For a low key hens night why not get all your girls round for a Girls Night In. I have picked out all the best music, dvds, drinks and snacks for the ultime Girly night!

The DVDs…

Sex & The City Shoe Box Set Seasons 1-6
No girls night in would be complete without a Sex & The City DVD session, weather you sit through disc after disc or pick out your favourite classic episodes, this is a must-have box set for your girly night in.
£70
www.amazon.co.uk

Friends 15th Anniversary Complete Collection Seasons 1-10
Another classic box set of course is Friends, this 15th Anniversary collection has every single episode on 40 discs, so get ready for a serious back to back Friendsathon!
£54.97

www.amazon.co.uk

Read on…

To commemorate the historic occasion of Prince William and Kate Middleton, The Ritz announces a long weekend of grand celebrations to mark the Royal Wedding.

The date has been set, the gold-embossed invitations have been sent, and the country is brimming with anticipation. Now, with the Royal wedding just weeks away, The Ritz is delighted to launch its Monarchy & Matrimony accommodation programme alongside a long weekend of Ritz en fête, with patriot decorations taking centre stage in the hotel, exclusive commemorative gifts for guests and a sumptuous Royal Wedding Brunch in the majestic Ritz Restaurant. With an enviable location only moments away from Buckingham Palace and Clarence House, The Ritz is the premier destination to immerse yourself in the excitement and splendour of a regal affair and a nation in celebration.

To celebrate the Royal Wedding at The Ritz is to celebrate the occasion in the surrounds of your very own palace, cosseted within sumptuous Louis XVI inspired interiors that have been the home away from home for British and international Royalty since the hotel’s opening in 1906. Within the gilt-edged walls of this grand London landmark His Royal Highness The Duke of Windsor dined and danced in The Palm Court, Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II celebrated her 80th birthday and His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales awarded the hotel the honour of a Royal Warrant.
Read on…

I was thinking about designing my own head piece for my wedding but to be honest I don’t know where to start so now I am looking for somewhere that can design something amazing for me. I am quite eccentric and I want something really over the top and fabulous. I really don’t have a clue where to look, can you point me in the right direction.

Alice – Lincolnshire

Hi Alice, I have the perfect place for you, I recently discovered Hatsonheads,  a wonderfully creative and design led Millinery business, developed by business partners and talented Fashion Designers, Angela Coupe and Carol Robinson.

Located on the outskirts of Lincoln, the modern and contemporary Artisan Design Studio is home to Angela and Carol’s fabulous headwear creations.  All their designs are hand tailored and available in a range of styles, all with a real emphasis on creative flair. Their bespoke service would definitely be able to work with you to create something amazing! They also offer a fabulous selection of  hat making kits so you can be the creative mind behind your own creation, they come beautifully gift packaged and include step-by-step instructions, they also come complete with a gorgeous designer hat box for storage and all the materials you need to design your very own hat or fascinator. Cost effective, at just £29.95, they are the perfect solution to achieving a unique head piece.
Read on…

There is nothing I enjoy more than the indulgence of going for Afternoon Tea, it is a long standing English tradition and the perfect way to escape the snow and enjoy a cozy afternoon. Whether you are looking to enjoy an intimate date with your fiancé or a champagne filled afternoon with the girls, I have spent the last month visiting my favourite establishments in London so I can report back on their festive interpretations of this timeless treat…

The Ritz

Afternoon Tea at The Ritz has been enjoyed by a wide and varied audience over the last decade. It has become the quintessential British experience and has attracted patrons such as King Edward VII, Charlie Chaplin, Sir Winston Churchill, General De Gaulle and Judy Garland. It is my number one venue for an afternoon of decadence and glamour! It is everything that you could hope for and from the moment we walked in to the grand building we were blown away by the beautiful festive décor and elegant setting of the Palm Court dining room.
Read on…

If you’re looking for a glamorous and unusual way to throw your hen party then look no further than the exclusive new Cupcake Decorating experience with Cake Boy, the cake emporium and cookery school owned by sexy French Pâtissier, Eric Lanlard, who has baked cakes for the likes of Madonna, Claudia Schiffer, Liz Hurley and Elton John.

