PLANNING Real Hen Weekend 13837 views

When Amanda Hayfield got back to Devon after a hen weekend in Bath, she sent WeddingPath the details…

Amanda Hayfield
16-18 May 2008

Friday am
Amanda’s fab hen weekend started at a breakfast with her mother, Ann, sister and maid-of-honour, Debs and a friend, Heidi, before leaving Brixham, in Devon for the bright lights of Bath.

…pm
After traffic jams and diversions, they finally arrived and checked into the Royal Hotel.

«We had immaculate rooms with every detail you could imagine – even shoe shiners and sewing kits», says Amanda.

…and later
At the hotel bar they were joined by two family friends and cousins, Sam and Andrea, making up a party of 8 for the evening. Debs made sure Amanda donned a hen sash and veil – attracting a lot of general attention! After several goldfish-bowl-size glasses of Rose, Debs and friend Heidi ordered a bottle of Taittinger – and then the fun really started. The eight hens played a game where they had to remember fictitious nick-names for each other. The penalty for forgetting a name was to ‘drink up’. Bubbles got the better of the b2b, especially as she had not eaten since breakfast. After getting changed for dinner, she walked to Garfunkels, near Pultney Bridge but couldn’t face eating!

Saturday am
After breakfast, the party split up for shopping and sightseeing. At lunchtime, a further four hens arrived, making the party up to a total of 12. Meanwhile Amanda, Ann, Debs and Heidi headed to the Thermae Spa. They changed into swimsuits and went up to the open-air rooftop pool before hitting the aromatherapy steam rooms where there were stone foot spas. They finished off at the hot springs in the Minerva Bath, complete with rapids. Afterwards, they went back to the roof top to ‘chillax’, the word Debs coined for relaxing and chilling out – just what a bride needs!

... pm
Some of the Hens headed to Sally Lunn’s for traditional tea and Bath cakes and visited the Cellar Museum with its Medieval and Roman foundations. Then it was time to get ready for the evening celebrations with a meal at the hotel restaurant. Amanda and her mum decorated the table with confetti and ribbons. Amanda had also made pink handbag favours with truffles and name cards for the hens, The finishing touch was a massive champagne balloon that Debs had bought.

…and later

«The hens arrived and thought the table looked fab».

Amanda had put little boxes of wedding trivia on the table, and they all played the name game over many bottles of wine! The mums were a little emotional, but after the meal they headed to a club, called the Second Bridge for a boogie and a laugh. Back at the hotel, Debs, Caroline (sister of the groom), Heidi and the b2b went up to a room to chat and drink wine.

«It was such a nice bonding session and we all talked about life and our feelings, and felt like we got to know each other better!», says Amanda.

Sunday am
Amanda and her mum went for an early morning stroll.

«It was so nice to have some quiet time to ourselves. We headed back for breakfast and were still the first ones at the buffet table!»

After breakfast, they said their goodbyes and checked out. Feeling blue that her new family members were off home, Debs suggested doing some last minute shopping and sightseeing before heading home. All the way back down the motorway they reminisced about the laughs and memories!

«I will never forget my hen weekend in Bath and will always remember good wine, good food, good family and good friends!», says Amanda.

Amanda’s Contact Book
The Royal Hotel 01225 463134
Garfunkel's 01225 461465
Thermae Bath Spa 0844 888 0844
Sally Lunn’s 01225 461634
The Second Bridge 01225 464449

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