Anonymous wrote:I don't see why the bride's preference has to be overruled by your scheduling conflict. I'd bow out and let the next alternate plan...

Me too. She sounds like a B.

OP - does bride need a hotel? Maybe a nice DC hotel with a spa - bride and anyone interested can get a room. Late afternoon spa treatments, use room(s) to change for dinner. Drinks at the hotel bar (or rooftop bar nearby?). 8pm dinner reservations. You can duck out during happy hour drinks for airport run and head home for the night or have someone order for you and meet back for dinner.

Has anyone ever done the Ritz Crossing in Tysons? I’m thinking maybe the Ritz and then dinner at founding farmers.

Anonymous wrote:Don't have it at a gym. Proper spa, if you are spa-ing. Also from her message bride sounded open to winery, so perhaps go that route.

Would love some suggestions for spas, please!

Anonymous wrote:Don't have it at a gym. Proper spa, if you are spa-ing. Also from her message bride sounded open to winery, so perhaps go that route.

Interesting my take on her message with that. She’s not really keen on a winery. I think she was just trying to be polite. It sounds to me like she wants to do a spa and then something in the evening.

Anonymous wrote:I don't see why the bride's preference has to be overruled by your scheduling conflict. I'd bow out and let the next alternate plan...

I 100% agree with you but the bride doesn’t have many good friends - I am one of the people that she closely associates as a friend, and I definitely view her as a friend! I would also prefer not to be in the situation, but if I bow out, nobody will plan this. I don’t want her to plan around my schedule, but she seems to want me to be a big part of the planning and attendance, but her suggestions don’t really align with my schedule so I’m just trying to find some thing that works for her to show that I am actually participating if not for the whole thing.

Don't have it at a gym. Proper spa, if you are spa-ing. Also from her message bride sounded open to winery, so perhaps go that route.

She basically just told you what she wanted. I’d plan for everyone to get an afternoon spa service followed by dinner and drinks. You either don’t attend dinner or get someone else to pick up kid to be there for your friend.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't see why the bride's preference has to be overruled by your scheduling conflict. I'd bow out and let the next alternate plan...

This.

X3. Or, plan it but leave when you need to and the rest of them can carry on.

Bride is flying in from overseas with a lot to take care of, so the date identified was Saturday. I have to pick up my child because he’s flying as an unaccompanied minor, so I have to meet him at the gate at DCA.

Along the lines of the previous post, I was thinking of a midday spa day followed by dinner, and I’ll just miss the dinner. I guess people would book whatever treatment they are comfortable with and we’d pitch in for the brides treatments. Does that sound about right? Appreciate any recommendations on a spa/dinner venue.

I’m a member at Lifetime Clarendon and although their spa treatments are not the best, I was thinking that might work. They are generally not very busy, and you can easily move between the treatment room and their rejuvenation area, which includes a hot tub, steam, and sauna and cold plunge. So people can mingle in their rejuvenation area and I can probably use a few guest passes for people who don’t want to get a spa treatment. And then dinner in Clarendon is easy (although I would love some recommendations).

Is it incredibly lame to have it at my gym?

Welcome any suggestions!

Anonymous wrote:I don't see why the bride's preference has to be overruled by your scheduling conflict. I'd bow out and let the next alternate plan...

This.

I don't see why the bride's preference has to be overruled by your scheduling conflict. I'd bow out and let the next alternate plan...

Why do you have to pick the kid up? Can you pick your kid up and then return to the party?

What about Friday night or Sunday?

Either very early dinner, or do a spa then make a reservation for everyone else to go out for dinner.

Bride is 50 but young at heart. I suggested booking a pool, a boozy brunch, or winery. She write back:

“I wasn’t into the pool party idea, not sure about winery but maybe. I was thinking of a spa thing or maybe happy hour plus something? Or dinner? I think you said you had a conflict at night so we could do a late afternoon perhaps.”

Bride currently lives overseas but coming back late June. Count on 10- 12 attendees. I’m the backup planner since the person who was supposed to plan has a family emergency. I’m a super busy single working mom with a young child. I have a conflict on the Saturday evening that is unavoidable. I’m fully free in the day but need to dip out at 7:30 (picking up child from airport so can’t have a sitter do it). You can tell from her response that she wants a night event though, so not sure how to work around it.

Please plan this for me!!