Anti-Bachelor Party

There are plenty of reasons a man might forgo the traditional booze-and-strippers bachelor party, from personal preference to an injunction from his betrothed. Or it could be he’s just tired of seeing his wife-to-be and her girlfriends have all the fun where body care and pampering are concerned. Fortunately, the Twin Cities area is home to a number of great salons and day spas that provide services specifically geared to guys.

Heimie’s Haberdashery in St. Paul offers what is hands-down the most gentlemanly grooming experience in town. The menswear/barbershop is no stranger to the wedding biz, and has long hosted “Fitting Parties,” where the groom and his entourage come in for a shave, tux or suit fitting, shoeshine, and the distinguished environment of Heimie’s showroom. Its incomparable clothing and accessories selection offers grooms a last-minute chance to make sure their best men are suitably outfitted for their wedding responsibilities. Adjacent to the main sales floor, the Shave Parlor provides services ranging from a straight-razor shave to a facial, with top-notch products such as London’s Truefitt and Hill. Throw into the mix catered food and beverages, cigars from Heimie’s humidor, and you have the perfect recipe for bidding adieu to the single life.  

Ivy Spa Club, in downtown Minneapolis’ Ivy Hotel, seems to have settled on a perfect formula for the groom’s party. Everyone knows that working out is a great stress release; and when do you need it more than on your wedding day? Guests can spend the day pre-ceremony at Ivy, taking advantage of the fitness facilities or spa services in one of 14 treatment rooms, as well as enjoying catered food and drinks. And after all that exercising and indulging, the men can get dressed on-site, taking full advantage of Ivy’s luxurious dressing room and grooming area. Ivy prides itself on an atmosphere where men and women alike feel at ease, and with the vast scope of its facilities, it’s even conceivable that both bride and groom could host their pre-wedding parties at the same time and not even see one another.

Jon Oulman Salon offers an ideal location for a men’s grooming party: in Northeast Minneapolis atop the 331 Club, a popular neighborhood bar known for its great music and convivial atmosphere. Oulman owns both businesses, so it’s easy to rotate guests from salon services upstairs to the bar below. Forty percent of the salon clientele is male, which Oulman attributes in part to the salon’s open, clean styling, with lots of windows and wood paneling, and a bit of a “Mad Men” vibe. The salon can be rented after-hours for private parties; Oulman works closely with clients to ensure they get all they need in the way of services and amenities. 

With its recently opened second location, Raze Hair Salon is starting to make a real name for itself on the men’s grooming scene. Its Minnetonka and St. Louis Park locations offer a comprehensive range of salon services, all in a decidedly male-friendly environment. Monthly wine- or whiskey-tasting events provide a perfect opportunity to check out the facility beforehand. In the event of an 11th-hour oversight (Miss a spot shaving? Wake up with an unsightly blemish?), the salon sells a selection of high-end men’s skin and hair care products to help make sure everything’s airtight for the big day.