After the band was chosen and the napkins color-coordinated to match her shoes, Kacey Knauer, a bride-to-be, had another critical matter to address: her skin, and the skin of the nine women in her bridal party.

So Knauer, the 35-year-old owner of TempTrends, a staffing agency in Manhattan, invited her nearest and dearest — including her mother and future mother-in-law — for a night out at the TriBeCa MedSpa, replete with mimosas and cupcakes. An aesthetician assessed each woman's face and devised a treatment plan — a quick chemical peel, say, or an injection of wrinkle filler. Or maybe, for a bridesmaid with age spots, a series of Fraxel laser treatments over months, allowing for recovery time.

For Knauer, who will be married in December, cosmetic interventions for herself and her entourage are as vital as the centerpieces or food.

"If I were 25 or 26 and getting married, a bracelet, necklace or matching earrings would be fine," she said.

But at 35?

"Giving them a bracelet isn't as special as spending an evening together. Plus, as you get older, everyone is more conscientious about their skin and appearance," she said. "Giving them something for themselves — as opposed to something that they'll never wear again — is more meaningful."