Lifestyle journalist and content creator Nishaa Sharma-Salter shares details of her dreamy Mamma Mia-inspired Bachelor(ette) Weekend In Mykonos, Greece.
Why Mykonos?
I’ve been obsessed with Mamma Mia forever (and watching the second movie on a flight home from Australia is actually what inspired my move from Canada to Europe!), so before my now-husband Matt and I had even met, my dream was to have a joint bachelor and bachelorette party somewhere in Greece.
Matt and I are both big nature and ocean lovers, so we knew we’d want to visit some of the more quiet Greek islands like Paros, Crete, Rhodes, and Milos someday as a couple. But for immaculate vibes, iconic nightlife, and an unforgettable trip with our bridal party of nearly 20 people, there was no better pick than Mykonos.
Where we stayed
We booked four side-by-side villas at Niriides Luxury Homes: two for my friends, and two for Matt’s. Every bright and airy villa had a kitchenette and French doors opening up to a patio facing the pool, which is where we all spent most of our down time.
The villas were set on a hilltop near Elia Beach, which was about a 20 minute drive from the main town— so it was a quiet, retreat-like setting that felt like having the island all to ourselves. Our shared poolside area was perfect for tanning, reading, and unwinding (that is, until we brought it to life with drinks, music, and games in the evenings).
What we did
Although we were staying right next to the boys and did have mornings by the pool, a couple of dinners, and a Love Island-style games night together, the majority of the four-day trip was spent on our own exploring the town, shopping, bar-hopping, and going on some dreamy excursions.
From an adorable off-the-beaten-path vineyard tour and farm-to-table tasting to chartering a private boat for a day of sailing around the island, sipping endless amounts of rosé, and dining on delicious Mediterranean pasta, every day was the perfect balance of relaxation and adventure. Since the trip was right before our wedding and most of my crew had flown right in from the US and Canada, having a more laid-back trip was exactly what we all needed.
I’m not usually big on going ‘out-out’— something my best friends all knew very well— but of course, a Mamma Mia-themed bachelor(ette) weekend in Mykonos wouldn’t have been complete without a night out on the town singing along to ABBA, complete with disco-inspired outfits.
Where we ate
Because our villas were located outside of the town centre, we stocked up on pastries and breakfast essentials to enjoy poolside every morning.
I have a ton of food allergies, which makes traditional Greek dining and seafood challenging. So for dinners, we opted for a couple of delicious Italian restaurants in the town centre. We spent the first night eating pasta at D’Angelo on a gorgeous atmospheric outdoor table, taking in the sights and sounds, and came back into Mykonos town with the boys for a dinner at the vibey Aglio E Olio on our final night.
We also walked down the hill to the seaside Elia Beach Restaurant for a big group dinner and cocktails at sunset, which had a wide variety of options for everyone’s dietary requirements and preferences.
What we packed
Before my bride crew checked in, I jumped into each villa to set up their welcome gifts/trip essentials. These included pink and white striped Turkish towels, disco ball-shaped cocktail glasses, heart sunglasses, and brightening eye masks from Live Tinted for any potentially rough mornings.
For our Mamma Mia night out, I wore a sparkly champagne mini dress from DressMeZee, but the rest of my outfits were by Sabo Skirt: an Australian brand, which has been one of my all-time favourite places to shop for years.
My favourite look was the white two-piece Sabo cowl neck top and mini skirt set I wore to the vineyard, which featured gorgeous devore fabric.
I stuck to my tried-and-true everyday jewellery pieces: a set of bangles inherited from my grandmother, a pair of chunky Mejuri hoop earrings, and my engagement ring— but there were a couple of standout accessories I’d picked up especially for this trip.
Those were a white embroidered bride bucket hat from Etsy (with a matching groom one for Matt), and an oversized Prada tote. The Prada was my first designer bag, and is still an absolute go-to for every beach holiday!
Best moment of the hen weekend
My maid of honour was my little sister, and she did such an amazing job of planning the bachelor(ette) weekend in Mykonos of my dreams. Between swimming in the sea with my favourite people from all around the world, dancing on a boat, and singing along to my favourite songs at the island’s most iconic bar, Negrita, it’s hard to pick just one moment.
My friends and family are all from the other side of the Atlantic, and Matt’s live here in the UK, so getting to have everyone finally meet and spend time making memories and laughing together in a location as stunning as Mykonos made this trip truly once-in-a-lifetime.
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