Dance Revolution
Today’s first-time brides are more mature than ever, with a median age of 25, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. Dressing up a friend in a veil and going on a scavenger hunt may delight younger girls but brides in their late 20s and early 30s might want more sophisticated fun, such as live music at downtown Milwaukee’s Jazz in the Park, held at Cathedral Square Park, every Thursday from June through September, followed by a night out dancing.
To learn some new moves, head over to Hot Water, a dance club in Milwaukee’s Walker’s Point neighborhood, which offers swing dancing lessons on Thursday nights, then take a turn on the dance floor, as a DJ plays swing music all night long.
Reservations for dance lessons are not required, but owner Paul Mueller recommends calling ahead if you plan to visit with a large group, especially on Saturday nights. They’re always packed, he says, with a line after 10 p.m. The club has been so successful that he plans to expand with a larger space for dancing and a VIP lounge. But he still expects the dance floor to be packed.
If you’d rather spice things up a bit, stop in for dinner at La Merenda, also in the Walker’s Point area. Share several small plates of multicultural cuisine, then take a salsa dancing lesson at Hot Water on Saturdays.
Just for Sport
If you have two left feet but a killer golf swing, grab your clubs and head to the Grand Geneva Resort & Spa in Lake Geneva. Gather your favorite foursome and enjoy deluxe accommodations in a scenic setting, with Aveda beauty products, 36 holes of championship golf with three sets of tees (golf lessons are available by appointment) and unlimited use of the driving range and practice area. All resort guests also have access to the Sport Center, a 10,000-square-foot facility with Pilates and yoga classes, tennis courts, an indoor pool and rock-climbing wall. If the bride-to-be is more snow bunny than golf pro, the resort offers skiing and snowboarding packages in the winter, along with outdoor ice skating.
While you’re in town, take some time to explore the area. Lake Geneva also has some great shopping with galleries and boutiques, as well as cruises on the lake, a walking path and coffee shops.
Fine Wines
Wine lovers, if you can’t afford a trip to Napa Valley, consider a weekend with the girls in Door County. A great place to stay is the Bridgeport Waterfront Resort in historic Sturgeon Bay, an upscale hotel with one-, two- and three-bedroom suites, centrally located for touring several wineries. Ask the hotel for a map, select a designated driver and start tasting. Most area wineries are open weekends throughout the summer and fall, and most are located within 20 minutes of each other.
One winery not to miss is Wisconsin’s largest, Door Peninsula Winery in Carlsville. Samples are available of more than 50 varieties of wine, sparkling wine and fruit juices, and a guided tour shows you firsthand how wine is made. Also of note is Simon Creek Vineyard and Winery in Jacksonport, which features Wisconsin’s largest vineyard (30 acres).
Pre-Wedding Pampering
Looking to relax and get spoiled in the company of your closest friends? Consider a spa party at the award-winning Kohler Waters Spa in the Village of Kohler. After a day of beauty treatments, the bridal party will be ready to shine in all of those wedding day photos.
“The spa is a perfect place for a bachelorette celebration,” says Jean Kolb, director of Wellness Business for Kohler Co. “I would suggest the girlfriends’ get-together package. Our staff can also put together a cooking demonstration or a cheese tasting.”
The package includes one or two nights at the charming Carriage House, located directly above the spa, with continental breakfast, evening drinks and hors d’oeuvres, discounted spa services, and gift certificates for The Emporium at The American Club or the Kohler Waters Spa Boutique, where you can purchase beauty products, apparel and gifts.
Bridesmaids can have manicures and pedicures while the future bride enjoys even more luxurious treatments. The Rain Water Experience starts with a tension-relieving neck and scalp massage, aromatherapy oils and a light lymphatic massage under a warm “rain” shower mist. To finish, a hydrating body lotion is applied to seal in moisture. Or try the Tropical Contouring Treatment: a full-body exfoliation, surrounded by the scent of tropical flowers, before the contouring body mask, using lemon and geranium essential oils.
After relaxing at the spa all morning, re-energize with a light lunch and a glass of sparkling water in the Carriage House lounge. The Kohler Waters Spa menu features delicious fare such as organic spinach salad with smoked portobella mushrooms and buttermilk blue cheese vinaigrette, or a Thai beef wrap with Asian vegetable slaw and ginger soy dressing. Finish your meal with a plate of seasonal fruits or chocolate-dipped strawberries.
Shop Girls
Craving a little rock-star treatment? To get the VIP experience in Wisconsin, arrange a private shopping party with your girlfriends at your favorite store. Several Milwaukee boutiques offer this service after regular store hours; Three Graces, in the city’s fashionable Third Ward neighborhood, can accommodate up to 30 women per party, which typically lasts about two hours. Complimentary wine and appetizers are provided courtesy of the nearby Broadway Bistro.
Three Grace’s co-owner Pam Kerwin says she sees private shopping parties as a growing trend, and they’re enjoyable for both the bachelorettes and the store. “A lot of people are over the bar scene; they’re looking for something different,” she says. “Women enjoy fashion, shopping and getting their friends together. I think that’s why our parties have been so successful.”
The boutique features a great selection of designer fashions and a specialty bridal section with gowns and accessories. As an extra perk, shoppers get discounts on items purchased during the party.
Lingerie boutique Miss Groove Intimate offers private bachelorette parties, where you can have up to 14 of your best friends around to help pick out something romantic or sexy for the wedding night and honeymoon. The store features the finest in bras, bustiers, panties, lingerie and lounge wear from high-end lines such as Cosabella, Claire Pettibone and Le Mystére, as well as cute bridal accessories, such as “Just Married” tank tops and underwear.
Owner Pamela Flasch says bridesmaids often will buy a gift certificate for the bride in advance, and the evening typically kicks off with a toast from the maid of honor. Then the girls look through the store and select items for the bride to try on. “Everyone has a really great time, and the bride is happy because she gets exactly what she wants, not the standard white polyester nightgown,” Flasch says. Sometimes lucky brides-to-be even come away with a whole new wardrobe of lingerie to wear on the honeymoon and as a newlywed, she says.”