Red Letter Days launched the Cupcake Masterclass to celebrate 21 years in business with a range of over 1000 experiences. So I went down to the very first class to check things out…

The hands on experience takes place in Eric’s gorgeous Cake Boy boutique, a unique cake emporium in London’s Battersea, which looks like it’s straight out of a scene from Sex and The City!
Read on…

If you’re looking for a glamorous and unusual way to throw a hen party then look no further than the exclusive new experience with Cake Boy, the cake emporium and cookery school owned by sexy French Pâtissier, Eric Lanlard, who has baked cakes for Madonna, Claudia Schiffer, Liz Hurley and Elton John.  Launched by Red Letter Days The Cupcake Decorating master class with Eric, is available now at only £49 per person.

You and your hens will be taught skills that you can replicate at home, using simple cake decorating tools. This hands on experience takes place in Eric’s gorgeous Cake Boy boutique, a unique cake emporium which looks like it’s straight out of a scene from Sex and The City! You’ll all learn to spread and pipe buttercream icing like a pro, use subtle and vibrant paste colours, roll and cut icing to create decorative shapes and adorn your cakes with glitter, sprinkles and more. All materials are provided, including plenty of unadorned cupcakes and everyone will get to take home 12 of their very own gorgeous cupcakes.

Also be in with a chance of wining £1000 for baking a cake…

If you fancy yourself as the next Eric Lanlard, Red Letter Days is also launching a national baking competition to celebrate its 21st birthday. Red Letter Days are inviting the public to bake it a birthday cake for the chance to win prizes, including an all expenses paid trip for 2 to Sri Lanka from Advantage Luxury Specialist, a cake making master class with Eric, and £1000 worth of Red Letter Days.   Cup cakes, fairy cakes, celebration cakes, any type of cake – there is no restriction on size, shape, colour or recipe, and entries can be submitted as photos or videos to social.redletterdays.co.uk, the brand’s new online community. Launching on 31st May 2010 and open to ages 12 and up, the competition will culminate in a birthday cake-off in London between 8 finalists on July 5th (the brand’s birthday), to be judged by Eric himself.

Let the cake-off games begin!

Not only can getting married be a costly affair for the bride and groom but also for the wedding guests as a new outfit, a wedding gift, time off work, baby sitters, and the cost of attending a hen or stag party are all part of the bill.  Hen and Stag parties have seen a shift from an evening celebration to long weekend breaks and even week long holidays in the sun. Whilst it’s an exciting time for those involved the event shouldn’t be marred with the stress of spiralling costs. So if you have been appointed the all important Hen Party Planner role, here are some top tips from our friends at GoHen.com….

Hen parties for the most part appear slightly different from stag groups in their approach to booking events. Typically a hen will be concerned about being exposed in any capacity to the group, she will worry more than stags but in most cases she will plan in more detail to mitigate any shortfall in preparation. Hens also book less as they fear being ripped off and will often attempt to organise various activities on a one-to-one basis as opposed to booking complete packages with a service provider. The key is to book with a reputable, recommended and reliable company like GoHen.com who provide excellent value for money packages, professional assurances, not to mention saving money in time, calls, confirmations, hassle, pressure, to do lists etc.
Read on…

The spa break is no longer a female preserve! A growing number of men are going to spas with their partners or friends. Men now make up nearly a third of all spa goers, and they’re not just signing up for sports massages and manicures. They’re getting facials, vichy showers, body scrubs and wraps, waxes etc. The reason? Spas have learned how to create agender-neutral atmosphere where both men and women feel comfortable, with treatments that are named specifically for men like the “Gentleman’s Facial¨

So for those men out there looking for something a little bit different for their stag weekend or for a little post wedding pampering you simply must check out  SIS – Spa In Spain, the Majorcan-based online booking agency specializing in Spa & Wellness trips to Spain, has made a selection of Spa packages dedicated to helping men discover the power of looking and feeling their best, through advanced skin and body care services.

To find out more visit their website www.spa-in-spain.com

I’m really excited, series two of Wedding TV’s reality show Celebrity Hens and Stags, is starting on Thursday the 7th of January.

