If you're a bridesmaid or maid of honour looking for hen do inspiration, you'll love our brand new Real Hen Do feature, where we cover hen parties from real brides, around the UK and abroad! We're starting our series with bride Alex, who had an amazing destination hen do in Marbella, Spain...
Alex and 16 hens hit Marbella for a three-night hen do in May, with the main group flying from Gatwick to meet the five bridesmaids who had flown ahead to prep the villa. Of course, each hen had their personalised tote filled with hen do supplies, including a Bride Tribe wristband and badge, sunglasses, nail varnish and nail file, lip balm, painkillers and mints. They arrived on Friday afternoon at Villa Casa at Camino Cristo de los Molinos, just outside of central Marbella. The villa was the perfect size for a hen do, thanks to the eight bedrooms, six bathrooms, and three pools (including a heated indoor pool).
Friday was a chilled out start to the weekend, with games in the villa and by the pool. The hens played some classic hen do games, such as the Mr and Mrs Quiz and Porn or Polish, and some slightly more unusual ones, such as Willy Bingo, Racing Willies and The Body Part Game, where Alex had to identify each of the hen's other halves by looking at pictures of their hands, feet and noses. The night was rounded off with drinks and supper in the villa.Â
Saturday was the day of the pool party, which was held at the glamorous La Sala by the Sea beachfront club at Puerto Banus, a marina to the south of Marbella town that's famous for its amazing nightlife. With a live DJ, waiter service to the beds and plenty of delicious cocktails, La Sala was the perfect way to kick off a fun Saturday. If you're looking to do something similar for your own hen, be aware that pool parties at places like La Sala include a cover charge and book up far in advance. Alternatives include Plaza Beach, Nikki Beach and Ocean Club.
For their night out in the port area of Marbella, the girls went for a classic black and white dress theme, with Alex in white (of course!). Temporary tattoos, glitter and face gems, and masks of the groom's face were obligatory accessories for a fab night out. There were also hen challenges involved, including getting piggyback rides, taking selfies with other hens or stags, and finding people to serenade the bride.Â
Sunday started with a relaxing outdoor yoga session with Radiant Yoga to help ease any hangovers, before heading into the Old Town to explore. In the evening the hens headed to a restaurant that transformed into a club for more drinks and dancing. Unfortunately, disaster struck that night as the villa was burgled, and the girls spent the next morning dealing with the police before heading home. If you're planning a hen do abroad, be aware that hen parties are often targeted by thieves as they know that everyone will be out during the evenings. Be sure to lock any valuables in safes if you have them, or hide them if you don't. Luckily the girls still had their phones and passports, so nothing crucial was lost, but it was a sour note in an otherwise amazing Marbella hen do.Â
Suppliers
- Villa Casa 7 at Camino Cristo de los Molinos, Marbella
- La Sala by the Sea, Puerto Banus
- Radiant Yoga, Marbella
