The Watergate and Four Seasons have good spas for this kind of activity. Nice dinner options nearby too.
Can you get a babysitter for your kid? You could have the sitter come with you to the airport pickup and take kid home - from DCA it's easy to rejoin the party.

I sent her three options/low middle high so she can decide what the guests might be most comfortable with. Life Spa at Lifetime Clarendon, the spa at MGM, and the Ritz at Tysons. All three should have good HH/food options nearby, so once she signs off on the plan and the spa choice I can make the reservations etc. Also if people don’t want to spa they can join for HH/dinner. Thanks for the feedback!

I’d plan nice dinner out and drinks before (this was one of bride’s suggestions- she sounds low key and cool to me).

Personally I would go but wouldn’t drink alcohol at the pre-dinner drinks since I’d be picking up my kid, but I’d try to arrange for a babysitter so that after my kid goes to bed I could meet up with the group at the end kf their dinner as they have dessert/more drinks. I’d be clear about this to other bridesmaids and ask one to step in while you are gone in case any decisions need to be made or bills paid or whatever (I’d expect you all split the bill for drinks and dinner and cover the bride’s share).

I’d do this in Clarendon since that is near you and not far from DCA. No suggestions, sorry, as I live in MD. But wanted to chime in with my two cents on logistics.

Anonymous wrote:

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

My FIL goes there. He likes to sit by the pool. Founding farmers is terrible. Are you paying for all of this? Is everyone ok spending $600 or whatever on spa/dinner for this woman?

I think everybody would book a service for themselves, whatever they felt comfortable with, that’s the problem with the Ritz. Every service is like $200 unless somebody wants to get an upper lip wax ha. Would love suggestions for a spa that is not quite so spy, but I also really do love the idea that there was a pool and hot tub so that people can use those amenities because everybody just going into separate treatment rooms is not really social or party like. Booking out a nail salon might be a better option

Anonymous wrote:

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...

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.

That’s ok. 50 year olds don’t need a bachelorette party.

I know, but like I said, she is young at heart. She was in a terrible marriage for a long time with somebody who was abusive. She was never happy and she is super excited to have a second chance.

I think you're a good friend OP. I would not use your gym as the spa destination. What if all the guests just want a free pass? How many guests can you bring?

Planning a day spa for 10-12 women is tricky because you need to find a space that can handle a large group receiving services around the same time and coordinate everyone reserving their service. If this is what you want to do then I would be very upfront with all the guests on the costs, services, and cancellation policy. You do not want to be on the hook for the bill. An easier option might be to organize something at a nail salon where everyone gets a mani/pedi. Usually its easier for a large group to get everything at the same time.

Then I would plan a happy hour somewhere and then make a dinner reservation for the group while you bow out to pickup your kid. Again with a group that large you might have to arrange a pre-fixed menu ahead of time. Be upfront about this and get payment ahead of time.

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...

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.

That’s ok. 50 year olds don’t need a bachelorette party.

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

My FIL goes there. He likes to sit by the pool. Founding farmers is terrible. Are you paying for all of this? Is everyone ok spending $600 or whatever on spa/dinner for this woman?