Cortosalons.com Blog

Bachelorette parties are seen, by some, to be a rite of passage. Bachelorette parties are accompanied by laughter and joy at the upcoming nuptials of the bride to be. Memories from this event should be enjoyed from a lifetime. Whether the party is for your best friend, sister, cousin, mother or aunt, planning a bachelorette party requires organization and a sense of humor.

Corto’s Salons and Spas are one place to keep in mind if you are looking for  the alternative to, well…  ”wild and crazy”. But regardless of what and where you choose, here are some things to keep in mind…

1. Make sure that the party you are planning will make the bride-to-be happy and comfortable. Take the bride’s opinion and personality into consideration as you plan her bachelorette party. Many brides do not want a bachelorette party that is wild and raunchy. If the mother or mother-in-law are going to be there, consider not having bawdy games played as these might embarrass the bride. Remember that this party is for the bride. Her wishes are important.

2. Create a budget for the party. Decide how much you can afford to spend. Consider sharing the duties of hosting the party with another friend or bridesmaid and splitting the cost. Contact the bride’s parents and solicit their help in funding the bachelorette party. Make sure that you stay within budget.

3. Instead of the “traditional” wild party, consider having a spa party. The benefits here are that a day at the spa is generally enjoyed by all age groups and is a serene alternative to the wild and crazy outings that may not suit everyone in the bridal party’s liking. Preferably we hope you choose Corto’s, but regardless of your preference, a spa party is a very fun way to go. If the bride loves salsa dancing, take her and the guest to a local salsa club and reserve an area in the VIP. Consider taking a weekend at a secluded spa for the bachelorette party. Surprise the bride-to-be and take her to an expensive restaurant where her friends and family will be waiting. Be creative as you choose a party style that will make the bride-to-be happy.

4. Confirm the location of the party before you send out invitations. If the party is at someone’s house, call the hostess and verify if the party can still be hosted at her house. Make sure that restaurant reservations are set in stone. If it’s a spa party, confirm with your party of the services and times for each person, and have them arrive early so they don’t cut their services short! Besides, having the extra 15 minutes to get settled in the tranquility room with food, wine, and a fireplace is not really so bad! When planning an outdoor party, have an alternative indoor location lined up in case of poor weather.

5. Find out if there is anyone that the future bride would not want at her bachelorette party. Ask the bride if there is anyone that she would particularly want to invite. Decide if your budget will allow for fancy handmade invitations or if you will need to make pretty invitations on your computer. Get the addresses of everyone on your guest list. If you do not have a home address, try to find a work address. Invitations should be sent out a month to a month and a half before the shower. Include directions to the party place as well as ideas for presents in the invitations. Include directions to the party place as well as ideas for presents in the invitations.

6. Plan the games that will be used at the party well in advance. Make bingo cards for Bridal Bingo. Guests who play Bridal Bingo are given a bingo card filled with wedding words when they arrive at the party. They are told to listen carefully to the bride. Every time they hear a word on their card they are to put an “X” across it. The first person to complete a line horizontally, vertically or horizontally wins a prize. Create a word scramble of 30 wedding words and give to party attendees. Give them 4 minutes to unscramble as many words as they can. The person with the most words unscrambled at the end of the time wins. Request that guests come to the party with marriage advice and recipes. Send notecards with the invitations to accommodate this request. Have the guest present the advice and recipes for to the bride. As they do, place the card into a scrapbook. Do the limbo. Dance for an hour.

7. Make note of who attends the party and the gifts that the bride gets. Make sure that the bride gets thank cards to the guests.

We hope you found this information both entertaining and insightful. Best of luck in this exciting time and if you do decide to go the spa route, you can book an appointment at 716-648-3120 or check us out online at www.cortosalons.com

We’ll be the first to admit it. Corto’s Salon isn’t for everyone.

Some men frankly don’t care about looking good. They’re content to go along with the crowd and fade into the background. Others think that entertaining at home consists of beer and chips for the guys…that success is just a matter of luck, and that cable TV provides all the cultural insights they need.

 Men that choose Corto’s choose to live their life with a great deal more sophistication and style…

So ask yourself ladies, how does your man choose?

And men…the choice is yours.

