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Incorporating Wellness and Mindfulness into Modern Weddings
Driven by a growing emphasis on holistic well-being, contemporary couples are increasingly weaving wellness practices into their wedding celebrations. For many, a focus on health and mindfulness is not just a lifestyle choice, but a core value they wish to reflect on their special day. This trend towards conscious weddings is gaining momentum, with event planners and venues now adept at accommodating couples seeking to prioritize spiritual and健康 aspects in their nuptials.
The Rise of Wellness-Focused Nuptials
Kara Ladd-Blum experienced a personal transformation that propelled her into the wellness sphere. Following a 2016 diagnosis of synovial sarcoma, a rare cancer affecting soft tissues, she became acutely aware of her body’s needs. “I became hyper-vigilant about what I was putting both on and inside my body, and that transformed into a spiritual awakening,” stated Ms. Ladd-Blum, 32, of Brooklyn, a cancer survivor of eight years. Currently a conscious marketing consultant for wellness brands and host of a mindful living podcast, Ms. Ladd-Blum’s journey exemplifies this trend.
When planning their wedding for September 15, 2024, she and her husband, Brandon Blum, 32, who manages a content marketing agency and apparel brand, were enthusiastic about integrating their cherished wellness routines. Their wedding day commenced with a shared meditation and journaling session, mirroring their home practice. They also incorporated healing crystals and tarot cards into the festivities, imbuing their celebration with personal significance.
“I believe weddings are simply an extension of individuals’ energies,” Ms. Ladd-Blum explained. “We both deeply embrace and embody that world.”
Venues Embrace Holistic Wedding Experiences
Event professionals are observing and responding to this evolving desire for wellness-centric weddings. Ali Phillips, owner of Engaging Events by Ali in Chicago, notes that wellness elements are increasingly prevalent. “It has definitively permeated weddings and events,” she commented, estimating that approximately three-quarters of the weddings she orchestrates annually feature a wellness component.
Destinations are also catering to this demand. Ocean Edge Resort and Golf Club in Brewster, Massachusetts, offers wedding parties options such as serene candlelit floating sound baths, rejuvenating acupuncture happy hours, and invigorating beach yoga sessions. Canyon Ranch Woodside in Woodside, California, extends opportunities for spiritual growth sessions, botanical tea crafting, and strength-training workshops to couples and their guests.
Mindful Wedding Programs Emerge
Miraval Berkshires Resort and Spa in Lenox, Massachusetts, distinguishes itself by providing a dedicated mindful weddings program. This offering encompasses spa treatments and guided morning meditations, promoting relaxation and introspection. Furthermore, they provide an anniversary “reflection visit,” inviting couples to reconnect through a sacred stone ceremony, nature hikes, or physical challenges on a ropes course.
Danielle Vega, senior group sales manager at Miraval Berkshires, emphasized the need for such offerings in today’s society. “We inhabit a fast-paced, highly distracted world where self-care and relationship cultivation can often be relegated to secondary importance,” Ms. Vega pointed out.
Personalized Wellness Rituals on the Wedding Day
On her wedding morning, Ms. Ladd-Blum engaged in a solo healing session, characterized as a “self-love ritual,” with Maureen Dodd, her spiritual mentor throughout cancer treatment. This took place at Corrida, a Spanish restaurant in Boulder, Colorado.
“As someone deeply attuned to the energy of others, I sought to solidify my own energy and sense of self-love before welcoming others into the space,” Ms. Ladd-Blum shared, highlighting the importance of personal grounding.
During her wedding preparations, she listened to love frequencies, sound waves purported to possess healing properties, and incorporated rituals like lymphatic drainage massage. Subsequently, her closest friends and mother joined her for a bridal blessing led by Ms. Dodd, who is based in Phoenix and Sedona, Arizona.
To ensure positive energy flow throughout the day, Ms. Ladd-Blum placed her rings in a selenite crystal bowl, believed to offer protective qualities. A central practice involved guests blessing a heart-shaped twin crystal. Welcome bags containing palo santo sticks, intended to dispel negative energy, were provided to attendees, who then participated in infusing the crystal with positive intentions during the ceremony. “They were all channeling good energy into it,” she recounted.
Extending Wellness into Post-Wedding Celebrations
Samantha Cutler, 33, and her husband, Trevor Mengel, 36, residents of Delray Beach, Florida, have also proactively embraced wellness practices as a couple, incorporating them into their May 4, 2023, wedding at the Addison of Boca Raton.
“Wellness, nutrition, and all aspects of health have truly been a cornerstone of my lifestyle and my relationship with my husband,” explained Ms. Cutler, founder of Mindfull, a meal planning and health coaching application. “Wellness was subtly woven throughout our entire wedding.”
The welcome bags, a curated “wellness bundle” by Ms. Cutler and Mr. Mengel, founder and chief executive of Cloutdesk, a creator marketing platform, included vitamin supplements and “The Five Minute Journal,” designed to foster reflection and gratitude.
The day following their 69-person celebration, they hosted a wellness day at the Ray Hotel in Delray Beach. Guests enjoyed matcha, vitamin B12 injections, and electrolyte and vitamin-infused IV drips, marketed to aid recovery from alcohol consumption and stress. Following a Pilates session led by a friend and fitness instructor of Ms. Cutler, attendees had the option to engage in golf or relax poolside.
“It was genuinely enjoyable to witness your husband and closest friends exercising alongside your parents,” Ms. Cutler reflected. “It felt like a communal family experience, without feeling contrived.”
Meditation and Intention Setting for Wedding Day Calm
Even a brief meditation session before the ceremony can significantly benefit wellness-oriented couples. Katharina Kutscher, 30, and Zane Witherspoon, 28, a tech startup entrepreneur, opted for a small wedding celebration in Central Park on August 30, 2024, beginning their day at the Ludlow Hotel.
“I felt considerable nervousness leading up to the wedding day,” Ms. Kutscher, a Manhattan resident and content creator also working in marketing, admitted. She enlisted a meditation and mindfulness coach friend to conduct a guided meditation session for her and Mr. Witherspoon via Zoom.
Engaging in breathing exercises and defining their intentions for the day, Ms. Kutscher found space to contemplate core values. “The fundamental purpose of this day is to marry the person you love most,” she concluded, “and that is paramount.”