With many brave boyfriends having popped the question on New Year’s Eve, Celebrity Hens & Stags is the perfect inspiration for all you brides and husbands-to-be.
Featuring famous faces such as Pete Bennett from Big Brother, WAG Danielle Lloyd, Neil and Christine Hamilton, party girl Bianca Gascoigne, Blazin’ Squad member Kenzie and former Hollyoaks actor Paul Danan, each episode will see a celebrity paired with a stag or hen party. The celebrity will act as chief organiser and it’s up to them to get the hen and stag parties started. Working with leading hen and stag organisers Redseven, the celebrities will be in charge of some demanding clients!

In episode one, Pete will be lap dancing in Newcastle; in week two Danielle will be playing It’s A Knockout in Bristol; episode three will see Neil and Christine Hamilton checking out an Adonis male cabaret show in Brighton; episode four sees Kenzie living it up in London at an MTV dance class; the penultimate episode will see Paul playing drinking games in an Irish bar in Marbella, and lastly Bianca will be travelling to Riga in Latvia.

Will the surprised hen and stag parties welcome the addition of someone famous to their celebrations; will they steal the bride-to-be’s moment and will the celebrity take their leadership duties seriously? Tune in this January to find out, from Thursdays 7th January at 10pm on Wedding TV (Sky 266 & Freesat 400).

As the recession tightens its grip on the nation, a fab company called glo wellbeing has created a bespoke hen pamper party service that provides luxurious treatments at affordable prices.  By offering a top-to-pinky toe menu of pampering fun and indulgence, glo’s pamper parties allow hens to design their own dream party for that perfect added extra to a girlie hen weekend or in preparation for a big night out.

Kelly Skipper – Director Glo says: “We understand that some people are feeling the pinch so we wanted to create a hen pamper party service that responds to people’s changing needs.  The flexibility of our pamper parties means that our clients are totally in control of booking in treatments according to their budget.  Most people find this approach much more versatile compared to the traditional expensive spa or beauty salon packages and it means that for those who don’t want a treatment, don’t miss out on the fun.”

Treatments range from massage and manicures to facials and pedicures and prices start from as little as £12.50 per treatment. Brides-to-be also receive a bottle of exclusive glo massage oil when they book a party. With a client portfolio including Girls Aloud and Pussycat Dolls, glo helps you look and feel like a celebrity without the designer  price tag.

You can find out more or book your pamper party by calling 020 7096 0385 or visit their website www.glo-wellbeing.co.uk

As most of you know I recently wrote about the 12 best places in London for afternoon tea. Well had the wonderful Tea, London & Sightseeing afternoon tea at the Swissôtel launched when I wrote that it would have definitely made my top 12.

I was invited to sample the fabulous TLSee afternoon tea that just launched this Friday and was not disappointed!

Under the guidance of Executive Chef Brian Spark, TLSee afternoon tea offers a bite-sized tour of the capital with each teatime treat exquisitely baked and designed to represent the vibrancy of the city. Traditional finger sandwiches and home-baked scones with clotted cream headline the afternoon tea menu before guests are treated to a selection of mouth watering macaroons, lemon drizzle cake and a scrumptious carrot cake to mention just a few. The highlight is the skillful presentation of the miniature London landmarks, my personal favourite was the replica 3D chocolate Big Ben filled with raspberry ganache and the Crown Jewels finished in gold leaf was also delicious, these are just two of the nine novel treats available. The other iconic patisseries include Tower Bridge, a London Cab, the London Eye, Temple Underground Sign, ER red post box, St Paul’s Cathedral and a London Routemaster.

TLSee is destined to be a stylish occasion! As guests take solace from the busy city for an afternoon of indulgence the only decision to make would be which tea to choose to accompany all the wonderful treats.

TLSee is priced at £28 per person and as a launch offer will include a glass of Alain Thienot Brut Champagne.

For reservations: +44 20 7300 1700 or www.tlsee.co.uk

This weekend I was fortunate enough to attend a fabulous chocolate workshop run by Frances Cooley of Clifton Cakes who is trained in the art of truffle making and chocolate sculpture. As well as her cake business Frances has been running chocolate courses since 2006…

We made the two hour drive down to Bristol and when we arrived at the Rodney Hotel we were shown in to a bright sunny room along with about 12 other people where Frances introduced herself to us. She started the class by talking to us a little about chocolate and its history and we got to taste premium quality chocolates from the best plantations round the world. She then talked us through what we were going to be doing over the next two hours.

