Before The Wedding

Trending: Hen And Stag Dos Abroad

Ranging from a couple of days of lounging in the sun to an adrenaline-packed weekend of activities, a mini-holiday with your closest friends is just what the doctor ordered in the midst of wedding planning stress, so it’s really no wonder it’s becoming such a popular option among local couples.

HENS IN SANTORINI

Marilù Vella, who got married in September 2014, chose a relaxing stay in the beautiful Santorini for her hen do. “My maid of honour Rebekah, one of my best friends Justine and I decided to go abroad, mostly just to relax and have a bit of an adventure. I'm not too much of a party girl so I wasn't after a week of partying,” she says.

The girls chose Santorini as it is perfect for a summer getaway, and the decision was a good one, according to Marilu, who adds, “the photos don't do justice to this stunning island.”

During their stay, the hens took it easy on most days, spending days on different beaches “eating amazing Greek food and luscious fresh fruit, and of course drinking cocktails!” They were based in Fira, which Marilu says is stunning and boasts great nightlife. “We visited most beaches on the island, and of course the magnificent Oia at sunset. The food in Santorini is some of the best I've ever tasted – the fish is so fresh – and we had long lunches by the sea, some of which lasted hours. A visit to the popular Metaxi Max Restaurant was also a must,” she gushes.

“We had a couple of nights out in bars and clubs. In Santorini, the bars overlook the caldera and it’s spectacular to just sit there with a drink, having a chat with tourists and locals,” she continues. “I had the most fantastic hen do, and would definitely do it all over again with my girlfriends. Travelling with friends is truly special and we had the time of our lives!”

BERLIN STAG WEEKEND

Andreas Aquilina, who recently tied the knot, chose Berlin for a stag weekend with 16 of his closest friends. “I held my stag do in Berlin, a city I had been longing to go back to for quite a while. The fact that it has good connections with various cities also helped, because four of the people coming for the weekend were flying in from different cities around Europe.”

While the group only had two full days in the city, they made sure to pack a lot in. “Sleeping was not much of a priority – there was time for that when we got back home. Berlin is a city that offers exceptional nightlife, and we intended on making the best of it. As a result, I'm pretty sure that no one got more than four hours of sleep a night over the trip!” he laughs.

“The highlights were a few hours of paintball in the middle of a forest outside the city and an afternoon and night out in a ruin-bar on the roof of a car-park in the east side of Berlin. For the rest of the trip, we were basically walking around the beautiful city absorbing the sights by day, dining in the evenings and partying into the early mornings,” Andreas continues. “It will be a holiday I'll remember all my life – catching up with all my friends at once over such a short period in a city that offers so much made for an amazing time.”