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A welcome cocktail event, day-after brunch, or even a pool party are considered common additions to a wedding weekend. But how about a group yoga class, sound bath, and spa services? Or, a trip to Burning Man to exchange vows in the playa à la model Kelly Gale? As couples are thinking more about the guest experience throughout their wedding celebrations, quite a few are going a step further than offering welcome bags upon arrival. The overall wellbeing of guests’ bodies, minds, and spiritual selves are now being given thought as to-be-weds plan their nuptials.
“Many of our recent clients have been considering mindfulness when planning their weddings. They want to be present the entire day and want their guests to be present with them,” share wedding planners Tracey Benor and Allie Beik of Benor Beik. “One couple included meditation at their outdoor ceremony—a beautiful way to share something they love with their guests and ensure everyone was fully present as the celebration began. Another hired a sound-bowl artist to create an ethereal soundscape as guests arrived and found their way to the ceremony in a glade in the forest.”
While you might wonder if elements of “woo woo” are actually becoming commonplace at nuptials, certain members of the wedding industry are leaning all in. At the Miraval Berkshires Resort Spa—known for its beautiful Gilded Age mansion, luxe spa, and diverse set of activities for guests ranging from hikes to therapeutic art classes—guests can indulge in a whole schedule of wellbeing activities ranging from equine therapy to forest meditations. The wedding team shares that wedding parties regularly have pre-ceremony spa visits or yoga classes–however, they can also forgo this for a more traditional pre-wedding experience.
The Mayflower Inn Spa even requires couples hosting a wedding at the Auberge resort to meet a wellness minimum at their spa The Well. “Prioritizing wellness for the bride and groom isn’t just about relaxation; it’s about starting their journey together with a strong, centered foundation. For the wedding weekend, we work with our couples to create a customized wellness experience that begins a day before the festivities, focusing on mind, body, and spirit,” shares Jordanna Sorrentino, the social and group sales manager at the property. “A typical day might include arrival at 10:00 am, followed by group burning and manifesting ceremonies, body treatments, a guided hike with sound bathing, and a serene dinner in the chef’s garden.”
As the destination wedding still remains in full swing and many couples are choosing venues in more remote locales, creating these mindful programming details can help fill those gap times in a wedding weekend. “This approach not only makes guests feel as if they’ve had a mini-vacation, but also allows everyone to fully enjoy the joyous occasion with a refreshed mind and body,” shares Sarah Banks, VP of sales and marketing at Foster Supply Hospitality, which has multiple properties based in the Catskills. “Guests can partake in outdoor yoga sessions, guided nature walks, sample honey from our beehives, and start the morning with a goat hike with our resident goats, all of which foster a deeper connection with the environment.”
If venues don’t have wellness offerings baked in, planners are taking on the challenge of infusing these elements into wedding itineraries. Planner Ashley Smith of Ashley Smith Events shares that she recently planned a wedding at Amanzoe in Greece that had a holistic approach to include mindful details like a no-plastic policy in décor and sustainable food choices. “Symbolism also played a significant role; their ceremony took place on an oversized flower mandala, representing the universe and sacred geometry, adding a deep spiritual connection to their special day,” she explains. “The wedding was strategically timed with a full moon, creating a magical atmosphere with natural lighting, and the couple danced barefoot on the beach next to blazing bonfires.”
For some couples, prioritizing wellness means providing options other than alcohol on the menu to get the party going. “We’ve certainly seen a shift towards more sober and California sober weddings,” says Emily Campbell of GoBella Design Planning. “One memorable example was a wedding where the couple opted for a kombucha bar instead of traditional alcoholic beverages because the bride was sober. To personalize it, we filled an acrylic bar with apples, a nod to her last name, MacIntosh. It was a refreshing alternative that resonated with the couple s values and made the day uniquely theirs.”
Non-alcoholic options don’t necessarily have to mean couples are going sober. Rather, they are offering another green way to enhance the experience. “While I haven’t seen anyone opt out of alcohol completely, we are integrating cannabis ‘liquor’ substitutes like Mxxn into the bar offerings. It s a cannabis-infused non-alcoholic spirit designed to mimic the taste and experience of classic liquors without the alcohol,” says planner Jenna Lam of Jenna Lam Events. “And, of course, gummies.”
Mindfulness can be found in many forms, especially throughout a milestone life event like a wedding. Don’t be afraid to go woo woo or simply just add an extra moment to breathe throughout the big day. “Incorporating wellness doesn’t have to mean overhauling the entire event—it can be as simple as including a morning yoga session, offering healthy food options, or creating spaces for quiet reflection,” says Campbell. “The key is to stay true to what feels authentic to the couple and create moments inviting relaxation, connection, and mindfulness throughout the celebration.”
