Wedding Guide: The Best Orlando Spas

(THE RITZ CARTON ORLANDO, GRANDE LAKES)

Breathe in. Breathe out.

If there’s anything we could all use—especially during the days leading up to and after a wedding—it’s self-care and relaxation. While there is no shortage of remedies for frazzled nerves and a busy schedule, a spa day, or even a few spa hours, can help you slow down, focus and ultimately put that spring back into your step.

But where to start? Are you looking for a day away to prepare and contemplate a new journey? Or maybe you seek a bonding ritual with your partner. Then, there are celebrations with Mom (or Dad!) or girlfriends where you just want to say thank you and make lifelong memories. Or maybe you’d like a day of beauty for yourself—a time to smooth out the rough edges and get plenty of tender loving care.

We’ve gathered a few of our favorite spa destinations in Orlando, from newly opened locations and new offerings at cherished spots, to classic treatments we can’t live without. Turn the page and let serenity settle over you as you plan your next spa visit.

FOUR SEASONS Soothing Ayurveda treatments, available at the Four Seasons Resort Orlando spa, can help balance body, mind and spirit. (RESORT ORLANDO AT WALT DISNEY WORLD RESORT)

Time for Yourself: Four Seasons Resort Orlando at Walt Disney World Resort

Getting married is a joyous and exciting time, but it can also be stressful. Sometimes the best antidote for a mile-long to-do list is a day away from it all, and the Four Seasons Resort Orlando offers a wonderful escape.

The spa is a haven of wellness. Within the 13,000 square feet of space, you’ll find 18 treatment rooms, including four couple’s suites and two private bungalows. Two common area, co-ed relaxation lounges include a solarium with zero-gravity Wave lounge chairs and cozy blankets. You can also relax in his-and-her locker rooms and wet areas, which feature steam rooms, experience showers and outdoor whirlpools.

But the real magic happens with the help of the Four Seasons’ dedicated team of therapists, who provide a full range of services, from beauty treatments to touch therapies. The latest offerings include a menu of Ayurvedic treatments, rooted in the ancient health philosophy founded in India more than 3,000 years ago. Senior Spa Director Derek Hofmann is excited to bring elements of the practice to Orlando.

(FOUR SEASONS RESORT ORLANDO AT WALT DISNEY WORLD RESORT)

“We’ve synthesized the hallmarks of Ayurveda into three treatments that are universally applicable to guests seeking wellness, relaxation and balance,” he explains.

Guests can indulge in an Abyhanga massage, which incorporates warm herbal balancing oil and rhythmic movements in a full body rubdown. “Abyhanga massage is great for increasing circulation and for increasing mobility in the joints,” says Hofmann. “The primary focus is to balance the body, to create harmony in the body.” Another option is the practice of Shirodhara. After a back and shoulder massage, warm herbal oil is poured in a steady stream on your forehead and third eye chakra. “It feels delightful, but the idea is that it really centers and grounds and balances,” Hofmann says. “It can aid anxiety and sleeplessness, and it’s very relaxing.” A third option, Ayurvedic Healing, combines the two for the ultimate
rebalancing act.

Vibrational Sound Therapy is another unique, relaxing option. The combination of soothing sounds and vibrations created using Himalayan Singing Bowls in concert with flowing massage techniques will help you transcend all of the stress that seating charts and flower arrangements—or just average workday demands—can bestow.

Before or after your therapy, be sure to leave time to experience all of the spa’s amenities. Hofmann encourages visitors to spend a day and make it part of their routine. “Whatever it is for you that is wellness, keep it going,” he says. “It has to be more than just one visit or once a month.” fourseasons.com

Relax by the saltwater pool at The Ritz-Carlton Spa Orlando, Grande Lakes, then indulge in a trip to the his-and-hers saunas. (THE RITZ CARLTON ORLANDO, GRANDE LAKE)

Time with Your Partner: The Ritz-Carlton Orlando, Grande Lakes

Need some relaxing one-on-one time with your partner? The Ritz-Carlton Spa Orlando, Grande Lakes is the epitome of a destination spa experience. The 40,000 square-foot spa, Orlando’s largest, occupies its own building, which sits between The Ritz-Carlton and the JW Marriott Orlando, Grande Lakes. The retreat is surrounded by lush gardens at its entrance, and lake views to the back, adding to the feeling of seclusion.

