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During the Wedding Planning Process with The Care Collective Planning a wedding can make even the most calm, cool and collected bride turn into a ball of stress. According to wedding planning website The Knot (theknot.com), data indicates at least 2.6 million couples will throw weddings in 2022. Some of these were events that were postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. It’s no wonder that 2022 brides are feeling the heat. Megan Ward, the founder and owner of The Care Collective in Boone, NC, said that prioritizing self-care is crucial to maintain your wellbeing, especially during the stressful season of wedding planning. “It’s important to realize that only we can truly prioritize our own needs. When we take time to seek self care everyone in our lives benefits, not just ourselves,” Megan says. “Our mood shifts, we are able to handle unexpected stressors, and go through our days knowing we have scheduled, routine self care built into our lives.” The Care Collective was originally founded by Megan in 2010 as Everybody Massage and Bodywork. It opened in its current form in 2015, and now provides a variety of relaxation and wellness services, including massage therapy and sauna experiences. “The Care Collective is about self care and wellness,” Megan says. “We are more focused on listening, being receptive and making sure any pain issues you have are being focused on.” A massage is one way to de-stress and pamper yourself at The Care Collective. According to The Mayo Clinic, massages are proven to reduce stress and increase relaxation, making them a must for brides-to-be looking for some time focusing on themselves. Massages are also known to help lower the heart rate and reduce blood pressure, a helpful tool on 18 | November-December 2021
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those days when wedding planning stress is in overdrive. Massage packages range from 30-minute focused sessions to 120-minute full-body massage experiences, and The Care Collective’s team of 11 licensed massage and bodywork therapists will personalize your experience to your needs. “Each of (our massage therapists) offer(s) a different experience, all focused on creating a massage experience specific to each issue presented by the client,” Megan says. The Care Collective also offers sauna experiences and herbal foot soaks to help brides-to-be unwind. Traditional and infrared sauna packages can help relax muscles and the mind. Red light therapy and salt add-ons can enhance a sauna experience and melt away the stress. If you want to spend meaningful time with your partner during the wedding planning process, Megan says that The Care Collective offers everything you need for a relaxing date. “All of our services can be done individually or as a couple,” Megan says. “The sauna is an amazing place to process your experience, talk or just simply relax. The couples foot soak and couples massage
is a fun way to have a shared experience, while being together in a deeply relaxing experience.” The Care Collective also has fun opportunities for brides-to-be to spend time with their loved ones amidst the wedding planning stress. “We have a yoga and sauna special on Sunday mornings which has been great for brides and their bridal parties,” Megan says. “Our traditional sauna can easily accommodate groups of 16. We have created a space that can be enjoyed alone, with a loved one or with a group.” Clients can continue group relaxation time in The Care Collective’s dedicated relaxation and solitude space. Here, clients can grab a specialty wellness beverage, like a hot oat milk lavender latte or a cold hemp-derived CBD beverage. Each drink has a wellness benefit — some help aid relaxation, others support immune function and some best energy. The wellness area and relaxation lounge are designed to help you forget all of your upcoming wedding to-dos and just breathe. Planning a wedding is one of the most joyful and stressful times in life. Megan wants to remind brides-to-be that they deserve some extra pampering during the process. “Seeking self care is transformative,” Megan says. “It is a basic need that should be honored and respected. The Care Collective is a space that is here to celebrate you and allow you time to truly take care of yourself.” The Care Collective is open seven days per week. Visit www.takecareboone. com to learn more or to book an appointment. Laura Calhoun Laura currently works in digital marketing and holds a bachelor’s degree in strategic communication from Washington and Lee University. In her spare time, you can find her reading or listening to Taylor Swift.
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