Firstly we split in to small groups of 4 and followed Frances’s animated instruction to make a batch of delicious Belgian truffles. She had pre-tempered the chocolate (due to lack of time) but talked us through how it was done and explained the difference between tempered and non-tempered chocolate. We were also provided with some basic ganache (chocolate and cream) and a selection of flavorings to use in our creation! We then started off by mixing in our ganache filling with some finely chopped ginger (our flavour of choice) and Frances then showed us how to pipe these out on to our tray in to perfect little truffle sized balls. She made it look so easy but when it came to my go they ended up looking more like little puddles of mud, hehe.
Read on…

Afternoon tea is a long standing English tradition and the perfect way to indulge with family and friends in the stressful lead up to a wedding. Whether you are looking to spend an intimate afternoon with your fiancé or a champagne filled afternoon with the girls, I have spent the last 2 months visiting all the best establishments in London so I can report back to you on the latest interpretations of this timeless treat…

Brown’s Hotel

From the moment I stepped in to this traditional tea room I knew I was in for a treat! The pianist was busy playing and the waiters were serving up the most delicious looking treats, I even spotted an old-fashioned cake trolley piled high with goodies.

For those of you who don’t know Brown’s Hotel is the original and oldest tea room and has recently been awarded the Tea Guild’s very prestigious ‘Top London Afternoon Tea 2009’. I have to say that it definitely deserves it, everything about the afternoon tea was fabulous from the extensive choice of teas, including their delicious own blend (they also have two tea sommeliers for those who would like a little advice, I had the gorgeous fresh rose bud tea), to the beautiful presentation of the cake stand! Read on…

Recently I attended a fantastic burlesque and show girl workshop at Frame in East London. It was a 2 and a half-hour workshop taken by the Whoopee Beaux Belles and Amber Topaz.

Knowing very little about burlesque I wasn’t really sure what to expect. I was asked to bring along a pair of heels and an open mind…
The first hour taken by legendary Amber Topaz who has performed and taught burlesque all over the world was just brilliant, she put us all at ease straight away and before we knew it we were shimmying and shaking all over the room. She taught us some simple moves such as the bump and grind as well as techniques for seductively using props to add a bit more life and humor to our routine and of course we were encouraged to develop our flirting and teasing skills, but most importantly she taught us to let go of our inhibitions and have some fun!

We then took a half hour break where we were served tea and cupcakes on beautiful vintage china and toasted our success as burlesque protégés with a glass of chilled bubbles!

Read on…

I was hoping you could help me, I am trying to find something interesting to do for my hens weekend, I would really like to go away for the weekend to France or Italy but I really have no ideas of what we could do when we get there and I am also aware that not all my friends can afford to spend as much the others, we have decided on a budget of £300-400 each for the entire weekend, this would need to include flights, accommodation and spending money! Any suggestions you have would be much appreciated.

Beccy – Lancs

Hi Beccy

I know it can be difficult to come up with original ideas for a hens weekend, especially when you are trying to accommodate different budgets. I have a suggestion for you which I think could be perfect! It is an exclusive weekend course in France where you’ll learn to make your own unique wedding tiara and jewellery for you and your bridesmaids! Read on…

I’m really excited about this collaboration between The Met Bar and luxury seductive lingerie brand, The Modern Courtesan! They have created the perfect afternoon date – sassy ‘Seduction Classes’ served with a delectable slice of cake on the side. What more can a girl ask for!

Whether you want to tempt your partner along or have a giggle with your hens, the classes are open to everyone interested in uncovering the secrets to seduction.

The afternoon includes a welcome Modern Courtesan cocktail, an aphrodisiac-inspired Afternoon De-Light menu and titillating entertainment in the form of short s-educative experiences from leading experts on the subject. Read on…

Dear Wedding Girl, I was wondering if you could give me some advice. I live in Scotland and at the end of September me and my 4 bridesmaids are planning to come down to London for my hens weekend. We have no idea where to stay as none of us are too familiar with London, we have a budget of about £150-£200 each for the hotel so would like to stay somewhere nice, perhaps somewhere that has a spa where we can have a bit of pampering. Also we would like to be somewhere quite central so that we can go out and have some fun without having any hassle getting back to our hotel in the evening.