Begin your journey to wellness with a trip to the state-of-the-art fitness center. Afterward, indulge in your choice of spa offerings in one of the 40 treatment rooms. Feeling peckish? The spa’s restaurant, Vitale, offers light, healthy fare to nourish you as you relax. Next, lounge by the 4,000 square-foot saltwater pool, available for exclusive use to spa guests, or make ample use of the spa’s saunas, steam rooms and other elegant facilities.

(THE RITZ CARLTON ORLANDO, GRANDE LAKES)

Regarding therapies and treatments—many of which make use of Florida citrus and local honey—the options are practically endless. Consider experiencing the Grande Indulgence, which includes a full body massage with heated stones, a scalp treatment, and keratin gloves for your hands and feet. The luxurious 100-minute experience also includes a private slumber escape—all guaranteed to make both of you picture perfect for the Big Day. ritzcarlton.com

(GAYLORD PALMS RESORT & CONVENTION CENTER)

Time for Your Squad: Gaylord Palms Resort & Convention Center

Looking for a getaway with your girlfriends? Opt for booking some pretty time at Relâche Spa at The Gaylord Palms. Orlando’s second largest spa offers a full menu of wedding services, including Wedding Party Celebrations that can be tailored to all of your needs, and can also include catering.

If you choose a staycation leading up to your wedding day, consider the Wedding Boot Camp: Personal trainers at the resort will customize a training plan and nutrition guide to have you looking and feeling fabulous. If celebration and relaxation is more your thing, choose a customized day of treatments, or allow the spa’s stylists to create makeup and hairstyle looks that will leave you and your posse looking your best.

Prefer the intimacy of your own hotel room or suite? The spa team can come to you with special treatment packages that include champagne and light appetizers.

(MARGARITAVILLE RESORT ORLANDO)

Post-Wedding Getaway: Margaritaville Resort Orlando

Indulged in one too many connubial cocktails? No worries. Check your cares at St. Somewhere Spa, located at Margaritaville Resort Orlando in Kissimmee. With treatments inspired by the tropics and a laid-back, island vibe, this is the place to be after the last guest has left, and you’ve cleaned all the shaving cream off your car.

Whether you choose to indulge in a treatment with your sweetheart, your girlfriends or you want to take some time to yourself, you can’t go wrong at St. Somewhere. If you’re getting a treatment with your new spouse, consider a couple’s massage for relaxation, or a couple’s facial for rejuvenation.

Even better: Book a spa package. For the ultimate escape, indulge in Changes in Latitude, Changes in Attitude, a six-hour experience. Begin with an It’s Five O’Clock Somewhere Massage. Next, you’ll be pampered with the Stars on the Water Extreme Hydrating Facial, before finishing with the

Lovely Cruise Signature Manicure and Pedicure. For a shorter experience tailored for dynamic duos, opt for Bigger Than the Both of Us, which includes massages, facials and mani/pedi for two.

If you’re looking for beauty from the inside out, consider one of the spa’s Vitamin Therapy options. Also, check out the Himalayan Salt Room, where guests can luxuriate on heated salt loungers, which help to release negative ions from the body. margaritavilleresorts.com

(JW MARRIOTT ORLANDO BONNET CREEK RESORT & SPA)

Family Time: JW Marriott Orlando Bonnet Creek Resort & Spa

If spending time with your mom or dad is important to you, a spa day might be the ideal answer. Finding a spot for a little getaway with the parents is much easier since the JW Marriott Orlando Bonnet Creek opened. This resort, nestled close to Walt Disney World, feels more like a boutique hotel than a sprawling resort, and that feeling of intimacy carries over into the resort’s spa.

Before or after your treatment, take advantage of the spa’s his-and-her facilities. For the ultimate in wellness and to give your immune system a healthy boost, step into a cool aromatherapy shower between visits to the steam room and sauna. The alternating hot and cold experience will leave you feeling refreshed and revitalized.

(JW MARRIOTT ORLANDO BONNET CREEK RESORT & SPA)

Choose from a full menu of touch therapies and body treatments, including combinations such as the Recenter Me Ritual, available in 80- or 110-minute sessions. Begin with a gentle full-body exfoliation, followed by a 40-minute massage, tailored to your preference for pressure. Once your massage concludes, you’re escorted to a comfortable chair, where a warm and soothing foot soak awaits you.

Sip on a glass of bubbly as you relax and unwind and contemplate your next steps.
If beauty treatments are more your style, consider the unique and ultra-effective Hydra-Infusion Facial. Using water-based JetPeel technology, this non-invasive, multi-step infusion system delivers nutrients that penetrate deep into the skin with no downtime or irritation. The indulgent treatment is excellent for all skin types. marriott.com