Our Wedding: Hen Parties Doha-Style

Monday 22 June 2015

It's not just me that's getting married next month. Two of my closest friends in Doha, Hayley and Rosalyn are also tying the knot very shortly after me. It was therefore befitting that we held a couple of hen parties over the space of a fortnight recently in order to properly celebrate all of the upcoming nuptials.

First off, the very kind people at The Grand Hyatt offered to throw a stunning bash for Rosalyn and me in the Presidential Suite of the hotel one Thursday night after work. As we stepped into the suite (which is larger than a good-sized flat) for the first time, Ros and I were astonished at all of the effort that had been put into creating a truly memorable evening for us. There were gorgeous cupcakes laid out on the table courtesy of Biscotti downstairs, the room was full of balloons and we even had our very own private bar and waiter service on the huge wrap-around balcony outside.

My friends pitched in with a huge balloon, sashes, badges and a very realistic-looking cake of their own. We are so grateful to everybody involved in the arrangements (you know who you are!), and particularly the gorgeous Noha, party-planner extraordinaire. Here are a few snaps from a very fun evening before we headed down to Dunes Bar for a night of dancing.
























At around 2am, Rosalyn and I headed back up to the suite, snuggled up in the huge cloud-like bed and chatted the night away. Both of us felt extremely lucky to have such brilliant friends and to have been given the opportunity to enjoy such a unique and special celebration with them. Thank you, Grand Hyatt!

Needless to say a few hours' worth of chill-time was required the next day.




I'd be mightily surprised if there is a better place in Doha for a post-party recovery session.

A week later (when we had just about got over the last hangover), it was time to celebrate fellow Essex girl Hayley's upcoming nuptials with a very different kind of celebration. We were taking to the high seas on a traditional Dhow Boat, complete with DJ and lots and lots of booze.

Despite being swarmed by men on boats and jet skis all afternoon (rather like sharks circling their prey), we had one of the most fun days I have had so far in Doha. It was partly due to the bright sun beaming down from the sky, the stunning vistas spread out in front of us and the fantastic music pumping out of the sound system, but it was mainly down to the super bunch of ladies on the boat. At certain points that afternoon, I laughed so much that my whole body ached.














































It was around that point as we arrived back on dry land at the end of the day, that I was brought down to earth with a bump. The sudden burst of excitement that accompanied the realisation that Hayley, Rosalyn and I were actually really getting married in just a matter of weeks hit me properly for the first time. And I don't think I've recovered since.

11 comments:

  1. Looks like you have a fab group of friends in Doha and you have lots of fun together! Penis cake has got to be done...
    Lots of love,
    Angie

    SilverSpoon London

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    1. They are amazing - really fun girls who are all very sassy and independent. You kind of have to be to survive out here! Penis cake was unexpected but brilliant!

      Polly xx

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  2. Interesting looking cake! How fun that you all went on a dhow boat together, were you tempted to try the jet ski?

    Suze | LuxuryColumnist

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    1. Haha, interesting is definitely the word. Rich and I have been been on jet skis before, but I was a bit apprehensive about jumping on the back of one of these guys' ones!!!

      Polly xx

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  3. Looks like you've had a great couple of hen dos! I bet that bed was the perfect place to nurse a very sore head..!

    Lauren xx
    The Lifestyle Diaries

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    1. Sooo much fun. And I think that was one of the best beds I've ever slept/napped in!

      Polly xx

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  4. Ahh what lovely hen parties you all had! So sweet that you got the presidential suite ;) And that cake is fantastic; I can only imagine the reaction at the cake shop when the order was first put in. So jealous of all the sunshine :) and not long now, how exciting! Lots of love, Andrea xxx

    Andrea's Passions

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    1. I know, we're so lucky! The people at the Grand Hyatt are rather lovely :-) Haha, my friends will be very chuffed that you thought this was a shop-bought cake, as they actually made it themselves! Impressive huh?! Not long at all, and even sooner that I get to meet you! Very excited.

      Polly xx

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  5. What an amazing couple of parties!!! Those cupcakes look delish, and I love that you had a penis cake, haha! How on earth did you get a bakery in a Muslim country to bake that!?

    C x | Lux Life

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    1. Hahaha, see my response to Andrea above. I have a couple of very talented pastry chefs as friends! I would have loved to see any cake shop owner's face out here if they had requested it!! Those cupcakes were heavenly.

      Polly xx

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  6. Absolutely classic - what a fantastic couple of days!

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