Where We Stayed
In all honesty, with a guest list of 22 (comprising girls and boys and 9 couples among them) we were limited when it came to properties big enough to sleep us all. Many of the properties we initially looked at would have seen guests sharing rooms in unusual formations and/or lacked outdoor entertaining space.
Almer Manor, on the other hand, a 16th-century manor within a walled garden in the picturesque Dorset countryside, offered 8 double bedrooms including a bridal suite with en suite and dressing room and an abundance of entertaining spaces. Not to mention a wood-fired hot tub, fire pit and a tennis court which we made plenty of use of.
We also rented the adjoining Stable Cottage and this provided an additional three double bedrooms, a kitchen and a games room which we put to use on Friday night.
While Almer Manor and the Stable Cottage are 16th-century period properties, the two were refurbished to an incredible standard in 2021. From the parquet flooring to the exposed brick fireplaces, and from the green shaker-style kitchen with range cooker and adjoining pantry to the one-off antiques, photographs don’t do justice to the size or rustic-luxe charm of the Manor.
Situated just 20 minutes from Sandbanks Beach – a perfect spot for paddle boarding – and with the majority of our friends being based in the South West of England, hosting our joint hen and stag do at Almer Manor just made sense. We also felt it eased the blow of having to travel to North Yorkshire come December for our big day!
For the newly-engaged brides-to-be reading this: in 2025, Almer Manor is also set to become a wedding venue. From the stone pavilion that is nestled within the walled garden and perfectly suited for outdoor ceremonies to the 12th century church just a stone’s throw away, I almost wish we’d known sooner!
The Weekend Itinerary
We had no intention of catering for 22 individuals ourselves and I certainly didn’t want my Maid of Honor or my fiance’s Best Man taking on the challenge either. As such, we booked Chef Sam via YHangry to cater to our every whim for the duration of the weekend. This was arguably the best decision we made and meant our guests were able to sit back and relax knowing meals (and more importantly, the washing up) were taken care of.
On Friday night, Chef Sam kicked off proceedings with a huge BBQ spread of filet steak with roasted wild mushrooms, fried cornflake chicken with sriracha and pulled pork with spiced tomato sauce. This was accompanied by a selection of salads and followed by white chocolate blondie with chocolate mousse and sprinkled with crunchy ‘soil’. Safe to say everyone had seconds. Lockdown Liquor & Co also provided an after-dinner buzz in the form of Espresso Martinis and silliness ensued until the early hours.
For some, Saturday started with Park Run in nearby Blandford. Meanwhile, back at the Manor, Chef Sam rustled up American pancakes with smoked bacon and maple syrup, poached eggs on focaccia with spinach and grilled asparagus, and sweet brioche and fresh compotes. The perfect antidote to sore heads.
Told by my MoH to pack something I might wear to Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour, following brunch, I slipped into a sparkly number by Ilta Studio for an afternoon of beading bracelets and hand painting bottles of champagne, fuelled by lots of Pimms. Though both were harder than they looked, everyone was able to take a bracelet and a bottle home with them as a souvenir. The boys, on the other hand, made the most of our proximity to the Dorset Coast and set off paddleboarding, cool box in tow.
Once everyone was back at the Manor, we readied for pre-dinner cocktails courtesy of MOTH and were blessed with the most spectacular, golden sunset that illuminated the terrace. Spirits were high and Chef Sam served up an incredible three-course dinner that culminated in dulce de leche chocolate tart with salted caramel sauce and a sugared doughnut crumb.
Post-dinner, we all slumped into our seats around the firepit and, later, made the most of the wood-fired hot tub where some individuals, naming no names, stayed till sunrise.
With guests leaving in all different directions on Sunday, Chef Sam provided an assortment of homemade croissants and granola pots with apricot and honey compote that we tucked into before parting ways.
What I Wore
On Friday night, for an informal outdoor BBQ, I wore a midi-length, lace trim dress from House of CB with organza bow sandals.
On Saturday morning, I threw on a foolproof white linen Sleeper dress for brunch before switching into my mirroball-esque Ilta Studio dress (rented via By Rotation). This I paired with silver cowboy boots and a cowboy hat, naturally.
With so many couples among our guests, the theme for Saturday night was ‘Barbie and Ken’ and the tribe really pulled out all the stops. For my own outfit, I changed into a House of CB pleated mini paired with my Mum’s veil from 1993. It was such a sentimental touch which made the fit all the more special. My fiance, on the other hand, channeled Ryan Gosling’s Cowboy Ken and got all the laughs.
Best Moment Of The Weekend
Undoubtedly, Saturday night. We were fairly well behaved on Friday night but everyone really let their hair down on Saturday night. From the sun-soaked cocktail hour with free-flowing espresso martinis and picantes to the incredible food and the sheer abundance of love and (a lot) of laughter around the table, if I could bottle those few hours forever, I would.