 Perhaps I have just stumbled upon my solution for replacing endlessly wasted Facebook time…Stephen Covey, famous author of The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People has come up with a new free social networking site that I have found to be extremely helpful. Covey shares great insight and techniques on how to live better, something we can all use… I recently joined the site in hopes to help our salon staff on getting insight on leadership and motivation, and in doing so I came across a lesson that is offered on the social networking site that highlights the four “puzzle pieces” to our lives: Mind, Body, Soul, and Heart. The lesson goes on to discuss how we must set goals for ALL of these components, as they are interconnected, rather than just individualized. Why I share this information with you is because I believe it is an extremely relevant and fundamental part of why we are in the business of spa. Spa is all about the rejuvination of your mind and body, a refreshing rebalancing act so that you can refocus on what is important in all 4 categories. However, spa isn’t your only answer to the puzzle. Covey goes on to discuss the importance of having a goal for each of the four components: Mind-Be a constant learner, Body-Get Healthy, Heart-Nurture Relationships, and Spirit-Serve and Contribute. I hope you find the lesson as worthwhile as I did!  Visit www.stephencovey.com/ to find out more on his new site,

Remember, it is an ongoing process that never ends. Such commitment to a balanced life will leave you nurished with a clear mindset. Personally speaking, I routinely get the 90 min Swedish Massage (how can you not love them!). I try to go every 4 weeks and balance this with regular exercise and healthy eating and constant hydration. But facials and pedicures also have such relaxation components in addition to the health benefits of care for the skin and feet, so you kill two birds with one stone.  I often hear people mention when they visit Corto’s, “I just don’t have enough time to spend at the spa”. In some cases this is true, but the reality is that most of us peceive spa as luxury over necessity, and forget the importance of finding such balance as Covey alludes to.

So perhaps Covey offers a convenient excuse next time your husband complains, “You spend way too much time at that darn spa!”. Tell him,”A world-renown doctor and author told me to focus on the 4 areas of my life, and I am doing just that!”

Check out what the Hamburg Sun had to say about Seasons newest Salon & Spa of Hamburg! Click here to visit the article on the Sun’s website.

By: SARAH REYNOLDS-SEWERYNIAK
SUN REPORTER

Seasons Salon and Day Spa by Corto’s has a new location as the business recently consolidated two separate facilities on South Park Avenue into one building located in the heart of the Village of Hamburg.

The new location conveniently puts the salon and spa under one roof.

“It’s nice for the client because if they are getting a spa treatment they can also get their hair done or another service right after,” said owner Peggy Corto.

As the holidays begin to approach so does the stress and with a whirlwind of tension caused by this time of the year it is sometimes difficult to make time for a vacation. Combine that with the struggling economy and many have found that it is difficult to afford a relaxing getaway trip.

Peggy, her husband Dominic and their son Nick have created the ultimate experience they would like to call a “spa-cation” or “stay-cation” where customers can enjoy themselves without having to travel far from home.

The salon and spa have an aray of new services to offer customers with, including a therapeutic soaking tub for individuals or couples to help add to a relaxing finish to a massage or body treatment. There are also plenty of massage services to choose from, including swedish, sports, maternity, hot stone, deep tissue and Reflexology massages.

The Reflexology massage focuses on special pressure points on the hands and feet for circulation and healing purposes.

There are also new suites to offer couples a few relaxing hours away from the hustle and bustle of everyday life.

Brides getting ready for their special day can also choose from a variety of packages to help unwind before their nuptials.

The “Get Me to the Church on Time” package is perfect for a stressed bride as it includes a half hour full body massage for relaxation along with a manicure, hairstyling and makeup to get the bride picture perfect for her special day. There is also new “Men’s Club” services offered.

When the salon opened it’s doors in 1962, Corto’s was always known for their signature gentlemen’s cut, and now the new location is bringing the classic master barber services. Customers can receive a hot lather shave with a straight razor, beard trims and barber cuts. Customers should also expect to be carefully wrapped in a hot towel and then dusted with old-fashioned talcum powder.

After all these years of a successful business and another busy location in Orchard Park, there is still one thing that the Corto’s say they care most about — their customers.

“Customer service is number one,” said Corto. “It is important that every customer that comes in feels welcome and comfortable. They are here to be waited on.”

The Cortos said that their staff at Season’s Salon and Spa by Corto’s would like to express their appreciation to their customers and all of the local vendors who helped supply food and other items at their recently held grand opening celebration at their new location.

Season’s Salon and Day Spa by Corto’s is located at 20 Buffalo St. in the Village of Hamburg.
The business is open Monday through Thursday from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., Friday from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Saturday from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.

For more information about the salon and spa, either call 648-3120 or go online and visit: www.cortossalon.com.