can strain a relationship. Samantha Goldberg, a wedding planner in Chester, N.J., recalled a bride who asked her attendants to get professionally spray-tanned for a Hawaiian-theme reception.

Alas, two women were claustrophobic and couldn’t bear standing in a tanning capsule. “They asked the bride if they could use regular tanning cream from a salon,” Ms. Goldberg said. The bride refused; she wanted everyone to be the same shade. The women ultimately declined to be bridesmaids. “Friendships of 20-plus years gone over a spray tan?” Ms. Goldberg said. “Sad!”

And how does a bride break it to a mother-in-law that she’d love her crow’s feet to be frozen into submission? Very delicately.

“My mother is in her 60s. She’s been talking about it for so long, so I said ‘Let’s do it,’ ” said Stacey Berlin, 29, a marketing consultant, who is having a party at Aquamedica Day Spa in Long Branch, N.J.

It was trickier with her future mother-in-law. “To her,” Ms. Berlin said, “I said it as a joke: ‘You should do Botox for the wedding!’ She giggled, and then I said, ‘I’m serious. It’s exactly what you need to freshen up.’ At first she kind of laughed it off, but the more we talked about it and I told her my mom was going to do it, she said ‘O.K.’ ”

A Gift Of Luxury

Seda France has long been known for its luxurious combination of rich fragrances and quality goods with posh packaging and extravagant presentation. Now they offer the opportunity to create your own Seda France personalized candle, the perfect wedding favor!

With a wide array of box colors, ribbons, printing options and even little touches such as fonts and imprint colors to choose from, you now have the opportunity to fashion a candle that is exclusively yours. It begins, of course, with the kind of exceptional, layered fragrance for which Seda France is known – Passion Fruit, with a blend of sweet berries and pear with tangy rhubarb and grapefruit. Each candle is hand-poured into a ten-ounce glass and has a generous burn time of more than forty-five hours. These sumptuous candles will reflect your style and serve as a lasting reminder of your special day.

One Of A Kind Label

A Wedding is an amazing time for a couple and their loved ones. When planning such a special day, it’s important to incorporate as much of your personality as possible into every aspect of your wedding. Personalized bottles of wine and champagne are the ideal solution for couples hoping to create a unique and unforgettable wedding.

Order yours today at East Six!

To Veil or Not To Veil

The wedding veil is a quintessential bridal accessory. Those airy white layers and that lovely crowning halo create a magical transformative feeling the moment you put one on. Nothing says wedding quite like it! Wedding veils have been used throughout history to symbolize cultural and spiritual beliefs, and while some brides today wear a veil as a symbol, most brides wear one to make a fabulous fashion statement. Veils come in all shapes, lengths and styles and if you wear one you’ll want to choose the style that best accentuates your dress’s features and adds a finishing touch to your look.

Classic veils fall to your elbow, your fingertip, to the floor or in a long train stretching out behind you, and can be made of a variety of fabrics and embellishments. A great classic veil alternative is the Mantilla veil, with its lovely lace edges and romantic Spanish influence. A fun retro inspired option that lends lots of personality to any look is the cage or birdcage style veil. Made of netting or very light tulle it beautifully frames your face and is perfect for a fashion forward bride.

If a traditional bridal look with a long flowing veil just isn’t for you, there are an infinite number of other options for fabulous bridal hair accessories! Real fresh flowers tucked into your hair always look pretty and feminine and will never go out of style. (Be sure to purchase extra blooms and keep them available throughout the day in case the one you’re wearing wilts and you want to freshen up.) Tiaras and other jeweled hairpins add sparkling glamour and formality, while headbands made of any material make for a sweet and youthful look. No matter what you choose, stay true to your style and have fun with the process. You’re sure to look and feel amazing when your wedding day arrives!

- Junebug Weddings 

Let’s Hear It For The Boys!

Having good quality wedding boutonnieres can really make a difference to how the male members of the wedding party look. It is the finishing touch that that can provide a sense of style.

Although it is only a small flower, there are many elegant ways to give your wedding boutonnieres a chic look. Little embellishments such as the creative use of foliage, wire and beads can make a huge difference.

Something Old, Something New, Something Borrowed, Something Blue

The time-honored tradition of old, new, borrowed and blue. Not only does it make for great photo moments, but it’s a wonderful tradition to pass along to each new generation. Most brides use their dress as something “new” but get a bit more creative on the other categories. What did or will you use to fit these four categories on your wedding day?