Our Wedding: Hen Parties Doha-Style

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.