Sara – Aberdeen

Hi Sara

I have a great suggestion for you. One of my favourite hotels the Halkin in Park Lane (10 minute walk to Oxford Street) has just introduced a fantastic package for brides called Brides Maid-up at. 

The hotel has teamed up with a hot new beauty company Pampalicious to present the perfect package for brides who wants to celebrate theiir prenuptials in style with a group of friends.  

Read on…

The idea for ‘A Most Curious Party…’ was born through vintage enthusiast Rebecca’s own love of everything vintage! Rebecca spent months scouring antique shops and car boot sales to source unusual pieces to style her own wedding last July. After that Rebecca couldn’t stop collecting so decided to hire out all the objects and help others who want to bring a little vintage charm to their event.

Rebecca said she would have given her right arm to have found all the things she was looking for in one place and for some one who loved it too to give her a helping hand, especially when she was running out of time and steam. So here she is…

Read on…

If you are looking for something a bit different to do for your hen and stag activities I have found just the thing…

The Thames RIB Experience at London’s Embankment offers amazing boat trips on the River Thames with some high-speed action thrown in for any of you adrenaline junkies. They have two 12 seater boats which are the newest and fastest boats on the river Thames. Unlike your usual leisurely trips on the Thames, this family run business with their knowledge of London and their good sense of humor really makes this an experience to remember!

We arrived at the pier on a beautiful sunny morning full of anticipation. With the sun shining and the Embankment buzzing I knew this was going to be a fun day…

After being fitted with a life jacket and given a few safety guidelines we were off… We headed down the Thames towards Canary Wharf taking in the best sights London has to offer: Big Ben, the Houses of Parliament, The London Eye, London Bridge, Tate Modern, Tower of London and City Hall. In the middle of the trip when you reach Tower bridge the skipper lets rip and you experience some amazing high-speed action as the boat flies through the water at 60 miles an hour. They also take pictures of the you in the midst of all the action which you can purchase afterwards, a great memento of such a fun experience! Read on…

Boy did my girlfriends and I have fun at the B bar last night! Before you ask girls, this is not the hottest new bar or night club, it is a gorgeously girly cosmetics store in Oxford Circus where you can have your make-up professionally applied in just 30 minutes whilst sipping a mouth watering cocktail!!

Now let me tell you why this place is so fabulous…. We all know what it’s like to be in such a rush to get ready that you end up looking more C-list WAG than A-list Hollywood! Getting ready for a night out after work or straight from a busy Saturday’s shopping trip is always a nightmare! I always end up looking a total mess after doing my make-up while sitting on the bus and usually spend the first 10 minutes after arriving at the bar re-doing it in the bathroom! Not any more… B Never Too Busy To Be Beautiful’s brand new bar concept, The B Bar, is an ultra glamorous make-over and cocktail bar rolled into one.

Read on…

Beneath the heart of the bustling Financial District, just 2 minutes from Liverpool Street station,lies the enigmatic sanctuary that is “The Spa at The CityPoint Club”. You would never know that below the chaotic city is a hidden 3000 square foot of pure bliss; white fluffy robes & slippers, ice cold champagne and more pampering than a girl could ever need. Of course I jumped at the chance to go and find out more…

Although The Citypoint Club is an exclusive members only club during the week, come the weekend when ‘the city’ shuts down, this oasis of calm and relaxation opens its doors to brides and hens for a day or weekend of pure pampering and indulgence!

When I arrived I was greeted and shown to the gorgeous cafe for a welcome drink. I leisurely sipped my fresh smoothie and looked over my personal treatment schedule for the day before I was taken on a tour of the spa.

The spa – which offers a wealth of peerless pampering treatments, rituals and cosmetic procedures – has just unveiled its 7 artisan treatment rooms and New York style pedicure and nail areas which compliment a refined caché that includes a stunning 20 meter ozone treated swimming pool, sauna, steam room and a soporific relaxation room.After being shown around I was left in the gorgeous changing area to slip in to a white fluffy robe and slippers….
Read on…