Tips for a Stylish Hen Celebration

Writer Mark Twain once said, “To get the full value of joy you must have someone to divide it with.” 

More than 100 years on, marriage is still one of life’s biggest milestones, and for the bride, organising a memorable pre-wedding celebration with close friends is a much valued pre-marital ritual.

Wellness Consultant of Rocco Forte, Irene Forte, recently married in a Norman cathedral in the mountaintop town of Caltabellotta on the Italian island of Sicily. For Irene, hen parties should be “all about spa experiences, culinary experiences and weekends abroad.”

Irene’s sister, Lydia  – Rocco Forte Hotels’ Group Director of Food and Beverage  – celebrated her wedding in 2016. She adds, “Hen parties are about cultural excursions, wine tasting and things that you would normally like to do with your friends.

Italian pampering experiences
Hotel de la Ville, Rome

Relax with friends before your big day with spa experiences at Hotel de la Ville in Rome, an  18th century former palace at the top of the Spanish steps. 

Brides-to-be can be pampered with Irene Forte skincare products made with nourishing Sicilian botanicals in De la Ville Spa, where the scent of oranges fills the air.

Irene suggests a Mediterranean mudding ritual in the spa’s double treatment suite. It begins with a scrub and a mineral-rich cleansing mask which is combined with herb-infused steam to open the pores, then ends with a body, face and head massage. Irene explains, “A therapist massages you with their knuckles to stimulate circulation and enhance natural collagen production. It tightens and lifts the skin and sculpts the facial muscles.” 

After a morning of pampering, Irene suggests taking part in a private cooking lesson with Creative Director of Food Fulvio Pierangelini, followed by dinner and cocktails on the hotel rooftop, which overlooks Rome.

Exploring the capital in style
Brown’s Hotel, London

Brown’s Hotel is one of London’s most stylish hotels with heritage to match, renowned for hosting honeymooning dignitaries as well as renowned authors and royal guests. 

Irene’s favourite suite is the Kipling Suite, named after Rudyard Kipling – who wrote The Jungle Book at the hotel. Designed for social gatherings, its vast living room is the perfect spot for a private Champagne Afternoon Tea or for pre-dinner cocktails.    

If you’re looking for something exhilarating during your stay, the hotel can arrange a guided tour for you and your friends of the city’s most memorable sites in your own fleet of Mini Coopers, complete with drivers and guides.

To be by the seaside
Masseria Torre Maizza, Puglia

Looking for a beachside escape with friends before your big day? Masseria Torre Maizza is a chic retreat in the heel of Italy, perfect for a group of friends with its colonnaded pool surrounded by pink bougainvillaea. 

Irene recommends a yoga class, massage in Torre Maizza Spa or a round of golf on the resort’s nine-hole course, cocooned in olive and almond trees. After dusk, dress up with your girls, don some heels and sample regional wines recommended by the hotel’s Sommelier matched with a sumptuous tasting menu.

If you have a head for heights, experience the Apulian coast in your own hot air balloon and discover Terra delle Gravine, a 28,000 hectare park home to ancient rock art and ravines.

Whether you choose to mark your pre-wedding celebration in one of our spas, over Afternoon Tea, in a Mini Cooper or hot air balloon, Rocco Forte Hotels offers an array of  unique experiences to enjoy before your big day.