Here come the hens!
Tuesday 8th December 2009
All I knew was that for my hen do we were going to Butlins in Minehead.
My mate, Nicola Parry, had arranged the whole thing and when we arrived in our chalets, each of the girls had angel wings, halos and T-shirts with 'Mel's Angels' written on them.
Meanwhile, I looked like I'd walked straight off the set of Sister Act, in my nun's habit and afro wig. The girls also gave me a neck ruffle with Delores, my middle name, stitched on it in sequins.
That night, we hit one of the resort's bars, but we wanted to save ourselves for the next day, when we went on a zip wire, go-karts and bumper boats.
After a buffet in the resort, it was time to get glammed up. As the girls got into their neon disco jumpsuits, I wondered what on earth I'd be given to wear!
This time, it was a wedding dress, which they'd bought from a charity shop and customized with neon netting, orange silk flowers, plus a neon pink sparkly veil. 'I'm a disco bride,' I grinned, doing a twirl.
We headed into the resort for the night and, in the first bar, I was given a list of secrets like 'My mum once caught me having sex', and I had to guess which of the girls each one was about. It was a real eye-opener!
Next, it was time for dares. First up, I had to get a pair of pants from a bloke and put them on. Everyone turned me down, but finally I got a man dressed as Elvis to lend me his. Thankfully, my next dare was easier – to dance with a bald man.
After a wicked night, we collapsed in our chalet and slept until a much-needed fry up was served the next morning.
Go-karting, wearing Elvis's pants and learning my mate's deepest darkest secrets. What more could you ask for?
BRIDE-TO-BE: MELANIE MCDONALD, 34, Hereford
THE LUCKY MAN: GARETH PUGH, 37
- Where: Butlins, Minehead.
- Cost p/p: £120 for two nights, including breakfast and buffet dinner.
- Who went: Me, my mum, Lynn McDonald, 54, my chief bridesmaid, Charlie Penrice, 26, my mate, Nicola Parry, 26, who organised the whole weekend, and seven others.
- Drinks: Nicola made a punch based on Archers, which she named 'Sex On The Sand'. Heaven knows what was in it!
- Food: Breakfast both mornings was a fry-up, while the evening buffet contained things like kievs and salads.
- What we wore: I was a nun on the first night and the girls wore T-shirts saying 'Mel's Angels'. The second night, I wore a wedding gown.
- Funniest moment: Borrowing a pair of pants from 'Elvis' while he nipped off for a wee…